It doesn’t matter if you’ve already established your work as a digital artist, or if you’ve been just playing with the idea to create your own digital art: The right program is the key component to your success. There are many different programs out there that can help you to master your digital creation, but do they suit you and your intentions? We’ve done the research for you and collected a list of the best apps for digital art including unique features, pros, cons, hardware requirements, and prices.

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Blender

Blender is open-source software that is primarily focused on the creation of 3D graphics. As used for motion graphics, 3D designs, virtual reality architecture, and animations, Blender is a super intuitive program and so equally suited for beginners and absolute pros in the industry.

Software Requirements

• 8 GB RAM

• Graphic card with 2 GB RAM

• 64-bit quad-core CPU

Why Use Blender?

• As open-source software, it’s completely free.

• Great for beginners.

• Infinite resources and tutorials from the community.

Why Avoid Blender?

• Steep learning curve can be challenging.

• Very basic video editor.

• Struggles on devices older than 10 years.

Adobe Photoshop

Who doesn’t know the most famous app for photo editing out there? Photoshop from Adobe supports you with every single tool you need to create astonishing art pieces. Photoshop is optimized for drawing, photo fusion, and manual painting. Moreover, the Adobe Cloud allows you to use Photoshop on all your devices and Adobe even created its own apps for those! If you’re a professional creator, Photoshop is surely the way to go.

Software Requirements

• 16 GB RAM recommended

• Graphic card with 4 GB of GPU memory

• Intel processor with 64-bit support

Why Use Photoshop?

• Full support on tablets with graphic pens.

• Supports all file formats.

• Most effective tools for color corrections and manipulations.

Why Avoid Photoshop?

• No vector editor.

• You need a monthly subscription starting at $9.99 per month.

• The massive number of tools can be confusing for beginners.

Photo by Onur Binay on Unsplash

Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is after Photoshop the most dominant application out there. If a monthly subscription like Photoshop is not for you, Affinity Photo is definitely the best alternative out there. The interface is quite similar to Photoshop, and most professionals move to Affinity Photo after a while.

Software Requirements

• 2 GB RAM

• Graphic card with M1 chip or Intel processor

• 64-bit support

Why Use Affinity Photo?

• Not monthly subscription, one-time cost of $54.99.

• Total compatibility with Photoshop files.

• Very intuitive learning.

Why Avoid Affinity Photo?

• No image-organizing tool.

• Lacking mobile app for editing.

• No automatic background removal tool.

Rebelle 5

If it’s your aim to create realistic paintings in watercolor or acrylic style, Rebelle 5 is your top application for digital art. As one of the best (and cheapest) software for realistic digital paintings out there, Rebelle 5 comes with more than 170 brushes that help you to design remarkable watercolor and oil paintings.

Software Requirements

• 16 GB RAM

• Graphic card with M1 chip or graphic card with 2 GB

• 64-bit or 32-bit support

Why Use Rebelle 5?

• Only a one-time cost of $89.99.

• Most realistic digital painting experience.

• Regular updates with new features.

Why Avoid Rebelle 5?

• Very slow on older hardware.

• Doesn’t hold many features for photo editing.

• Needs a graphic pen for best performance.

What Are the Best Apps for Digital Art?

The answer to this question is not as easy as it seems, due to the fact, that the best apps for digital art are judged according to the artists’ needs. Mainly working with photo compositions? Go for Photoshop or Affinity Photo. Looking to create some 3D art pieces? Blender is your software. Your aim is to bring your authentic paintings into the digital world. You’ll go best with Rebelle 5. Once you’re clear about what direction of style you are taking, you are ready to create the most stunning projects with the best apps for digital art.