--- title: ArtRage Reviews meta_title: 'ArtRage Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 73 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how ArtRage works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.4 review_count: 73 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-07-12' parent_category: name: Graphic Design url: https://www.g2.com/categories/graphic-design --- # ArtRage Reviews **Vendor:** Ambient Design Ltd **Category:** [Drawing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/drawing) **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 73 ## About ArtRage ArtRage is uniquely realistic and intuitive drawing software for real artists. Designed to be easy and fun to use, yet powerful enough for professionals, ArtRage offers a wide range of digital and natural media tools and features. Created by a small company in New Zealand, we pride ourselves on our fantastic user base, the reliability and quality of our program and responsive support. ArtRage is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. ## ArtRage Reviews ### 1. Traditionally digital **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** I like the broad selection of brushes and effects it does to my paintings, like it almost compares to the real thing. It was fun and even if I'm more into traditional, I enjoyed it. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** It leaned more into the traditional feel. Like when I was using the watercolor brush, the colors kept fading until I can't paint. I had to lift my pen tablet again just like I was reloading my brush. It was cool and all but it was annoying for a digital painting software. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** I recommend this for users who wanted to experience painting but afraid to make mistakes and throw tons of money just to buy paint **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** It was easy to blend colors to create different hues. Rather than setting opacity and flow, I was really painting like it was the real thing ### 2. Drawing/painting application with the best interface I have ever experienced. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Eldes O. | Ilustrador, Designer Gráfico e Desenvolvedor de Sistemas, Graphic Design, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** - Interface: I can solve everything with the stylus (pen) and is almost never required using the keyboard. You can solve everything with the stylus and is almost never required using the keyboard. This makes it faster and more fluid process. - Tools: The tools are very similar to the traditional tools by which already I have familiarity. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** - CMYK: Absence of any control of color gamut to work for printing. - Memory/Processing: Job for printing (300 dpi resolution) requires much processing and generates lag time to draw or paint. This primarily with some tools (such as Watercolor) and when there are too many layers. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** Better drawing/painting application for works with medium dimensions and for working with a tablet. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I dramatically decreases the time for illustration process, producing from rough to the artwork and coloring directly in ArtRage. ### 3. Excellent software and cost-effective **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Marketing and Advertising | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 18, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** I love the textures, such as the paintings are with such a real appearance , smoothing the lines although exaggerated sometimes is very useful , the variety of brushes , tools Tracing and Refs are very useful too. The oil is excellent brushs and the knife is a perfect combination **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** One of the only things I do not like is when I use the watercolor and has dark pigments on the sides, I find it strange . I can not export the files to CMYK. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** I always recommend to my friends ArtRage because it is a cheaper and professional quality software , all you need to work with illustrations and paintings are there. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I managed to do painting work, I would not do with Photoshop. Now I can do what look like real paintings to my clients ### 4. Awesome tool to achieve "handmade look" and happy accidents. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** José S. | Flash Animator, Media Production, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 18, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** I really enjoy the realistic behavior of brushes and pigment, and how you don't have the entire control of the result which is great because it gives a spontaneous look to your work, and that is hard to achieve with other software. I also love the user interface, it really gives you enough room to work and allows you quick access to all tools. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** - Although I love the great and original brush behavior of this software I would love to have a better set of customized textured based brushes. - It is hard to work with it when dealing with big file sizes. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I used I spend too much time o trying to avoid the "digital look" in my work, but with this software I can be achieve a "handmade look" a way fast. ### 5. Really love it! **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Graphic Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** I love the textured-like feature the most! My painting and drawing turns out effortlessly "dramatic". Like you were doing the real painting techniques but you were also relieved thay you can ctrl+z your painting (or drawing). I'm satisfy with the simplicity of Artrage and I found it really useful. No regrets :) **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** Artrage has a different file format. So I need to re-save my drawing/painting to another format (like .png) if I had to layout/retouch my drawing in another software (like Ai,Ps). **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I've been using Artrage since 2010 when I'm doing my Final Project in College. I'm interested do my project manually, like watercolor illustration and mixed media, but such media took really long time to finished. Then Artrage came into my life in the mid of project like a savior. ### 6. Good drawing emulator **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stanisław Z. | Freelancer, Computer Games, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** - nice emulation of drawing chalk/pencil - very entertaining painting, and how the colors merge - ability to import/export PSD - layers - UI that is not dull **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** - not so many effects and features as other graphic software - sometimes, when working on bigger pictures, program can be slow **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** It is good and easy to use tool for artists that are looking to digitize their visual concepts. The pencil is cool (although I prefer thin chalk as pencil emulator), and watching how paint is mixing on the stage is just fun and amazing. Worth trying. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I could refine my sketches by adding to them some lines and drawing, without loosing hand-like effect and feeling. After that I could place the final work in the video game I made, as concept-arts. ### 7. Great program! **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jack S. | Freelance Illustrator, Fine Art, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 18, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** ArtRage is the best digital painting software I've ever used. The way the oil paint mixes is really amazing **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** The watercolor can lag a bit if you don't have a really fast computer. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** ArtRage is the best digital painting software I've used. The sketching tools aren't as strong. It also have a built in video screen capture that is really cool. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I can create traditional looking artwork using just my Wacom tablet and Artrage. ### 8. Rage On **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Charlie P. | Training Content Developer, Airlines/Aviation, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 18, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** I really like the interaction of the stylus with it. It's fast and responsive. Art Rage is a beautiful tool that's simple to use yet gIves yout a ton of control. And that it integrates with Photoshop is even better. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** There are a few features that are unnecessary, like stickers, that some make it feel like a kids toy. Just stick to inks and paints! **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** Pick this up for a change of pace and from whatever else your doing. It's quick to learn, cheap to buy, and produces beautiful results. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have used it to comp animation backgrounds and experiment with style and color. It's quick and easy to use, supports layers, and it looks a lot like paint but there's no mess. ### 9. Industrial design professional. I use a combination of ArtRage and Photoshop/Painter. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 06, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** Simplicity. You only have the tools you want/need and they do a good job of replicating the look and grit of traditional media. It's like the minimalism of Autodesk Sketchbook Pro with the look of Corel Painter. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** My personal style also combines graphic elements and technical drawing tools. I wish ArtRage had more graphic tools and and technical drawing support. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** This is a great tool for sketching. Rendering is where you need to make a decision. If your personal rendering style is looser or more artistic, you can probably complete your work in only one program(ArtRage). If you require or prefer a tighter rendering style, you will need to combine ArtRage with Photoshop or Painter to use paths or other techniques to tighten up the line work and render precisely. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am a designer and solve problems for specific users. Visual communication is the at the heart of what I do. If I can't communicate quickly and clearly, I will not be successful. ### 10. Help for inking the drawing **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Fine Art | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 23, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** Very practical for tracing over a sketch or drawing on a photo as a background image. Possibility to do beautiful inking; Many very useful tools, pastel, oil, pencils, very realistic. Very intuitive software; For advertising or communication, in general, I do my black line on ArtRage and then export it to Photoshop for coloring. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** Lack of speed if the drawing is too large **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** Very intuitive, amazing effect. I use it every day. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** There is a very good selection of paper textures, and the works done in oil paint or pastels are excellent. I love working with this software and would find it hard to do without it. ### 11. Feel free to feel good! **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Architecture & Planning | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** When the software is up, the whole mood feels like you've unrolled a new sheet to design, and your pencils and brushes are ready! When someone uses a software instead of real paper, colors and drawing tools, it's completely crucial not to feel "There is a software i'm using". It should feels like you are working with real tools. While using the software, It's very important to concentrate on the painting. Sometimes the complexity of adjustments and settings disconnect us from concentration. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** The thing is adjusting the thickness/hardness/etc. can't be just based on numbers! It feels nothing! I think it would be better to make adjustments in a different way to keep me concentrated on my work, rather than understanding numbers. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** Considering the personality of artists and their way of arranging tools, using pallets, papers and working stuff, It would be effective if they be able to customize the arrangements as they prefer. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Users of this software are Artists. They get inspire and find their own mood before working. They need to feel it like Personal Studio. This term is beyond the issue of being "user friendly". ### 12. Easiest software I have ever used **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Marketing and Advertising | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** I really like the user interface. It is easy to use and friendly. Gives a very unique and similar to painting in real. The features and paper textures are unique that are not very much given in photoshop. I like I can impost my sketches and paint over them for a reference. And it works very well when it comes to details. Although photoshop takes time to understand the software whereas Artrage is easy to understand and takes you barely 2 minutes to learn it. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** The software takes a lot of memory when it runs and makes the computer very slow than photoshop. It has a lot of brush options and layer options but photoshop has more options than it. Other part it that photoshop and illustrator can be linked together so you can work with both vector and pixels where as Artrage does not have a vector program with to link with. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** Go for it. It dose not disappoint. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I usually use it for my own personal use than in a professional world. ### 13. Versatile software but not user friendly **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Arts and Crafts | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 04, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** The media options provided and the various controls that come with it. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** It is not user friendly compared to Photoshop. Options aren't clear. I cannot import a file and then resize it to take reference. Only option I found was to import file for tracing which imports it in the document size, there is no option to resize it. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** Photoshop with its brushes is more useful. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I was trying to learn to draw digitally, but couldn't on this software ### 14. High quality simulation of real Media **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Martin N. | Art Teacher, Graphic Design, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** Artrage is a great addition to any digital artists toolkit. It's a great supplement to photoshop, with its more natural feel, and advanced brush types. The oil color simulation is great, and colors blend naturally. The different types of canvas and paper, all affect the brushes in their own way. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** The program handles high resolution files badly compared to for example photoshop. The digital pencil isn't on par with other programs such as procreate on the ipad. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I do digital illustrations of various types. For clients asking for a traditional style of work, artrage with its natural toolset works great. ### 15. Great lightweight drawing app **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Matthew B. | Visual Design Contractor, Management Consulting, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** Art rage has some really great drawing tools for those of us that use a tablet, but it doesn't pack in a lot of bloat you don't need. The interface is clean and gets out of your way. I especially like the crispness of the drawing pens. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** Art rage isn't great for editing purposes, such as cropping, color correction, etc. For these kinds of features I export my artwork to a PSD and edit it in Photoshop. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** This is a great tool for creating my illustrations. I use it for anything that requires me to draw. ### 16. Very good software solution for digital painters & illustrators **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Arts and Crafts | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** I got introduced to ArtRage by a colleague (illustrator). From the first tryout i really liked the paint textures (especially oil & watercolor). They are precise and give a natural look and feel to the illustrations. The brushes and pencils are working smoothly with the aid of a Wacom tablet. One important asset is the transparent layer that gives you the chance to quick-edit an image the way traditional animators do. The color palette interface is also friendly and easy to use. I would overall say it is a software built for digital painters and traditional illustrators that need a more friendly interface than Adobe's Photoshop or Illustrator. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** The software is kind of slow when importing photos in high resolution. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** More friendly approach and user interface for digital painting. ### 17. I love artrage! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Asma J. | Senior Creative Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** I love how close to the true nature of medium it is. Like oils is like oils and pencil is like real pencils and the paper textures are on point! **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** I feel like we can add more paper options right now its limited. Also do not like how heavy the software is :( **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I feel like in the digital world this software brings the traditional art style allowing for a good combination of the two. I do hope we can create vector based artwork with this software soon. ### 18. Amazingly authentic feel **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jaakko V. | WÖRKS – Founding Partner, Creative, Marketing and Advertising, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 18, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** Recognizes the amount of pigment per pixel. The magic happens how smoothly different colours will be mixed. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** Unable to import Artrage files between iPhone, iPad and Desktop. Colour recognition in copying the paint colour isn't that precise if you pick the colour from existing layer. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** If you want an authentic feel and result, try it! It's eve cheap :) **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Definitely the most authentic painting feel compared to other softwares. By ArtRage it is possible to create very big files in desktop environment. ### 19. Wonderful and very easy to use software. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nadezhda P. | Jewelry Designer, Apparel & Fashion, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 22, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** It's very easy for a beginner to get into the swing of the software and a beginner could very fast become professional. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** I would appreciate if some day more options are included and maybe a faster way of resizing a new layer attributes. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** This software is a main part in my work as a designer. I'm sketching almost all of my projects there. Clients are contented, which means that my realization as an artist is also higher. ### 20. I love this program. I am blown away by what this product can do. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Scotty S. | Executive Creative Director, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** The ease of use. I am able to paint with no mess to clean up! What?? **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** I did not like that I could not export a very large file from the iPad app, but could from the Desktop app. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** If you are looking for the closet thing to really painting on a canvas, you can look no more. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I can paint late at night while laying horizontal on my sofa on my iPad. ### 21. A pretty neat software **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Snigdha P. | Graphic Designer, Apparel & Fashion, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** It's a simple software to use. The UI is pretty straightforward and makes it a fun experience. It gives you great control over your artwork. Professionals and beginners could use this easily. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** Not a lot to add here.As a beginner level illustrator I find this quite simple to use. **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** Its a great software to start practising on. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** The blending feels realtime. So, that's a great advantage. ### 22. From big to small this tool has it all **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Media Production | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** Oil paint and watercolour like no other, simple clear unfussy interface. **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** Can be a bit slow with later versions but only on older hardware. **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** A simple, quick to learn , intuitive way to paint and draw with layers and control. ### 23. VERY NICE realistic painting feel **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Design | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2016 **What do you like best about ArtRage?** getting the feel of water color, good for ideation **What do you dislike about ArtRage?** pen tool is not handy, making detailed sketch is difficult **Recommendations to others considering ArtRage:** Its a best tool for getting real sketching feel, good for ideation **What problems is ArtRage solving and how is that benefiting you?** ideation phase in a design process ## ArtRage Discussions - [What is ArtRage Lite?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-artrage-lite) - [How much does ArtRage cost?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-much-does-artrage-cost) - [What is the best tablet for ArtRage?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-best-tablet-for-artrage) - 1 upvote - [What solutions have You put in place to counteract specific problem areas?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-solutions-have-you-put-in-place-to-counteract-specific-problem-areas) - 1 upvote - [Any chance there is a place I can find a info page so I can navigate the Android app easier, for a newbie??](https://www.g2.com/discussions/29647-any-chance-there-is-a-place-i-can-find-a-info-page-so-i-can-navigate-the-android-app-easier-for-a-newbie) - [View ArtRage pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/artrage/reviews?page=2§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-31+14%3A21%3A13+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=6e570f4f-bf5d-41de-90db-d34c99ae17a4&secure%5Btoken%5D=486ba80824ccd05963c9b62a68ddd593f15736df773ed4246d5383a16d575415&format=llm_user) ## Top ArtRage Alternatives - [Sketchbook](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchbook/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (173 reviews) - [Procreate](https://www.g2.com/products/procreate/reviews) - 4.9/5.0 (70 reviews) - [Krita](https://www.g2.com/products/krita/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (65 reviews)