SketchBook Express for Mac download

SketchBook Express is a graphic design app for Mac developed by Sketchbook. It’s provided under a full license.

Technical

Title

SketchBook Express

Requirements

Language

English

Available languages

German
English
Spanish
French
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Chinese (Simplified)

License

Full

Latest update

2025-12-23

Author

Sketchbook

Other Useful Business Software

Gemini 3 and 200+ AI Models on One Platform

Access Google's best plus Claude, Llama, and Gemma. Fine-tune and deploy from one console.

Build, govern, and optimize agents and models with Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.

Start Free

Rate This App

User Reviews

Be the first to post a review of SketchBook Express!

Related Software

SketchBook Pro

SketchBook offers a lightweight Express edition for casual drawing and quick edits and a Pro edition that adds a much larger, more customizable toolset for professional work. Key features include a wide selection of customizable brushes, layer and symmetry controls, precise selection tools, line-smoothing and clipping masks, shape-assist and quick crop tools, sharpening/blur and fill/erase options, PSD export, and gesture-driven shortcuts that keep the interface minimal while exposing advanced settings in Pro. The app is generally approachable but has a learning curve because of its many options; performance is smooth on capable hardware but can vary by device. There’s a free tier with core tools and a paid upgrade for advanced brushes and premium features. Strengths are its intuitive workspace, extensive toolset and strong stylus support; limitations include no built-in cloud syncing, occasional device-specific performance issues, and varying perceptions about update frequency. For a free, feature-rich alternative, consider Krita.

Alchemy

Alchemy, created by Karl D.D. Willis, is a free drawing utility in the Utilities and Graphic Design space that provides a simple, low-friction interface for freeform sketching and playful experimentation. It encourages rapid, off-the-cuff drawing with a selection of adjustable brushes and color options, minimal controls that keep the focus on expression rather than menus, and a workflow that favors spontaneity over precision. Well suited to hobbyists and professionals for early-stage ideation and thumbnailing, it offers a distraction-free space to explore visual ideas; alternatives to consider if you want more advanced or different toolsets include Krita, CheatSheet, and Autodesk SketchBook.

SketchBook Pro

Sketchbook Pro is a versatile drawing and painting app with a broad, customizable brush library, pressure- and tilt-aware stylus support, layer controls, symmetry and line-stabilization tools, clipping masks, nondestructive editing, and PSD export. Its clear, approachable interface and features like Steady Stroke and adjustable brush presets make it suitable for quick sketches, concept work, storyboards, and detailed illustration, offering a natural-feeling digital drawing experience that helps artists move from idea to finished image efficiently. Common trade-offs include variable performance on lower-powered hardware, no built-in cloud synchronization (files are saved locally unless you use a separate service), and a dense feature set that can overwhelm new users. There’s a free tier with a paid upgrade that unlocks advanced brushes and export options, and some users question whether update cadence and premium value justify the cost; nevertheless, many find it a strong, practical choice for both hobbyists and professionals.

Freeway Express

Freeway Express evaluation edition is a multimedia application for graphic and web design that emphasizes accessibility and a simplified, WYSIWYG workflow. It offers customizable templates, drag-and-drop building blocks to reduce manual coding, tools for both basic edits and more advanced adjustments, and an interface focused on clarity to help organize and publish web content, making it suitable for users with limited coding experience as well as designers who need quick prototyping. The evaluation edition unlocks most functionality for a limited time and lets you continue projects if you purchase the full product. As a free alternative, Inkscape is an open-source vector editor with advanced drawing tools and strong export options (SVG, PNG, PDF) that designers can use to produce web-ready images and assets.

Mazaika Free

Mazaika Free is a graphic design application developed by Boris Glazer and released under a free license.

MacDraft Pro

MacDraft Pro, by Microspot Ltd, is a graphic design application available under a full license.

Icon Slate

Icon Slate, created by Jérémy Marchand, is a graphic design application offered under a full license.

Ballpoint Universe: Infinite

Ballpoint Universe: Infinite is a fast-paced shoot ’em up that mixes arcade combat with light exploration across intricately crafted, hand-drawn environments. Everything is rendered with a ballpoint-pen aesthetic—inked linework and sketchbook textures—that gives levels a distinctive, doodle-like character; levels hide secret paths, puzzles, and collectibles that reward curiosity and deviation from the main route. Combat centers on piloting an Ink-Ship that can be upgraded and customized with different weapons, defenses, and systems, adding a tactical layer that encourages experimenting with loadouts and playstyles. The game appeals to players who enjoy action-focused gameplay combined with a strong visual identity and exploratory depth.

Asleep - Ato 1

Asleep - Ato 1 is a psychological horror adventure that follows Ana Lúcia, a lonely, confused girl in Brazil’s northeast during the 1990s, as she navigates a nightmarish, symbolic world revealed through environmental cues, collected items, and sketchbook entries. The game blends point-and-click exploration with inventory puzzles, a light-versus-dark sanity mechanic that forces careful management of illumination, and stealth-focused encounters that emphasize avoidance over combat. Stylized 2D visuals and fluid animations enhance a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere where mundane locations become menacing and nothing feels safe. The narrative is deliberately restrained, unfolding through small details and leaving many questions unanswered, which makes the experience emotionally resonant despite being only the first instalment. Puzzles are varied and satisfying, and the emphasis on atmosphere and symbolic writing will appeal to players who prefer slow-burning, puzzle-oriented horror that grapples with mature themes rather than action-focused gameplay.