Adobe’s Drawing App is Now Free for Everyone

In a bold move to compete in the digital art space, Adobe has announced that its drawing and painting application, Fresco, will now be completely free for all users.

The software, which rivals popular platforms like Apple’s Procreate and Celsys’s Clip Studio Paint, offers artists a comprehensive suite of digital tools alongside features that simulate traditional art materials such as watercolors and sketching pencils.

Compatible with iPads, iPhones, and Windows PCs, Fresco is specifically made for devices supporting touch and stylus input. While a free version was previously available, premium features had been locked behind a $9.99 yearly subscription, but that is no longer the case.

These premium features included complete access to Adobe Fonts, an expanded brush collection, and the ability to add custom brushes. Despite the subscription’s relatively modest cost, it struggled to compete with Procreate’s more attractive one-time payment of $12.99.

Since its debut in 2019, Fresco has maintained a relatively low profile compared to Adobe’s flagship applications like Photoshop and Illustrator, which are renowned for their sophisticated professional design capabilities.

However, despite its lesser recognition, the application boasts several stand-out features, including symmetry tools that automatically mirror artwork during creation and rotation functions. It also offers unique animation capabilities, allowing artists to bring their work to life using preset motion effects such as “bounce” and “breathe.”

Although Procreate has a loyal fanbase thanks to its features and incredible drawing support on iPads, going completely free may help Fresco get a leg up in the competition, especially with a few advantages such as a desktop app and cloud storage support.