Ever since you were a kid, you’ve always had a great passion for comics: there wasn’t a day you didn’t go to the comic store with your friends. Your interest in comics has been kept alive over time, to the point that now you are seriously thinking of making your own book, putting together the stories and characters you draw on paper. For this reason, you are looking for some program that allows you to create comics, possibly also suitable for the less experienced in the graphic field, like you. Well, if that’s the case, let me tell you that you’ve come to the right place at the right time!
With today’s guide, in fact, I intend to offer you a series of programs to draw comics to install on your computer. You must know that there are solutions for every type of user and for every need: some software allows you to create comics using ready-to-use templates, while others allow you to draw your own comic by hand, taking care of every detail and every stroke. There are also solutions that can be used directly online and even apps that work from smartphones and tablets. Interesting, right?
So come on, let’s not delay any longer and let’s get to work immediately! Take five free minutes and choose the resource that best suits your needs. Read carefully the instructions I am about to give you, try to put them into practice and I assure you that, regardless of your drawing skills, you will be able to create a comic for all your friends to read. Good fun!
Index
- Programs to draw comics for free on PC
- Kitra (Windows / macOS / Linux)
- MediaBang Paint (Windows / macOS)
- Other programs to draw comics for free on PC
- Programs for drawing professional comics
- Photoshop
- Clip Studio Paint
- Programs to draw comics for free online
- Pixton
- Other programs to draw comics for free online
- App for drawing comics
- MediaBang Paint (Android / iOS / iPadOS)
- Procreate (iPadOS)
- Other apps for drawing comics
Programs to draw comics for free on PC
Are you looking for programs to draw comics for free on PC ? Then you can contact the solutions belonging to the aforementioned category that I have reported to you below. They are available for Windows and macOS , as well as for Linux . I sincerely hope they are able to satisfy you.
Kitra (Windows / macOS / Linux)
Among the various programs to draw free comics available on the square, the first one I recommend you to use is Kitra . It is free and open source software available for Windows, macOS and Linux. It includes many advanced tools for creating comics and manga, starting with either a blank workspace or using ready-to-use templates. It also supports the use of the graphics tablet.
To download Kitra on your computer, connect to the program’s website , click on the Get Kitra Now button and, in the new open page , click on the Windows Installer or macOS Installer button , depending on the operating system you are using.
Once the program has downloaded, proceed with the installation. If you use Windows , double-click on the .exe file obtained and, in the window you see appear on the desktop, press the OK and Next buttons , then select the item I accept the terms in the license agreement and press the Next button (for another three consecutive times). Then, click on the I agree button , again on the Next one and on the Install button . Finally, press the Next and Finish buttons again . Then start the program by selecting the relevant oneshortcut added to the Start menu.
If you are using macOS , on the other hand, open the .dmg package obtained, drag the Kitra icon into the Applications folder , right-click on it and select the Open item from the context menu you see appear, so as to start the software by going to circumvent the restrictions desired by Apple for applications from non-certified developers (this is only necessary at the first start).
Now that, regardless of the operating system, you see Kitra’s main window on your screen, you are ready to proceed with creating your first comic. To create a new project, click on the sheet icon at the top left and choose whether to use a blank template by selecting the Custom template item or to use one of the ready-to-use templates. In the second case, select one of the categories available in models of animations , comic templates , style templates , models DSLR and Models of the plot , and then shows your favorite model and press the button Use This Template .
So, start drawing your comic and customize it using the tools in the sidebar on the right. Once you have finished creating your comic, click on the floppy disk icon to save the project and export it in one of the supported formats ( CSV , JPG , TIFF , PNG , BMP etc.).
MediaBang Paint (Windows / macOS)
MediBang Paint is another comic drawing program that I suggest you consider. It is aimed at those who have good graphic design skills and want to draw a comic or manga. It is available for free for Windows and macOS and allows you to create an account to save your work online and synchronize the library with various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
To download MediBang Paint Pro on your computer, connected to the program’s Web site , click the Download and in the new window, press the button downloads related to the operating system installed on your computer.
Once the download is complete, if you have Windows , open the resulting .exe file and, in the window you see appear on the desktop, press the Run button , then click the OK , Next (three consecutive times) and Install buttons to start the installation. Then wait a few moments and press the Finish button to complete the setup and close the window.
If you are using macOS , on the other hand, open the downloaded dmg package , drag the MediBang Paint Pro icon into the Applications folder , right-click on it and select the Open item from the context menu, then press the Open button in response to the warning that appears on the screen, in order to start the program avoiding Apple’s restrictions for applications from non-certified developers (this must be done only at the first start).
Now that the MediBang Paint window is displayed, select the Italian option from the drop-down menu located next to the Language item and restart the software to make the changes effective, then choose whether to create a free account (useful for synchronizing works with all devices and to unlock all the available features), by clicking on the Register button and providing the required data, or if you can avoid it, by clicking on the Close button .
Now, to create a new comic, click on the Open item located at the top, choose the New option from the menu that appears and, in the new open window, select the Comic tab , then define resolution, background color, borders, height, width etc. and press the OK button . If, on the other hand, you want to use a ready-to-use template, choose the one you are interested in using the drop-down menu located next to the Template item and select one of the options available between Yonkoma , USA Comic , Manga and Doujinshi .
Then start drawing your comic using the tools in the left sidebar or in the top menu. Once the project is complete, click on the File and Export items to export the comic to your computer in PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP or PSD format, otherwise select the Save to Cloud as option to save the project in the MediBang Paint cloud and make it available on all your devices.
Other programs to draw comics for free on PC
Are you looking for other programs through which you can draw comics at no cost on your Windows PC or Mac? Then you can try to contact the ones I have included in the following list.
- Pencil2D( Windows / macOS / Linux ) – cross-platform and totally free program that allows you to create anime and manga. It was conceived as a simple drawing tool, but later the developers enriched it with useful features for creating comics. It is very simple to use and also allows you to digitize and improve hand-made signs.
- Comic Life( Windows / macOS ) – is the ideal solution for those who do not have good skills with graphics and drawing programs, but still want to create a comic. In fact, it allows you to use ready-to-use templates and to add elements, images and texts with the possibility of customizing them at will. It is available for both Windows and macOS and is paid (it costs 30.49 euros and for Mac there is also on the Mac App Store for 29.99 euros), but you can download it in a free 30-day trial version for test its features, which is why I chose to report it to you anyway.
- Autodesk SketchBook( Windows / macOS ) – program distributed by the Autodesk software house that is not specific for the creation of comics, but lends itself well to the purpose in question, allowing you to create computer illustrations thanks to the many useful tools included, such as pencils, inks, brushes etc. It is both for Windows and for macOS and it is free, but to unlock more functions it is possible to subscribe to a paid subscription (costs 85 dollars / year).
Programs for drawing professional comics
Do you already have a fair amount of experience in the making of comics and, therefore, would you like to understand what are the programs for drawing professional comics that you have from yours? No sooner said than done! You will find listed below what I think are the best in the category.
Photoshop
If you are looking for more professional solutions to make your comics, I recommend that you rely on the use of Photoshop . This is the most renowned Adobe program and also the most widespread and appreciated as regards photo editing at a professional level and the creation of various types of images, therefore also for the creation of comics. It is for Windows and macOS and is paid (costs from 12.19 euros / month), but you can download the trial version that works without limitations for 7 days.
To download and install the trial version of the program on your computer, access its website , click on the Free Trial Version item located at the top right and follow the instructions I have given you in my guide on how to download Photoshop for free . Afterwards, wait for the software to start and experiment with the various functions available to make your comic. For further information, I suggest reading my tutorial on how to use Photoshop .
Clip Studio Paint
Another professional comic drawing program you can use is Clip Studio Paint . It is for Windows and macOS and is specifically designed for drawing and coloring comics, manga, animations and illustrations of various kinds. After a little practice, it’s not particularly difficult to use either. It is paid (costs from 42 euros), but you can download it in a free trial version that works for three months. Note that it also comes with some Wacom tablets .
To download it, go to its website and click on the Free Trial button located at the top left, then press the button for Windows or the one for macOS depending on the operating system you are using. Then, start the program’s installation package, complete the setup and immediately start using it to create your comic.
Programs to draw comics for free online
You do not want or can not download new software on your computer and, therefore, would you like me to recommend programs to draw comics for free online , acting directly from the browser window ? No sooner said than done! Find them below.
Pixton
The first of the programs for drawing comics accessible via the browser that I invite you to try is Pixton . It is an online service completely in Italian that allows you to create comics using numerous templates, with a guaranteed final result. Basically it is free, but to take advantage of all the features offered you need to subscribe to a paid subscription to the service (with costs starting from $ 9.99 / month).
To use Pixton, connect to the service website and click on the Sign up button at the top right. Then indicate your membership category, your date of birth and choose whether to register using the Google , Facebook or Microsoft account .
Provide, therefore, to create a personalized avatar for your profile, selecting the various elements that will characterize the face and body and their characteristics. After completing the above steps, press the Make a comic button , type the title you want to assign to your comic in the appropriate field and click the Continue button .
At this point, use the Pixton editor that is proposed to you, deciding through the Background section whether to use an empty background or one of those already ready for use, the characters to be included through the Characters section , the type of shot from the section Focus , the beats to be assigned to each character through the Words section and facial expressions and actions through the Faces and Actions sections respectively .
Everything is visible in the section on the right and you can make any further adjustments using the toolbar at the bottom. To add more panels to the balloon click on the Add panel button on the left.
Once the creation of the comic is complete, click on the Done button and, in the new open page, press the Share button , then decide whether to download your work on the computer in the form of an image, to print it or to share the comic online, by pressing the appropriate buttons located at the top right.
Other programs to draw comics for free online
If you are looking for other working programs online through which you can draw your comics, I suggest you consider using the additional services belonging to the category in question that I have included in the list below. Take a look at it immediately, you will see that you will not regret it.
- Comix– this is a service that requires the use of HTML code to create cartoons, with stick figures and text. It’s totally free, and while it may seem like the opposite, it’s very easy to use.
- Witty Comics– Web tool that allows everyone, even those with no particular artistic talent, to create an online comic from three cartoons, in an incredibly simple and fast way, even if it must be taken into account that it does not offer many options in terms of customization. It is completely free.
- Canva– is a renowned Web service thanks to which various types of graphic works can be created: business cards, posters, logos, covers for social networks, etc. It is therefore not specific for the creation of comics, but integrates ad hoc tools that can still allow you to do this. It’s free, but some graphics and templates are paid and can be unlocked by subscribing to the Pro version (at a cost of € 9.16 / month).
App for drawing comics
You don’t want or can’t use the computer and, therefore, would you like me to recommend you some apps to draw comics that work on Android and iOS / iPadOS mobile devices ? No sooner said than done! You can find them right below.
MediaBang Paint (Android / iOS / iPadOS)
When it comes to programs for drawing comics for mobile devices, it is practically a must to report the MediaBang Paint app , which is the counterpart for Android and iOS / iPadOS of the computer software I told you about in the beginning guide step . The app resumes for good or bad what are the main functions and features of the program. Basically it is free, but in-app purchases are proposed (at the minimum price of 3.99 euros) to unlock all the functions.
To download and install the app on your device, proceed as follows: if you are using Android, access the relevant section of the Play Store and press the Install button (if the Play Store is missing on your device, you can go to alternative stores ); if you are using iOS / iPadOS, access the App Store section relating to the iPhone or iPad version , press the Get button , then click the Install button and authorize the download via Face ID , Touch ID or Apple ID password .
Subsequently, select the app icon that has been added to the home screen and you will finally find yourself in front of the main screen of MediaBang Paint. Start, therefore, the creation of your comic starting from a blank sheet by pressing the New Canvas button .
Once the app editor is displayed, use the tools available to draw your comic in the appropriate area in the center. To be precise, at the top there is the toolbar with the eraser, the tool for filling, for the gradient, the one for inserting texts, etc., while at the bottom there is the menu with the layer manager, the palette of colors, the eraser tool etc. On the side, however, there is the color adjustment bar.
Once the changes are complete, tap on the Save button located at the bottom of the screen and your creation will be immediately added to the app gallery, accessible by selecting the item My gallery that you find in the main screen of MediaBang Paint.
Procreate (iPadOS)
If you have an iPad and are looking for an advanced solution by which you can draw comics on the go, I suggest you contact Procreate . It is paid (it costs 9.99 euros), but it is absolutely worth it, since it offers a wide range of brushes, divided into categories, which can be customized in detail. In addition, it integrates many useful features for managing levels and advanced selection tools. It is also available in an iPhone version (costs € 4.99), but has more limited functionality and is not particularly well suited for making comics.
To use the app, download and install it from the relevant section of the App Store , then start it and proceed with creating a new drawing by pressing the (+) button . Afterward, customize the size and resolution of the virtual sheet. Alternatively, you can decide to import an image already present in the memory of your device.
Now that you see the Procreate editor, take advantage of the features available in the toolbar located at the top right to create your comic. You can, for example, use all the brush creation and editing tools, but also customize the colors. For further information, I suggest reading my guide on how to draw on iPad .
Other apps for drawing comics
If you are looking for other apps through which you can draw comics on smartphones and tablets, you can consider relying on the use of the additional solutions that are part of the category listed below. I am sure that in the end you will be able to find some solution that will satisfy you.
- MomentCam Cartoons & Stickers( Android / iOS ) – is an application that allows you to create comics using your own photos. By uploading those present on your device or downloading them from your Facebook account, it allows you to insert photos in predefined layouts and create your own comic, as if this had been drawn by hand. It’s free, but in-app purchases are offered (with prices starting at 99 cents) to unlock extra features.
- Comic Draw( iOS / iPadOS ) – is among the best free apps for drawing comics on iPhone and iPad. It provides many brushes and tools that allow you to quickly create various types of layouts. Once the project is finished, you can export it in PDF, ePUB, JPEG or PNG format.
- Comic Life( iOS / iPadOS ) – is the mobile version of Comic Life, the computer software that allows you to create comics even for those without graphic design skills that I pointed out to you in the step at the beginning of the guide . It is paid (costs 4.99 euros) and allows you to choose from dozens of ready-to-use layouts and to customize your comic by adding cartoons, text and images.
