ToonSquid has earned a reputation as a versatile app for digital art, animation, and illustration, particularly praised for its user-friendly design, vector-based drawing tools, and onion skinning features. However, it is not the only app available for artists and animators. Whether you are an illustrator, animator, or digital artist, there are many alternatives to ToonSquid that offer similar, if not more specialized, features for creating digital art. If you're looking for apps that cater to various needs, such as high-quality illustration, animation, and vector drawing, here are some of the best ToonSquid app alternatives that you can explore.
ToonSquid Alternative - Discover Top Animation Apps
#1 Autodesk SketchBook
Best For: Illustrators, graphic designers, and digital artists
Platform: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac
Overview: Autodesk SketchBook is a popular and widely-used drawing app that serves as a great alternative to ToonSquid for artists. It offers an expansive range of tools, including customizable brushes, advanced layer management, and various drawing modes. The app supports both raster and vector graphics, providing a flexible platform for any creative task. Whether you are sketching, painting, or illustrating, Autodesk SketchBook provides the tools and control you need to create professional-level artwork.
Key Features:
- Intuitive and clean user interface.
- Over 190 customizable brushes.
- Advanced layer support with blend modes and opacity controls.
- Pressure sensitivity for precision strokes (works with stylus or Apple Pencil).
- High-resolution canvases for detailed artwork.
Why It's a Great Alternative: Autodesk SketchBook’s versatility makes it perfect for artists looking to create detailed illustrations or full-scale digital artwork. Its strong layer management system and extensive brush library are similar to the customizable options in ToonSquid, allowing users to tailor their tools to their unique style.
#2 Procreate
Best For: Professional digital illustrators and animators
Platform: iOS (iPad)
Overview: Procreate is often considered one of the best digital drawing apps for iPad, making it a leading alternative to ToonSquid. Known for its fast performance and advanced features, Procreate offers a powerful suite of tools for professional illustrators and animators. With its extensive library of brushes, pressure sensitivity, and animation features, Procreate is a popular choice for anyone serious about digital art.
Key Features:
- 200+ brushes with customizable settings.
- Advanced animation features, including onion skinning.
- Full pressure and tilt control with the Apple Pencil.
- Time-lapse recording of your creative process.
- Ability to work in high resolutions for print-ready artwork.
Why It's a Great Alternative: Procreate excels in both drawing and animation, with robust tools that match and often surpass ToonSquid’s capabilities. Its animation features, like onion skinning, along with vector drawing support, make it perfect for artists looking to create illustrations and animations on the same platform.
#3 Clip Studio Paint
Best For: Manga and comic artists, animators, and illustrators
Platform: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac
Overview: Clip Studio Paint is one of the top alternatives to ToonSquid for digital artists, especially for those interested in creating comics and manga. The app offers powerful drawing tools, excellent brush customization options, and exceptional animation capabilities. It is designed to cater to the needs of comic artists, including features such as comic panel layouts, speech bubbles, and specialized brushes for inking and coloring.
Key Features:
- Specialized tools for manga and comic creation (panel layouts, text tools).
- Advanced brush customization with a large library of brushes.
- Support for 2D animation with timeline and onion skinning.
- Full vector drawing support for crisp, scalable lines.
- Integration with 3D models to assist with perspective drawing.
Why It's a Great Alternative: Clip Studio Paint’s combination of manga-specific tools and animation features makes it an ideal choice for ToonSquid users who want more focus on comics and animation. Its ability to handle both detailed illustrations and animations seamlessly sets it apart as a professional-grade app.
#4 FlipaClip
Best For: Animators and hobbyists looking to create 2D animations
Platform: Android, iOS
Overview: If you’re primarily looking for an app that focuses on animation, FlipaClip is one of the best ToonSquid alternatives. This app allows you to create 2D animations using a frame-by-frame method, with an intuitive interface and useful tools like onion skinning, audio syncing, and timeline management. While FlipaClip is a simpler app compared to some of the others on this list, it’s perfect for those who want a straightforward way to create animated projects.
Key Features:
- Onion skinning and frame-by-frame animation for smooth animations.
- Ability to add audio to your animations.
- Layer management for more complex animations.
- Easy-to-use drawing and sketching tools.
- Export animations in GIF, MP4, or AVI formats.
Why It's a Great Alternative: If ToonSquid’s animation features are the main draw for you, FlipaClip provides a streamlined animation experience. The app is especially useful for animators who want to create simple 2D animations quickly without needing extensive software.
#5 Krita
Best For: Digital painting, illustration, and concept art
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android (beta)
Overview: Krita is a free, open-source painting program that is highly recommended for digital illustrators and concept artists. While Krita is primarily known for its powerful painting tools, it also offers features like animation timelines and onion skinning, making it a good alternative for those interested in both illustration and animation. Its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options make it accessible for both beginners and professionals.
Key Features:
- Full animation support with onion skinning.
- Wide variety of brushes and advanced brush customization.
- Layers and layer effects for complex compositions.
- Free and open-source with regular updates.
- Color management tools for professional-level artwork.
Why It's a Great Alternative: Krita is a strong alternative for users who want a free, open-source tool with professional-grade features for both digital art and animation. Its robust painting and animation tools make it a versatile option for artists looking to create detailed artwork and animations without investing in paid software.
Must Read: Complete tutorial of ToonSquid Animation App
#6 ibisPaint X
Best For: Digital illustrators, manga artists, and hobbyists
Platform: Android, iOS
Overview: ibisPaint X is a popular app among digital artists, especially those who focus on illustration and manga-style art. It’s a versatile tool that provides a wide range of brushes, layering options, and blending modes, making it a solid alternative to ToonSquid for detailed digital painting. ibisPaint X also features animation tools, allowing users to create basic frame-by-frame animations.
Key Features:
- Over 380 brushes, including customizable ones.
- Layer support with up to 100 layers.
- Animation features like onion skinning and timeline management.
- High-resolution canvas and export options.
- Easy-to-use interface, ideal for beginners.
Why It's a Great Alternative: ibisPaint X offers a great mix of drawing tools and animation features, making it ideal for artists who want to create both detailed artwork and simple animations. It’s particularly well-suited for manga artists and illustrators.
#7 MediBang Paint
Best For: Comic artists, illustrators, and animators
Platform: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac
Overview: MediBang Paint is another excellent ToonSquid alternative, particularly for comic creators and illustrators. This free app comes packed with a wide range of tools for digital drawing, comic creation, and basic animation. It includes a variety of brushes, textures, and fonts, as well as support for layers and cloud syncing. MediBang Paint's user-friendly interface and cloud-based features make it an appealing choice for artists who want to access their work from multiple devices.
Key Features:
- Cloud storage for easy access to your work from different devices.
- A variety of brushes and textures designed for digital drawing and comic creation.
- Panel creation tools for comic artists, including a wide selection of pre-made comic templates.
- Support for basic 2D animation, including frame-by-frame editing and onion skinning.
- Layer management, with a large number of layers available for complex compositions.
Why It's a Great Alternative: MediBang Paint stands out for its focus on comic creation, with tools specifically designed to help artists draw panels, create speech bubbles, and format comics. Its animation features, though not as advanced as some others, still allow for simple 2D animations. The ability to sync your work across multiple devices via cloud storage is a huge bonus for those who work on the go or across different platforms.
Conclusion
While ToonSquid is a fantastic app for digital art and animation, there are many great alternatives available for both iOS and Android users. Apps like Autodesk SketchBook, Procreate, and Clip Studio Paint offer similar features with additional functionalities that may better suit specific needs, such as manga creation or professional animation. For those focused on animation, apps like FlipaClip and Krita also provide excellent alternatives, offering frame-by-frame animation tools and powerful drawing capabilities.
Choosing the right alternative depends on your unique needs as an artist or animator. Whether you’re looking for advanced features, simplicity, or specific tools for comics and manga, these alternatives will help you bring your creative projects to life with ease.
