Drawpile

Overview

Drawpile is a free, open-source drawing app for artists who want to work on a shared canvas, with offline use available for solo work. Its blend of collaboration, animation and detailed layer controls makes it a strong fit for artists and groups who value creative flexibility over a native iPhone or iPad app.

Official community servers make collaborative sessions possible without arranging your own infrastructure. The caution is self-hosting: the built-in server is not recommended, and operating a server from a home computer has security and privacy implications.

For more options in this category, browse our Digital Painting Software list.

Key features

Brushes and composition

More than 200 built-in brushes, multiple brush engines, a brush editor and stroke stabilization give artists substantial control over their marks. Pressure sensitivity adds useful support for pressure-sensitive input. Layers and groups include blend modes, alpha preserve, clipping groups, masking and alpha lock, making Drawpile more capable for complex compositions than a basic shared sketchpad. That depth will benefit artists managing layered work, though it may be unnecessary for casual doodling.

Animation and file exchange

A timeline and onion skins bring animation into the same workspace as drawing. Canvas files can be saved as OpenRaster or PSD, and images can be pasted from files or other programs. Advanced color management is also supported. These tools make Drawpile relevant to more than live group sketching, although the facts do not establish broader format compatibility.

Collaboration and security

Official community servers let users host sessions for free without setting up server infrastructure. Users who need control over hosting can run their own server, but should avoid the built-in server: browsers cannot connect to sessions hosted that way, and exposing a home computer carries security and privacy implications. External authentication can let people use existing accounts on third-party servers without sending their passwords to those servers.

Drawpile says it transfers information to other networked systems only when a user or the person operating or installing it specifically requests this. Its Windows binaries are signed through SignPath.io; dependencies are pinned to known-good versions, with SHA384 checks on each build's retrieved dependency source. Support is available through Discord, IRC web chat, Matrix, GitHub issues and documentation.

Pricing

Drawpile: free. The free and open-source GPLv3 plan includes access to official community servers at no charge. It suits both solo artists and groups who want collaborative sessions without paying for the software. No paid plan is given, so there is no paid tier to compare; the trade-off is that groups wanting to host themselves must take on server operation and its associated care.

Platforms

Drawpile is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and web. iPhone and iPad users can use the browser version; a native iOS app is unavailable because Apple does not allow Drawpile in its store. That browser option extends access to Apple mobile devices, but it is not a native app.

Who it's for

Drawpile is best for artists who want to draw or animate alongside others, or who need a capable layered canvas without a subscription. Its offline use also suits solo work. It is a less suitable choice for iPhone or iPad users who require a native app, and for groups unwilling to rely on community servers or manage the risks of self-hosting.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free and open-source, with free official community servers, so groups can collaborate without paying for software or arranging infrastructure.
• Pros: More than 200 brushes, an editor, stabilization and detailed layer controls support varied drawing styles and complex compositions.
• Pros: Timeline and onion skins add animation tools, while OpenRaster and PSD saving help with file exchange.
• Cons: The built-in server is not recommended; browser users cannot connect to sessions hosted that way, and home-hosting raises security and privacy concerns.
• Cons: iPhone and iPad access is browser-based, with no native iOS app.

Alternatives

ibisPaint is worth considering for users who want a free version with unlimited usage time across Android, iOS, macOS and Windows; its free plan includes 64MB of cloud storage and advertisements, while premium membership is also offered.

Krita is another free, open-source choice for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, with no subscriptions or trials. Choose it if those platforms and a no-subscription model matter more than Drawpile's shared-canvas focus.

MediBang Paint may suit artists seeking a freemium option across desktop and mobile platforms, with paid plans including 20GB cloud storage at ¥300 a month or Premium100 at ¥500 a month.

Sketchbook offers a free mobile application with brushes, layers, guides, rulers and stroke tools, making it an alternative for people focused on mobile drawing tools.

Concepts may be a better fit for someone who wants to start with a five-layer Basic plan or use Pro features through a $4.99 a month subscription.

FireAlpaca is a free option for Linux, macOS and Windows that includes customizable brushes, layered artwork, animation tools and CMYK display.

HEAVYPAINT is a freemium alternative available on web, desktop and mobile platforms.

Light Brush is a free alternative for web, Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.

Verdict

Choose Drawpile if you want free collaborative drawing with substantial brush and layer control, animation tools and offline use. Its community servers keep group sessions accessible without self-hosting; look elsewhere if you need a native iPhone or iPad app or cannot accept the constraints and risks of running your own server.