A Canvas That Was Sitting in Your Drawer
You don’t need an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil to start making digital art. Your old iPad or Android tablet, paired with a basic stylus ($10-20), runs drawing and sketching apps that would have cost hundreds of dollars as standalone software a decade ago.
Is it as good as a dedicated drawing tablet or a new iPad with Apple Pencil? No. The stylus won’t have pressure sensitivity (unless your iPad supports Apple Pencil), and the screen might not be as responsive. But for learning digital art, sketching ideas, kids’ drawing, or casual illustration, it’s more than capable.
Stylus Options
If Your iPad Supports Apple Pencil
Check 
Apple’s compatibility list. Apple Pencil 1st gen works with iPad 6th gen (2018)+, iPad Air 3+, iPad mini 5+, and all iPad Pros.
If your “old” iPad supports Apple Pencil, you’ve got a professional-grade drawing experience. A used 1st gen Apple Pencil is $50-70 on Swappa.
If Your iPad Doesn’t Support Apple Pencil
Most older iPads (pre-2018) don’t support Apple Pencil. You’ll need a capacitive stylus:
- Adonit Mark ($10) — basic mesh-tip stylus, works on any touchscreen
- Adonit Dash 4 ($30) — fine-point stylus with better precision, no palm rejection
- Logitech Crayon ($50) — works on iPads that support Apple Pencil 1st gen (not truly “old” iPads, but worth mentioning)
Android Tablet Styluses
Some Samsung Galaxy Tabs come with an S Pen — if yours does, you already have pressure sensitivity and palm rejection. For other Android tablets:
- Adonit Note+ ($40) — works with most Android tablets, good precision
- Any capacitive stylus ($10-15) — same as iPad, basic but functional
- Samsung S Pen (if compatible) — the best option for Samsung tablets by far
The honest truth about capacitive styluses: They work, but they’re not precise. The tip is thicker than you’d like, there’s no pressure sensitivity, and palm rejection doesn’t work (you’ll need a drawing glove or be careful about your hand placement). For sketching and casual art, they’re fine. For detailed illustration, save up for a device with active stylus support.
Best Drawing Apps
Procreate ($13, iPad Only)
The best drawing app on iPad. Period. Professional-quality brushes, layers, animation, and export. One-time purchase, no subscription. Runs well on iPads going back to the iPad Air 2.
Minimum requirement: iPad Air 2 or newer, iOS 15.4+
If your iPad runs Procreate, buy it. It’s worth it even on an old device.
Sketchbook (Free — iPad & Android)
Autodesk’s Sketchbook is now completely free — no ads, no subscriptions, full feature set. Professional brush engine, layers, symmetry tools. Works on older devices than Procreate (iOS 14+, Android 8+).
This is the best free drawing app on either platform and an excellent option for older tablets that can’t run Procreate.
MediBang Paint (Free — iPad & Android)
A full-featured manga and comic drawing app. Free with optional premium brushes. Cloud storage for your work. Supports layers, panels, and comic templates. Popular with aspiring manga artists. Works on both platforms.
ibis Paint X (Free — iPad & Android)
Hugely popular drawing app with over 15,000 brushes, layer support, and recording features that let you share your drawing process. The free version has ads but the full feature set is available. Especially popular on Android.
Paper by WeTransfer (Free, iPad)
The most beginner-friendly drawing app. Simple, beautiful tools — a pen, pencil, marker, watercolor brush, and eraser. No overwhelming menus. Great for kids and casual sketching.
Drawing for Kids (Free / $3, Both Platforms)
Specifically designed for young children. Simple shapes, colors, stamps, and stickers. No text, just visual tools. Good for ages 3-7.
iPad Digital Art for Beginners
If you’re new to digital art, start here:
- Install Sketchbook (free, works on everything) — learn the basics without spending anything
- Start with simple exercises — trace photos, copy simple shapes, practice lines and circles
- Watch YouTube tutorials — search “digital art for beginners iPad” or “Sketchbook tutorial” for hundreds of free lessons
- Don’t worry about the stylus — even a $10 capacitive stylus teaches you the fundamentals. You can upgrade later if you stick with it.
- Try different styles — sketching, coloring, manga, lettering, watercolor effects. Digital art apps let you experiment without wasting paper.
The old tablet is perfect for this stage. If digital art clicks for you, you’ll know it’s time to invest in better hardware. If it doesn’t, you spent $0-13 finding out.
Setup for Kids
An old tablet as a kids’ drawing surface is hard to beat:
- Install Paper by WeTransfer, Drawing for Kids, or Sketchbook
- Set up Guided Access (iPad) or Screen Pinning (Android) to lock to the drawing app
- Get a cheap stylus ($10) or let them use their fingers
- Put on a rugged case
- Let them create
Kids don’t need Procreate. They need a canvas and colors. The old tablet provides exactly that, and if they’re talented, they’ll outgrow it and you’ll know it’s time for an upgrade.
Using It as a Secondary Drawing Display
If you have a computer with creative software (Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint), you can use the old tablet as a secondary display or drawing surface:
- Sidecar (Mac + newer iPads) — use the iPad as a drawing surface for Mac apps with Apple Pencil
- Duet Display ($4/year, iPad & Android) — turns the tablet into a drawing input for Mac or PC
- Astropad ($30/year, iPad) — specifically designed to turn iPads into professional drawing tablets for Mac
These options work best with Apple Pencil or S Pen support. With a basic capacitive stylus, the drawing experience as a secondary tablet is mediocre.
Quick Setup
- Get a stylus ($10-50 depending on your tablet model)
- Install Sketchbook (free) or Procreate ($13, if compatible)
- Optional: get a matte screen protector ($8) — it gives the screen a paper-like texture that feels better for drawing
- Start sketching
Your old tablet won’t replace a Wacom Cintiq or a new iPad Pro for professional work. But for learning, experimenting, kids’ art projects, or casual sketching on the couch, it’s a $0-13 art studio that was already in your house.
