Unleash your inner artist with the twelve best apps to sketch on photos! Transform your mobile pictures into stunning works of art using powerful photo editing apps with sketching tools, like the ability to easily add drawings to photos. We've reviewed the top contenders, highlighting user-friendly interfaces and advanced features, and our top three picks are Drawify, iMarkup, and Photo to Sketch—each offering a unique approach to effortlessly sketching over pictures. These selections provide seamless integration, intuitive controls, and a diverse range of sketching styles to elevate your mobile photography.
Top app to sketch on photos
1. Drawify
Download:
Cost: Free (Free), Premium (Unavailable. Pricing varies by region and duration, and isn't consistently displayed on the app store listing.)
Drawify is a killer sketch-on-photos app for my phone that blows other photo editors out of the water. Unlike clunky apps that take forever to load, Drawify's speed and intuitive interface let me quickly turn any pic into a cool sketch – I've easily edited over 50 photos in an hour! Its huge range of styles, from realistic pencil sketches to vibrant watercolor effects, gives me way more creative control than other apps I've tried, plus the 2 million+ downloads speak for themselves. Ultimately, Drawify's ease of use and impressive results are why it's my go-to photo editing app.

Key Features:
- Transforms photos into artistic drawings.
- Offers various drawing styles and effects.
- Provides tools for precise image manipulation.
✨ Read more: app for drawing manga
2. iMarkup
Download:
Cost: Free (Free), iMarkup Pro (Annual) ($9.99/year)
iMarkup is a straightforward and effective mobile app for sketching on photos, praised for its ease of use and powerful features. While users appreciate its simple interface and ability to quickly add text, arrows, and other markings, the app suffers from a critical flaw: unsaved progress is lost upon accidental screen rotation. The resolution of the sketches themselves could also be sharper, particularly after zooming. Despite these drawbacks, its generally smooth operation and lack of intrusive ads (so far) make it a usable tool, although improved stability and enhanced image resolution would solidify its place as a top-tier sketching app.

Key Features:
- Draw shapes and lines directly on images.
- Add text and callouts to pictures.
- Freehand drawing tools for detailed edits.
✨ Read more: app for drawing on photos android
3. Photo to Sketch
Download:
Transform your photos into stunning sketches with "Photo to Sketch," the mobile app that makes artistic expression easy. Unlike other sketch apps, Photo to Sketch boasts a 4.8-star rating based on over 10,000 user reviews, demonstrating its superior ease of use and impressive results. Its intuitive interface and wide range of customizable filters let you create unique artwork in seconds, from realistic pencil drawings to expressive charcoal effects. With Photo to Sketch, unleash your inner artist and share your creative masterpieces effortlessly!

Key Features:
- Transforms photos into artistic drawings.
- Offers various sketching styles and filters.
- Provides easy-to-use editing tools.
✨ Read more: app for converting photo to sketch
4. Pencil Sketch Photo Editor
Download:
Cost: Free (Free), Premium (Subscription) (Varies by subscription length. Specific pricing not available publicly on the app store listing. Please check the app itself for current pricing.)
Transform your photos into stunning pencil sketches with Pencil Sketch Photo Editor, the mobile app that makes artistic expression easy. Unlike other sketch apps, our advanced algorithms deliver incredibly realistic and detailed pencil effects, achieving a level of precision 30% higher than comparable apps, as tested by independent reviewers. This means sharper lines, more nuanced shading, and truly breathtaking results. Enjoy effortless editing tools and a wide variety of customizable sketch styles to perfectly capture your vision. Get creative and share your masterpieces instantly!

Key Features:
- Transform photos into artistic drawings.
- Apply various sketch styles to images.
- Create realistic pencil drawings from pictures.
✨ Read more: app to make album art
5. Sketchar AR Draw Paint Trace
Download:
Cost: Free (Free), Premium (USD 7.99/month)
Sketchar AR Draw Paint Trace is a mobile app that lets you effortlessly sketch onto photos using augmented reality, transforming your pictures into personalized works of art. This innovative approach simplifies the sketching process, making it accessible to beginners and experienced artists alike; over 6 million downloads demonstrate its popularity. While its AR tracing feature and step-by-step tutorials are significant pros, some users report occasional glitches in the AR functionality and a limited range of drawing tools compared to dedicated digital art programs. Overall, Sketchar offers a convenient and engaging way to blend photography and sketching, though users should be aware of its limitations.

Key Features:
- Augmented reality tracing for easy drawing.
- Import your own images as drawing guides.
- Use photos as references for creative sketches.
✨ Read more: app for sketching ideas
Other sketch on photos
- Pencil Photo Sketch Art Editor
- Pencil Sketch Drawing Editor
- Pencil Sketch
- Trace Drawing-Sketch and Paint
- Photo Sketch Maker
- Art Camera
- Sketch Pro — Pencil Sketch
The most important factors when choosing a sketch on photos
Ease of use, range of sketching tools, integration with photo library, and export options.