Free painting games on Android split into three groups: colour-by-number apps, where you fill numbered areas to reveal a picture, children's colouring books with simple brushes, and freehand paint apps. Colour-by-number suits adults who want calm, and colouring books suit kids. Three apps here show no ads or in-app purchases labels.
There's something about filling a picture with colour that quietens the mind. That's why colouring books for grown-ups had such a moment, and why painting games are now some of the most installed apps on Google Play.
I read the Google Play listings for ten popular painting and colouring apps and noted the developer, installs, the Contains ads and in-app purchases labels and any wording about offline play. All ten are rated Everyone, and they're listed in no particular order.
Most of these aren't painting in the art-class sense. You won't mix colours on a palette. But they scratch the same itch, and one app on the list does let you paint freehand if that's what you're after.
Painting apps at a glance
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coloring Games: Color & Paint | RV AppStudios | 100M+ | No ads label, no in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Happy Color®: Color by Number | X-FLOW | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Color by Number：Coloring Games | Wildlife Studios | 100M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Pixel Art - Color by Number | Easybrain | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| ibis Paint X | ibis inc. | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Drawing Games: Draw & Color | RV AppStudios | 50M+ | No ads label, no in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Paint by Number: Coloring Game | Oakever Games | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Gallery: Color by number game | Beresnev Games | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Pixel Tap: Color by Number | Inertia Software | 5M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Coloring for Kids: By Number | Play and Learn Games: Educational & Fun Adventures | 100K+ | No ads label, no in-app purchases | 'Download once and play anytime, anywhere' |
Ten apps for colouring and painting
Coloring Games: Color & Paint
RV AppStudios' colouring book is aimed at children, with drawing and painting tools for colouring in pictures on screen. It's one of the few here with no Contains ads label and no in-app purchases label, and it has more than 100M installs.
Happy Color®: Color by Number
Happy Color from X-FLOW is a colour-by-number game with a huge library of pictures. Its listing pitches it as a calm, creative break. It shows ads and in-app purchases.
Color by Number：Coloring Games
Wildlife Studios' app describes itself as a stress-relieving pixel art game, with images from many cultures and artists and the option to import your own photos. No ads label, but it has in-app purchases.
Pixel Art - Color by Number
Easybrain's Pixel Art calls itself one of the first and largest colouring games on Google Play. You fill numbered squares until a picture appears, which is oddly soothing. Ads and in-app purchases are both listed.
ibis Paint X
The odd one out. ibis Paint X isn't really a game but a full-featured illustration and animation app, for anyone who wants to paint freehand rather than fill in numbers. It shows ads and in-app purchases.
Drawing Games: Draw & Color
A second RV AppStudios app, this time with drawing lessons, connect-the-dots and glow painting for children. Like its sister app, it shows no ads label and no in-app purchases label.
Paint by Number: Coloring Game
Oakever Games' Paint by Number blends colouring with a puzzle feel, according to its listing, and is aimed at all ages. It shows ads and in-app purchases.
Gallery: Color by number game
Gallery from Beresnev Games mixes colour by number with home design, room decorating and a story about two characters, Mia and Leo. It's the pick if you want your painting to lead somewhere. Ads and in-app purchases listed.
Pixel Tap: Color by Number
Inertia Software's Pixel Tap has you fill blocks colour by colour, from simple cartoons to big detailed artworks. Ads and in-app purchases are both shown.
Coloring for Kids: By Number
A small children's app from Play and Learn Games that lets kids colour by numbers, by letters or freely. It's the only listing here that clearly mentions playing with no Wi-Fi, and it shows no ads or in-app purchases labels.
Colour by number or freehand painting?
Colour-by-number games do the hard part for you. The picture is already drawn and every area has a number, so you just match colours and watch it come together. It's relaxing because there's no wrong answer and no blank page.
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Freehand apps like ibis Paint X are the opposite. You start with nothing and build a picture with brushes and layers. That's far more creative, but it can feel like work if you only wanted to switch off for ten minutes.
Picking a colouring app for a child
- Labels: the two RV AppStudios apps and the Play and Learn Games app show no ads or in-app purchases labels.
- Simple tools: big brushes and a clear undo button matter more than lots of options.
- Offline: only one listing here says it plays without Wi-Fi, so check before a trip.
- Shop: turn on approval for every shop request in Google Play before you hand over the phone.
Why filling squares feels so calming
Pixel and number apps work because they give your hands something to do while your mind wanders. The progress is visible with every tap, and finishing a picture gives a small, tidy sense of reward. Many adults use them the way they'd once have used a puzzle book on the sofa.
The catch is that new pictures are often what the in-app shop sells. If you find yourself running out, look for a daily free picture before anything else.
From colouring to making your own
If painting on a phone sparks a wider interest in making things, building your own game is a fun next step. My guide on how to make Roblox games as a beginner walks through the basics.
For something with more of a brain-teaser feel, room escape puzzle games, solved step by step use the same eye for detail you need to spot a missed square.
And if the kids need to burn off energy after a quiet colouring session, parkour games, from big names to free phone picks are about as far from calm as you can get.
Frequently asked questions
Are these painting games free?
Yes. Every app on this page is free to install from Google Play, though most have in-app purchases.
What's the difference between painting games and colour by number?
Colour-by-number apps give you a finished outline with numbered areas to fill. Freehand paint apps let you draw from a blank canvas.
Which painting apps have no ads label?
Wildlife Studios' Color by Number, both RV AppStudios apps and the Play and Learn Games app show no Contains ads label.
Can I play painting games offline?
Only the Play and Learn Games listing clearly says it plays without Wi-Fi. The others make no offline claim.
Is ibis Paint X a game?
Not really. It's a full illustration and animation app, included here for anyone who wants to paint freehand.
Are painting games good for children?
All ten are rated Everyone. For younger children, the apps with no ads or in-app purchases labels are the simplest choice.
