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The Best Adult Coloring Apps (Including Free!)

If you are looking for FREE coloring apps for adults, check out my full reviews of the best. Most of these color apps have free pages and colors. You’ll also learn which subscriptions are worth it!

Updated: October 2023 with the latest apps from the Apple Store and Android.

The best coloring apps for adults

When I thought about reviewing adult coloring apps, something came to mind immediately. Adult coloring is supposed to be relaxing, and even an escape from electronic devices. So what is the deal with these apps? Why use them over an adult coloring book and your pencils?

I’m not going to lie – I was skeptical myself. That was until I downloaded all of these to review and gave them an honest go . . . and then I discovered: adult coloring apps ARE relaxing!

Apps vs. Traditional Coloring

Here are the top things I noticed about the apps:

  1. I don’t have to break out the books and colored pencils like in traditional coloring. Sometimes I just don’t like having supplies everywhere.
  2. It’s a lot less expensive than books and pencils, markers, etc. If you are looking for an inexpensive hobby, ALL of these apps have a free option. Some are better than others which I address in each review.
  3. These apps are perfect for waiting rooms, the line at the DMV, and anytime you are bored and don’t want to be on Facebook or some other app.
  4. They STILL relax me. Yes, it’s on an electronic screen, but I can still zone out.

Color Apps that are Free

Only a few of these apps are truly free (Coloring Book, Coloring Book for Adults), as most color apps in general have in-app purchases. Having said that, a lot of them have free pages that refresh regularly.

However, Happy Color® has 15,000 free pages, so I consider it to be a free app even though there are ads. It is a color by number app.

Things to keep in mind about the “free” portions of these apps:

  • A lot of apps have switched to color by number. It’s like a paint by number, where you tap an area and add a color. That means you won’t necessarily be able to choose the colors that you use. Some of them are still traditional digital coloring.
  • Usually there are new “dailies,” or a new design every single day that you can color. So if you only do one drawing a day, you can probably stick with the free and not get a subscription.
  • Prepare yourself for lots of ads! Watching them to unlock pages, tools, etc. If you commit to free and don’t want a subscription, you’ll have to watch a lot of ads.

My Selections for “Best Of”

After reviewing these adult coloring apps, I like them all – but Pigment and Happy Color® are my DEFINITE front runners (reviews below). I also really like Chroma because of the value for what you get. Take a peek and let me know what you think!

Adult Coloring Apps

I've used every single one of these coloring apps, and they are in order of my preference.


Which of these are your favorite? Let me know in the comments! Also if you’ve tried some apps I didn’t mention, let me know that too.

nika

Wednesday 7th of August 2024

another book that i think is super underappreciated is called "Color This: Mandalas" on amazon!!! i know the artist personally, her name is Kristina and honestly its just amazing AND all hand drawn! super cool for a school-aged/maybe early college-aged artist. i might be biased, so i'll let you judge for yourself 😉 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D6GQ7CRT/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_8?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Marco

Thursday 11th of April 2024

Colorfy is the best for adults, for my kids here's a simlple one: https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/coloring-book-kids-adults/id6450711192

Kathy

Saturday 5th of August 2023

I tried the Zen app and loved it, but quit after a week. The ads were so obnoxious. It was not just one at the start, it was at least 3-4 and then other apps showed up on my screen as installed. I quit!

Cheryl

Friday 9th of June 2023

I'm looking for a coloring app that has mystery categories like Happy Color has. That's my favorite all time section! The unknown until you've colored enough. I can't find one with this mystery category section. Any suggestions?

Heather

Tuesday 6th of June 2023

I've been using Happy Color for years. I don't know if I got it during a promo period or what but it's all free with no ads. Tons of pictures, unlimited hints, no ads

Teresa

Wednesday 6th of December 2023

I have been using Happy Color for years and love it. However, I do have a problem with the size of the picture on my chromebook. Sometimes it is small and hard to see and other times the app is larger and just right for me. I wish I knew how to regulate the size. It seems to change without warning which is so frustrating. I do love the variety of pics, the daily pics, and really just the whole app!