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Charcoal

Charcoal

Visualize Your Ideas

144 ratings
125 reviews
📊 Productivity
🎨 Graphics & Design
Free

Details

Released
January 17, 2020
Updated
October 13, 2026

Features

Developer

Lars Augustin
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Charcoal screenshot #1 for iPhone
Charcoal screenshot #2 for iPhone
Charcoal screenshot #3 for iPhone
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❓5 answered
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About

This app offers a simple yet powerful sketching experience with rich tools and beautiful color palettes. Easily create and export your artwork for use in other graphics programs. It supports modern iOS features like multiple windows and dark mode for enhanced productivity.

✓Simple sketching interface
✓Rich drawing tools
✓Beautiful color palettes
✓Export sketches
✓Multiple window support
✓Dark mode
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What users say about Charcoal

Reviews of Charcoal are mostly positive: the Productivity app is rated 4.5/5 from 144 App Store ratings. What users like most: simple and intuitive, great for quick sketching. Top complaints: limited color palette, lack of customization options. Summarized from real user reviews.

Positive things

  • 🚀Simple and intuitive
  • 👍Great for quick sketching
  • 🎨Aesthetically pleasing design
  • 💰Free with no ads

Negative things

  • 🎨Limited color palette
  • 🎨Lack of customization options
  • 🎨Missing advanced drawing tools
  • 🐛Occasional bugs and crashes
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What's New in Charcoal

1.7

October 13, 2026

• It’s now easier to create a new sketch • This update adds support for iPhone Duo and iOS & iPadOS 27 • Support links have been updated

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User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

INCREDIBLE!

This is literally the most amazing thing on the planet of apps-i use it to do all my drawing-everyone who I recommend it too loves it-it’s so customisable and cute!!!Few suggestions:A bit more customising-with the pens,or the selections of colours,inserting photos-and more flexibility when using the blade,resizing,flipping.But other than this,It is absolutely PERFECT!!! Chefs kiss.
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🎧🎧typing…🤍⌨️🧋

INCREDIBLE!GET it now!-a few suggestions...

This is so adorable and simple!There are now purchasess and It is so helpfull!you can create pallets,make it light or dark on the settings!I have a few suggestions:Inserting Photos,Change size when selecting something with blade,and front and back layers.Thats all from me-DEFO RECCOMEND if you want a simple,FREE NO PURCHASE drawing app!!!Great for kids and adults!
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SDSolar dawn🧋

Settings menu does not work

The settings part of the application constantly freezes and does not improve, you need to grab and open it. It needs to be updated. I use ios 18, the application freezes all the time and I can't export pdf
44evr7teen

Good app, could do with a little more personality

I really love the idea of this app. The idea of focusing on one thing with such a minimal UI is just… nice. It looks like it just uses the basic iPad pen tools which is a shame. I would have really enjoyed a nice brush engine with a small selection of tools. Maybe add in some sound effects (as a setting) and you could really make this into something where people can focus purely on the drawing. Also I love the default colours provided btw
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JLjan Lalawa

I love this drawing app❤️

It’s a great and simple app to do when you get tired of the more complicated apps but I have one request can you please make it to where you can take off and on the little dots cause they get on my nerves when the appear out of no where thank you 😊❤️❤️❤️💕
HHhitch in by g ft htt
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User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Saved sketches lose quality

Bug

Palette colors change unexpectedly

Bug

Freezing when opening color palette

Bug
✨

Requested Features

4 requests

Ability to change brush/pen size

Feature

Layers and blending tools

Feature

Color wheel and custom color selection

Feature

Import/export options

Feature

FAQ

What is Charcoal?

Charcoal is an application designed for sketching and visualizing ideas on iOS and iPadOS devices. It focuses on a user-friendly experience with rich tools and color palettes, without complex settings or layers.

What are the key features of Charcoal?

Key features include an easy-to-use sketching interface, a variety of rich drawing tools, beautiful color palettes, the ability to export sketches for use in other graphics programs, support for multiple windows, and dark mode.

Is Charcoal free to use?

Yes, based on the provided information, Charcoal is a free application. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or advertisements.

What devices is Charcoal compatible with?

Charcoal supports modern iOS and iPadOS features, indicating it is compatible with iPhones and iPads running these operating systems. It specifically mentions support for multiple windows and dark mode, which are features of these platforms.

How can I use my sketches from Charcoal?

You can export your sketches created in Charcoal. This allows you to use your artwork in your favorite graphics programs, integrating your ideas and designs into other workflows.