What are digital illustration apps?

Updated October 2026 · How we answer

The main types

Most illustration apps fall into two groups. Raster apps, such as Procreate and Krita, paint with pixels and are common for painting and textured art. Vector apps, such as Affinity and Illustrator, build art from shapes and paths that scale without losing sharpness.

Some apps mix both approaches. Clip Studio Paint and Photoshop handle raster painting with some vector and text tools, which makes them useful for mixed projects. Knowing which type you need helps you avoid buying a tool that does not fit your work.

• Raster: painting, textures, and brush work
• Vector: logos, clean shapes, and scalable art
• Hybrid: mixed painting and design tools
• Mobile versions often trim advanced features

Core features to expect

Layers are the most important feature for beginners. They let you separate sketch, color, and shading steps so you can edit one part without damaging the rest. Undo history and selection tools also help you fix mistakes.

Brushes, color selectors, and export formats round out most apps. Check that the app saves layered files so you can return to your work later. Flat exports are useful for sharing, but they are hard to edit afterward.

• Layers for separating parts of the art
• Brushes and color selection
• Undo and selection tools
• Layered save files as well as flat exports

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