Best Coloring Apps in 2026: 9 Apps Compared

Happy Color is the easiest recommendation for anyone who wants to relax without paying. Its library includes tens of thousands of color by number pages, from mandalas and nature scenes to licensed characters, and all core pages are free. You simply tap a numbered section and it fills with the matching color, which makes it ideal for winding down.

Ads support the free version, and an optional purchase removes them. That trade is reasonable for the size of the library. Happy Color is our pick if you want the most pages for no money and you enjoy the satisfying, low-effort style of color by number.

Pigment feels closer to coloring on paper than most apps on this list. Instead of only tapping sections, you can shade with realistic pencils, markers and watercolors, blend colors and build tone gradually. That control appeals to people who enjoy the craft of coloring, not just the result.

A free page each day lets you try the tools, but the full library and brush set require a subscription. Pigment is at its best on iPad with an Apple Pencil, though it works with a finger too. Choose it if you want a creative, hands-on coloring experience.

Lake takes a thoughtful approach to digital coloring. Every illustration is made by a real artist, and part of each subscription fee goes back to those artists, which is rare in this category. The themed books cover nature, architecture, patterns and more, and the brushes feel pleasant and responsive.

The main limits are platform and price. Lake is iOS only, and while you get a free daily illustration, full access needs a paid plan. For iPhone and iPad users who care about original art, Lake is a distinctive and worthwhile choice.

Recolor is a long-running color by number app with a large library and new pages every day. It suits daily colorists who like to finish a page, earn points and return the next day for a fresh design. Styles range from mandalas and animals to fantasy and seasonal collections.

As with most apps in this category, the free version covers a subset of pages, while a subscription opens the full library. Recolor is a good pick if you want a daily habit and a steady stream of new designs without learning freehand tools.

Colorfy keeps things simple. It offers a collection of mandalas, animals, flowers and patterns in a clean interface that is easy for beginners and older users to follow. Many pages work offline, which helps if you color on a plane or in a place with poor signal.

The library is not as large as Happy Color, and some premium pages need a subscription. Colorfy suits users who want a calm, uncluttered app and do not need thousands of choices to enjoy a session.

Procreate is not a coloring book app, but it is the best tool for people who want to color their own line art or imported pages with professional control. Its brush library, layers and color tools are far beyond a typical coloring app, and the one-time purchase means no subscription. Many artists import coloring pages and color them in Procreate.

Beginners may find it overwhelming, and you need to supply or import pages yourself. Procreate is our pick for creative users who already draw or who want to move from tapping sections to real digital art.

ibisPaint is a free drawing app that works well for coloring, with thousands of brushes, layers and tools for shading and blending. You can import line art, color it in layers, and share work with a large online community. The free version is generous, which makes it a good step up from color by number.

The interface packs in many tools, so beginners may need time to find the coloring features. Ads appear in the free version, with a paid option to remove them. ibisPaint suits users who want free creative coloring without buying an iPad-only app.

MediBang Paint is a free art app available on phones, tablets and computers, which makes it easy to start coloring on one device and finish on another. Cloud saving, layers and a wide brush set help with detailed coloring, and its comic tools suit manga-style pages.

You need to import coloring pages, since MediBang does not provide a coloring book library. An account is needed for cloud features. For users who want a free, cross-device coloring tool and are happy to bring their own line art, MediBang is a solid choice.

Color Therapy combines color by number play with a social layer, including following other colorists, leaderboards and sharing finished pages. That community can motivate daily coloring, and the page range covers mandalas, animals, scenery and seasonal designs. The core tap-to-color experience is relaxing and easy to learn.

Full access requires a subscription, and the social features will not appeal to users who prefer a quiet, private session. Color Therapy is best for colorists who enjoy sharing work and discovering pages through other users.