Fresco users no longer require a subscription to unlock the full version of the app.
Adobe has just shaken up the digital art world by making its dedicated drawing and painting app, Adobe Fresco, entirely free. In an effort to attract more illustrators and digital artists to its creative ecosystem, Adobe is removing all paywalls from Fresco—its answer to popular apps like Procreate and Clip Studio Paint. These apps are renowned for their powerful tools, intuitive design, and ability to simulate real-world materials, such as sketching pencils and watercolor paints.
Until now, Fresco featured a free version with a limited toolset, while more advanced options, including access to the full Adobe Fonts library, an expansive brush selection, and custom brush imports, were locked behind a $9.99 annual subscription. While this price was already affordable compared to many Adobe products, it still couldn’t match Procreate’s one-time purchase model of $12.99, which has been a huge draw for hobbyists and professionals alike.
What’s New with Fresco?
As of today, all of Fresco’s premium features are now available for free to every user, a move that marks a significant shift in Adobe’s strategy. Launched in 2019, Fresco may not have the same recognition as Adobe’s flagship products like Photoshop and Illustrator, but it has steadily built a reputation for offering a unique drawing experience. The app is optimized for touch and stylus-supported devices and is available on iPad, iPhone, and Windows PCs.
Some standout features of Fresco include advanced tools like reflective and rotation symmetry, which allow you to mirror your artwork in real-time as you draw. Another interesting aspect is the ability to animate drawings with motion presets such as “bounce” and “breathe,” adding life to your sketches in just a few clicks. These capabilities, alongside now unlimited access to the Adobe Fonts library and hundreds of specialized brushes, make Fresco a comprehensive option for digital artists.
Competing with the Big Players: Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, and Krita
Adobe’s decision to make Fresco completely free could be seen as a direct challenge to other popular digital art tools like Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, and Krita. Each of these apps has carved out its niche within the creative community, largely due to their affordability, simplicity, and support for devices like the iPad—a device that, for many, is more affordable than investing in a computer and a professional drawing tablet.
For instance, Procreate has become almost synonymous with iPad illustration, building a loyal user base that swears by its one-time purchase pricing model and robust toolset. Many hobbyists, indie designers, and professional illustrators rely on Procreate for everything from fan art to web comics. Beyond its price, Procreate has also garnered attention for its strong stance against integrating generative AI into the app—a topic of growing concern among artists who worry about the technology’s impact on jobs and the ethics of how AI models are trained.
Can Fresco Compete?
While Adobe is no stranger to the professional design world, it has faced challenges in winning over parts of the creative community—particularly indie artists and illustrators. Many digital artists, particularly those just starting out or working independently, are drawn to Procreate’s simplicity and affordable one-time payment. However, with Fresco now completely free, Adobe may have an opportunity to reach a broader audience.
Fresco offers some features that could sway users in its favor. Unlike Procreate, Fresco is not limited to iPads. It has a desktop app, allowing artists to work across different platforms seamlessly, a flexibility that Procreate users don’t have. In addition, Fresco integrates with Adobe’s cloud storage, meaning your projects can be accessed from any device, whereas Procreate files are stored locally on the iPad.
That said, Adobe’s broader reputation in the creative industry could still be a hurdle. Some creators have expressed frustration with Adobe’s pricing models and reliance on subscription services. And while Fresco itself has not integrated generative AI features, Adobe’s recent ventures into AI technology have sparked concern among parts of the artist community, making some wary of fully committing to its ecosystem.
Will Artists Make the Switch?
The decision to make Fresco free is a bold play by Adobe, aiming to tap into the growing market of hobbyists and professional digital artists who may be reluctant to invest heavily in software. By eliminating the cost barrier, Adobe could entice users who may have otherwise dismissed Fresco in favor of cheaper or more established alternatives.
However, success will depend on whether Fresco can truly compete with the ease and accessibility of apps like Procreate, which has become the go-to for many digital artists. Procreate’s fan base is fiercely loyal, largely due to the app’s affordability, intuitive design, and continued opposition to generative AI tools.
In contrast, Fresco’s cloud integration and cross-platform capabilities give it a technical edge, especially for artists working on larger, more complex projects. The app’s specialized features, like its advanced brush system and animation tools, are also major draws that could help it stand out.
With Fresco now available at no cost, the real question is: will this be enough to lure artists away from Procreate and other alternatives? Only time will tell, but Adobe’s decision to take on the competition with a free, feature-packed app shows just how serious they are about expanding their influence in the digital art space.
Adobe’s move to make Fresco free is a significant shift in the digital art landscape. Whether it will be enough to win over Procreate’s devoted users remains to be seen, but it certainly opens up new possibilities for artists looking for more professional-grade tools without the hefty price tag. For digital illustrators and creatives, the choice between Fresco and its competitors just got a lot more interesting.
