Nope. Drawing tablets don’t usually come with drawing software.
However, there are some such as the Wacom Intuos that offer free drawing software as part of their package. Find out more below.
All drawing software, paid or free, needs to be downloaded and bought separately (unless they are for free of course).
Most popular drawing software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Affinity Designer, etc. needs to be purchased separately and downloaded for you to use them.
However, there are many great drawing software such as Krita and Sketchbook that are completely free to download and use.
Pro Tip: Do not confuse drawing software with the drivers for you drawing tablet and stylus. These are either provided in the CD that comes with the drawing tablet or can be downloaded from manufacturer’s website at no cost.
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Do You Need Software To Use A Drawing Tablet?
Yes.
You need drawing software in order to use a drawing tablet for things such as creating illustrations and graphics, photo editing, etc.
But don’t worry, even though most drawing tablets don’t come with drawing software, there are plenty of open-source and free drawing software that you can choose from.
The best free drawing software that I would recommend are:
- Krita – compatible with Windows, macOS, Chromebook, and Linux
- MediBang Paint – compatible with Windows, Chromebook, and macOS
- Autodesk Sketchbook – compatible with Windows, Chromebook, and macOS
You can download these directly from their respective websites at no cost.
If you’re considering using more professional drawing software, you will need to pay in order to use them. There are many great paid drawing software that you can use with your drawing tablet, the best ones that I would recommend are:
- Adobe Photoshop CC
Monthly subscription at $20.99/month (varies depending on location)
Compatible with Windows and macOS - Clip Studio Paint
One-time payment of $49.99 for PRO or $219 for EX
Compatible with Windows and macOS - Affinity Designer
One-time payment of $49.99 per feature
Compatible with Windows and best for MacOS - Corel Painter
One-time payment of $429, with additional payment for upgrades
Compatible with Windows and macOS
You can read more about the best drawing software for drawing tablets in this article.
Do Wacom tablets Come With Software?
Most of the Wacom drawing tablets are bundled with software that you can use for a limited time. Typically, it is either a 90-day trial or a 6-month license.
Beyond that time frame, you need to purchase the software yourself in order to use it.
The Wacom Intuos includes a great bundle, in my opinion, these are:
- Corel Painter Essentials 8 – 90-day license
- Corel Aftershot Pro 3 – 90-day license
- Clip Studio Paint Pro – 2-year license
Apart from the bundled software it features, Wacom Intuos is also a great drawing tablet that is perfect for beginners. You can read more about it here.
Also, you can read more about the bonus creative software that Wacom offers along with their drawing tablets here.
Are you in the market for a drawing tablet?
Do you have a specific budget? then check these out:
Something else?
- Check this out if you need a beginner-friendly tablet with display
- Find out how the popular Wacom drawing tablets compare
I love all the products that I review. At no cost to you, I may receive a commission if you buy through a link on this page. Read more here.
