MediBang vs Ibis Paint X: Which Free Drawing App Is Better?

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MediBang Paint vs Ibis Paint X is one of the most common questions from artists choosing a free drawing app. Both come from Japanese developers, both are free to download, both are popular with illustrators and comic artists, and both run on phones and tablets. Yet they are built around different priorities. Ibis Paint X is a mobile-first app with an enormous brush library and a time-lapse recorder that makes it a favorite for sharing process videos. MediBang Paint is a cross-platform comic and illustration tool with cloud saving that lets you start a page on your phone and finish it on a computer.

This comparison looks at the things that actually change your day-to-day drawing: platforms, interface, brushes, comic tools, layers, performance, file handling and the free versus paid model. Because both apps update frequently, we focus on long-standing strengths rather than version-specific details, and we recommend checking each app store for current subscription terms.

Our Top Picks at a Glance

• Ibis Paint X — Best for mobile illustration, brushes and time-lapse recording
• MediBang Paint — Best for comics, manga and cross-device work
• Both together — Best for artists who sketch on the go and finish comics on a computer

MediBang vs Ibis Paint X: Head-to-Head

How We Compared

This comparison is based on well-established feature sets and platform availability of both apps and on the workflow needs of illustrators and comic artists. We did not run benchmark tests, and app features, ads and subscription tiers change over time, so check the current listing in your app store before relying on any specific paid feature. The criteria we weighed:

• Platform fit: which devices you can use and whether files move between them.
• Interface: how comfortable the app is on a small touch screen versus a large display.
• Drawing tools: brushes, stabilization, layers and blend modes.
• Comic features: panels, screentones, text and page handling.
• Cost: what you get free and what paid options add.

Ibis Paint X: Strengths and Limitations

Ibis Paint X was designed for phones first, and it shows. Tools sit within thumb reach, gestures handle undo and zoom, and the app stays usable even on a small screen. Its brush library is famously large, covering pens, pencils, airbrushes, textures and decorative brushes, so beginners rarely need to import anything. Layer support includes blend modes, clipping and opacity controls, and there are filters and adjustment tools for finishing an illustration without leaving the app.

The feature that sets Ibis Paint X apart is its built-in time-lapse recording. Every stroke is recorded automatically, and you can export a video of your drawing process. For artists who share work on social media, that is a significant advantage.

Best suited for: phone and tablet artists, fan art and character illustration, and anyone who posts process videos.

Pros:

• Interface designed for touch and small screens
• Very large built-in brush library
• Automatic time-lapse recording
• Strong stabilizer for clean line art on glass screens

Cons and limitations:

• Ads in the free version
• Primarily mobile; less convenient for desktop workflows
• Files are mainly stored locally rather than synced across devices

MediBang Paint: Strengths and Limitations

MediBang Paint was built with comics and manga in mind. It offers tools to divide pages into panels, apply screentones, add text with comic-friendly fonts and manage multi-page projects. Its interface is closer to a traditional desktop painting program, which makes it feel familiar on a computer and consistent across devices.

The biggest practical advantage is cloud saving. With a free account you can save a project to the cloud and open it on another device, so you can rough out a page on your phone during a commute and finish inking on a desktop with a pen tablet. That flexibility is why many webcomic and manga artists rely on it. Our step-by-step guide on how to use MediBang Paint covers setup, layers and the comic tools.

Best suited for: comic, manga and webtoon artists, and anyone who works on more than one device.

Pros:

• Comic panel, screentone and text tools
• Runs on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
• Cloud saving to continue work across devices
• Lightweight and capable on modest hardware

Cons and limitations:

• Interface can feel cramped on a phone
• Smaller built-in brush selection than Ibis Paint X
• No built-in time-lapse recording as a core feature

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Interface and ease of use

On a phone, Ibis Paint X is usually easier to learn because its menus are designed around touch. On a tablet with a larger screen, the gap narrows. On a desktop, MediBang is the only one of the two designed as a full computer application, and it feels more like conventional painting software.

Brushes and drawing feel

Ibis Paint X wins on built-in variety. MediBang’s brushes are capable for line art and coloring, and it offers additional brushes through its cloud library. For clean inking, both have stabilization; many artists find Ibis Paint X’s stabilizer especially helpful on a phone screen.

Layers and editing

Both support multiple layers, blend modes, clipping, opacity and selection tools. For most illustration work they are on par. MediBang’s page and panel management gives it the edge for multi-page projects.

Comics and manga

Both include frame tools and screentones, but MediBang is the more complete comic environment, with fonts, panel handling and project organization built for sequential art. If you draw multi-page stories, MediBang is the stronger choice.

Recording and sharing

Ibis Paint X records your drawing automatically and exports time-lapse videos. If sharing process content matters to you, this alone may decide the question.

Files and export

Both apps export common image formats, and both can work with layered files for moving artwork into other software. MediBang’s cloud saving makes cross-device work smoother; Ibis Paint X keeps work primarily on the device.

Cost

Both apps are free to download. Ibis Paint X shows ads in the free version, with paid options to remove ads and unlock extra features. MediBang offers an optional premium subscription with extra features and storage. Check each store for current terms.

Verdict by Use Case

Getting Started in Each App

Whichever app you choose, the first hour sets the tone. These quick-start steps get you drawing comfortably instead of fighting menus.

Ibis Paint X: first session

1. Create a new canvas at the size you need; for social media posts, a square or portrait canvas at a generous resolution leaves room to crop.
2. Open the brush panel and pick one pen and one soft brush to start, rather than browsing the whole library.
3. Turn on the stabilizer at a low-to-moderate setting for line art.
4. Add separate layers for sketch, line art and color, and lower the sketch layer’s opacity before inking.
5. Use clipping layers to color inside line art without going over the edges.
6. When finished, export the image and, if you like, the automatic time-lapse video.

MediBang Paint: first session

1. Create a free account so you can save projects to the cloud.
2. Start a new canvas, or choose a comic template if you are drawing a page.
3. Use the panel or frame tool to block out your page before sketching.
4. Set the correction (smoothing) level for inking.
5. Keep sketch, inks, tones and color on separate layers, and add text last.
6. Save to the cloud, then open the project on another device to continue.

Settings Worth Changing First

A few settings make a large difference in both apps. Set pen pressure so light strokes still register, adjust stabilization so lines are smooth without lagging, and assign your most-used actions, such as undo and eyedropper, to gestures or shortcuts. On tablets with a stylus, turn on palm rejection or stylus-only drawing if your device supports it, so your hand resting on the screen does not leave marks.

Moving Work Between the Two Apps

Because both apps can handle layered files, it is possible to sketch in Ibis Paint X on your phone and finish in MediBang on a computer, or the reverse. Export a layered file from one app, transfer it through cloud storage or a cable, and open it in the other. Some app-specific layer effects or brush textures may not carry over, so flatten effects you want to keep before moving the file, and keep a copy of the original.

Three Example Workflows

The phone-only fan artist

If you draw characters on your phone during breaks and post them with process videos, Ibis Paint X is the natural fit: the interface suits a small screen, the brush library covers most styles, and the time-lapse export gives you ready-made content to share. You may never need a desktop version.

The webcomic artist with a laptop

If you publish a regular webcomic, thumbnailing pages on a tablet while commuting and inking and lettering on a laptop with a pen tablet at home, MediBang fits that workflow. Cloud saving lets the same file follow you between devices, and its panel and text tools speed up every page.

The student trying both

If you are learning digital art and are not sure what you enjoy yet, use Ibis Paint X for quick sketches on your phone and MediBang on a school or home computer for longer pieces. Because both are free, you can explore without committing, then decide later whether a paid app is worth it.

When Neither Is the Right Choice

MediBang and Ibis Paint X cover a lot of ground for free, but they are not the answer for everyone. If you work exclusively on an iPad and want a polished painting app, a dedicated iPad app may suit you better. If you need advanced painting features on a desktop, a full desktop painting program offers deeper brush engines and color management. For many beginners, though, these two free apps are more than enough to learn and make finished work for years.

Buying Guide: How to Choose Between MediBang and Ibis Paint X

Start with your device

If you only draw on a phone, start with Ibis Paint X. If you have a computer and a pen tablet, or plan to, MediBang gives you a desktop version and cloud continuity.

Decide what you draw

Single illustrations, fan art and character art suit Ibis Paint X. Comics, manga and webtoons suit MediBang.

Consider how you share

If you post process videos, Ibis Paint X’s time-lapse recording is a big advantage.

Test with a real project

Both are free to download, so draw the same small piece in each. Most people know within an hour which interface suits their hand.

Plan for files

If you might move to another program later, export layered files regularly in a format both apps and desktop software can read.

Stylus support

Pressure sensitivity depends on your device and stylus. Both apps support pressure on compatible devices, so check your stylus works before committing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing by brush count alone. Workflow and platform matter more than having thousands of brushes.
• Ignoring cloud backups. Mobile devices get lost or broken; back up your work.
• Setting stabilization too high. Lines lag behind your pen and feel unnatural.
• Drawing comics without panels planned. Rough out panel layouts before detailed drawing.
• Skipping layers. Keep sketch, line art and color on separate layers in either app.
• Not exporting at high resolution. Set canvas size for your final use before you start.

iPad Accessories for Drawing in Either App

Both apps run well on an iPad, and whichever you choose, a stylus and a textured screen protector make a bigger difference than any setting. The picks below are budget iPad styluses and a paper-feel protector chosen from Amazon listings checked in October 2026; we have not tested them. Their listings advertise palm rejection and, in some cases, tilt, but do not claim pressure sensitivity, so pressure-based line weight on iPad still generally requires an Apple Pencil. Android phone and tablet users should look for a stylus made for their specific device instead.

Metapen A8 — Best Overall Budget iPad Stylus

The Metapen A8 has an aluminum barrel, palm rejection and magnets to attach it to supported iPads. The listing says it charges fully in about 30 minutes over USB-C, runs up to 10 hours, and switches on with a double tap without Bluetooth pairing, which keeps setup simple whether you open MediBang or Ibis Paint X.

Best suited for: iPad users who want a steady, no-fuss stylus for sketching and coloring in either app.

Key features:

• Palm rejection and magnetic attachment
• USB-C charging, up to 10 hours of use
• No Bluetooth pairing needed

Check Current Price on Amazon

JAMJAKE Stylus — Best for Long Drawing Sessions

JAMJAKE’s listing claims a 5 to 15 minute charge gives about 15 hours of use, the longest runtime among these picks. It has a 1.5 mm replaceable tip and palm rejection, and the listing is clear that it supports iPads from 2018 onward and not older models.

Best suited for: artists who draw for hours, such as webcomic creators inking multiple pages in MediBang.

Key features:

• Up to 15 hours per charge per the listing
• Palm rejection
• Supports 2018 and later iPads only

View on Amazon

MYSTILUCK Stylus — Best Low-Cost Pick for iPad mini

MYSTILUCK lists compatibility with iPad mini 5, 6 and 7 along with standard, Air and Pro models from 2018 on. It adds tilt sensitivity for varying line thickness, palm rejection and magnetic attachment, with a 13-minute charge for up to 9 hours according to the listing.

Best suited for: phone-to-tablet artists drawing in Ibis Paint X on a small iPad mini.

Key features:

• Tilt sensitivity and palm rejection
• Listed for iPad mini 5, 6 and 7
• USB-C, about 13 minutes to full charge

See Product Details on Amazon

ESR Paper-Feel Screen Protector, 2-Pack — Best for Adding Drawing Friction

A paper-feel protector adds a micro-grit texture so the stylus tip drags slightly instead of skating across glass, which helps with control in both apps. ESR’s two-pack includes an alignment frame and cleaning kit, but its listing is strict about fit: only the iPad 11-inch (A16) 2025 and iPad 10th generation.

Best suited for: owners of an iPad 10th generation or iPad 11-inch (A16) who find drawing on glass too slippery.

Key features:

• Two protectors with alignment frame
• Matte, micro-grit paper-like surface
• Fits iPad 11 (A16) and iPad 10th gen only

Check Availability on Amazon

FAQs

Is MediBang or Ibis Paint X better for beginners?

On a phone, Ibis Paint X is usually easier for beginners because of its touch-first design. On a computer, MediBang is the more natural starting point.

Is Ibis Paint X better than MediBang for comics?

Ibis Paint X has frame and screentone tools, but MediBang offers a more complete comic workflow with panel management, comic fonts and multi-page projects.

Are MediBang and Ibis Paint X free?

Both are free to download. Ibis Paint X shows ads in the free version and offers paid options; MediBang offers an optional premium subscription. Check your app store for current terms.

Can I use MediBang on a PC?

Yes. MediBang Paint runs on Windows and macOS as well as iOS and Android, and cloud saving lets you move projects between devices.

Which app has more brushes?

Ibis Paint X has the larger built-in brush library. MediBang offers additional brushes through its cloud library.

Can I record my drawing process?

Ibis Paint X records time-lapse videos automatically. MediBang does not offer this as a core feature.

Final Recommendation

There is no single winner in the MediBang vs Ibis Paint X debate; it depends on how and where you draw. If you are a phone or tablet artist who loves brushes and shares process videos, Ibis Paint X is the better app. If you make comics, work across a phone and a computer, or want a desktop application for your pen tablet, MediBang Paint is the better choice.

Because both are free to download, the smartest move is to try each with the same small drawing. Many artists end up using both: Ibis Paint X for quick mobile illustrations and MediBang for longer comic projects.