Sketchpad review
A flexible, low-cost drawing tool for graphics, illustrations, and school projects.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Sketchpad is a drawing and design application for teachers, students, artists, beginners, and professionals creating graphics, infographics, illustrations, school projects, artwork, social media images, advertisements, and apparel designs. Its toolset covers brushes, lines, paths, shapes, text, clipart, layers, gradients, patterns, blend modes, image importing, and export. The combination suits users who want one approachable workspace for both simple artwork and more structured visual projects.
The web-based app is free and includes browser-based drawing and design without advertisements. The desktop app costs $4.99 as a one-time purchase, adds offline work and local file saving, and permits installation on one PC and one Mac. Sketchpad supports web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms. Export options include PDF, PNG, and JPEG, while high-definition printing and template sharing through export links extend its use beyond the canvas. These options make it a practical fit for people moving between devices or working without an internet connection.
Its strongest ecosystem fit is education: Google Classroom and Google Drive support documented workflows, and Zoom is listed among its integrations. Users can also import and drag-and-drop image and vector assets, then share finished work through exported files or links. The focus remains on drawing and design rather than deep collaboration or a broad connected workspace, so teams seeking extensive collaborative production may prefer another tool. Sketchpad is a sensible choice for accessible multi-device design, offline desktop work, and classroom projects; it is less suited to organizations that need extensive integrations or advanced collaboration features.
Sketchpad pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free web app with browser-based drawing and no advertisements
- Supports layers, paths, shapes, text, blend modes, and asset import
- Works across web, desktop, iOS, and Android with PDF, PNG, and JPEG export
- Where it doesn't
- Collaboration features are limited
- Integrations are focused on Google Classroom, Google Drive, and Zoom
- Desktop license installation is limited to one PC and one Mac
Sketchpad fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update