We went through some options and found these six apps that do justice to the OG. We are looking to emulate features such as easy to use, some basic drawing, stretching, resizing, copying parts of images and pasting them, etc. Also, Microsoft never released an MS Paint app for Android, so anyone claiming different is lying through the teeth. Don’t fall for malware apps. That said, let’s begin. Also Read: Get Microsoft Paint for Mac With These 5 Apps
Microsoft Paint App for Android
1. Whiteboard
The first app on this list, Whiteboard is a fairly simple app that offers the most basic tools similar to MS Paint. Like MS Paint, you get a pen tool with different sizes, a shape tool with a few basic shapes, a text input tool, and a color wheel. That’s all you get with this app and if you just wish to scribble as a way to keep your fingers busy, Whiteboard is for you.
As it is a basic level app, it doesn’t have fancy features like layers, different brushes, etc. However, the apps listed below do offer those features. Whiteboard is a free app on the Play Store. Download Whiteboard (free, ads)
2. Paintastic
Paintastic comes with a number of paintbrushes in different shapes and styles to choose from. There are quite a few effects to explore like blur, outline, emboss, and even neon. Don’t like the brush? You can change its shape, size, thickness, and more. Note that the undo option can only go 5 paces back.
Also Read: Best Windows Programs for Fixing Dead or Stuck Pixels There are a number of shapes to choose from which makes it easy to place pre-defined objects into your paintings and sketches. Colors can easily be chosen with gradients. Other tools include a selection tool to move and play around with images and objects, filters, and effects. Paintastic is ad-supported and comes with an in-app purchase that will remove all ads and unlock all shapes for $5.99. Download Paintastic (free, ads)
3. Paint for Android
Paint for Android is closer to the original MS Paint on Windows in terms of layout but doesn’t have as many features as the previous one. Only basic shapes like circles and squares among others are there. There is a paintbrush and an eraser to remove your mess. You can quickly add text if you want. The fill-in color option will remind you of the former. Paint for Android is ad-supported but otherwise, completely free.
Also Read: Create Stunning Pixel Art with These Apps on Android, iOS, and Web Don’t forget to save your work before hitting the back button. The app will not ask you to save the image before exiting. The ads can be a little annoying but there is a workaround. Simply disable Wi-Fi and mobile Internet before launching the app. That should take care of it. Download Paint for Android (free, ads)
4. Pocket Paint
Pocket Paint is for Android what MS Paint is for Windows. It’s free with no in-app purchases or ads. It is so simple to use, you would be amazed why you never found it before. There is a blank canvas waiting for you to be filled. A set of tools in the bottom bar.
Also Read: Best Comic Creator Apps to Unleash Your Creative Side There is a paintbrush where you can control the thickness and color, an eraser, a line, a bunch of basic shapes, and an option to select and fill the color of your choice. Remember when I said I use MS Paint to resize images. Pocket Paint got that covered too. There is also a stamp and hand tool though not many of you would be using it, I guess. Pocket is probably the best MS Paint app for Android in every way possible without the bells and whistles of the more advanced apps that I will share below. Download Pocket Paint (free)
5. Tayasui Sketches
The next app on the list, Tayasui Sketches boasts of brushes that are on par with professional software such as Adobe Sketchbook but keeps everything simple. The app gives you multiple canvas options to choose from which allows you to create your art in landscape or portrait mode. The app also has a layers function which would help you create different elements in your art without interfering with the base. Speaking of brushes, you get a wide variety ranging from the ultra-fine marker, to fountain pen, and not only you can use these brushes to simulate natural strokes but you can go ahead and connect a Wacom stylus and unlock the full potential of the app.
6. SketchBook
Enough with the basics. Time to dive a little deeper. SketchBook is a great option if you love to sketch. One thing that MS Paint lacked and quite a few people seemed to complain about it. There are so many pencil options with shapes, thickness, stroke, tones, and texture that it’s a sketcher’s dream come true. I like the ability to touch lightly and draw a faded line or press hard to draw a darker line. It’s touch-and-press sensitive. There are so many brushes and pencils to choose from. Then you can flip, rotate, and stretch the image or objects individually. The list of tools goes on and I wish Autodesk had a guide or something on it.
It took me some time to find the ellipse tool which makes it easy to move the pivot with 2 fingers. It comes with a straight and a curved ruler that you can move around. Useful for precision. For artists that are obsessed with perfection, there is the symmetry option with a button to lock it. The fact that SketchBook is completely free and devoid of any ads seems very generous of the team behind it. SketchBook is ideal for those who like sketching more than painting and need more options than what MS Paint like apps for Android have to offer. That doesn’t mean it’s not colorful. There are enough painting brushes to keep you happy and stroking. Download SketchBook (free)
7. MediBang Paint
One of the issues with MS Paint was that it was limited to a single platform. In the world of cloud storage, that’s like committing a cybercrime. MediBang Paint is available on both Android and iOS as well as for Windows and macOS. With an active community of artists who like to share informative tutorials on how to create art, especially manga art it seems, MediBang has seemed to hit all the right chords or brushes! There are over 90 to choose from.
Also Read: 7 Best Drawing Apps for Windows 10 to Let Your Creative Side Out (2020) Focused on comic book fans and artists, MediBang comes with an easy to use interface with a number of tools at your disposal. What I like is the ability to create your own shortcut menu of tools and brushes that you use frequently. Cool. There is no dearth of readymade scenes like a cityscape, comic book fonts, and other addons for painting your masterpiece. Another cool feature is the ability to work with layers. MediBang follows the tried and tested freemium model with an ad-supported version and an in-app purchase of $7.99 that removes ads and unlocks more tools and brushes. Download MediBang Paint (free, ads)
8. Ibis Paint X
Ibis Paint X is probably one of the most popular drawing apps for Android. It offers a plethora of advanced tools such as gap detection, stroke stabilization, blending modes, ruler function, layers, etc. The app has more than 379 brushes which would give you enough styles to recreate any style you want. You can customize each brush property such as initial angle, thickness, opacity, etc to create the most natural-looking brush strokes. The app claims to offer a 60fps drawing experience which allows you to seamlessly draw without experiencing any lags. Other than that, you can record your drawing process while creating art and make stunning time-lapses for your social media.
The app is completely free and offers ads which can be removed with a one time purchase. Download Ibis Paint X (free, ads)
MS Paint Apps for Android
If you are looking for a true substitute, Pocket Paint will keep you happy with an easy to use UI and a set of features that go well with its name. If you want something more, Paint for Android and Paintastic are both great options, and it’s mostly a matter of personal taste and preference between the two of them. If you have a sketch artist hidden somewhere inside you, check out Sketch. If that artist is craving attention and needs an audience, go for SketchBook. Finally, if cloud storage and multi-platform support is the need of the hour, MediBang is the perfect alternative. Which one are you using and why? Share in the comments below.
