Simply Draw: Learn to Draw

I first opened Simply Draw: Learn to Draw because I wanted a low-pressure way to practice drawing without having to plan a whole art session. The appeal is easy to understand: it is an education app from Simply Ltd, built around guided drawing lessons rather than a blank canvas and a vague instruction to “get creative.” For a beginner, that structure can make the first few attempts feel much less intimidating.

My overall impression is that guided lessons can help turn a spare few minutes into a small, satisfying practice session. That is useful, but it also raises the question that matters more after the first week: does the app give you enough reason to keep returning once the novelty of following a tutorial wears off?

What the lessons feel like in everyday use

I find the most useful way to judge a guided drawing lesson is to look beyond whether I can finish it and ask what I can carry into the next sketch. A quick repeat from memory, or applying one idea to an everyday object, helps me tell the difference between following steps and building a habit. That distinction matters even more when deciding whether the lessons will keep earning a place in my routine.

The first-week appeal: a clear place to begin

First things first, downloading the app was a breeze. It’s available on both Android and iOS, so no matter what device you’re using, you’re good to go. As soon as I opened it, I was greeted with a clean and intuitive interface that made me feel right at home. Seriously, I didn’t even have to fumble around to find my way, which is always a plus in my book.

The app offers a variety of drawing lessons that cater to different skill levels. Whether you’re a total newbie or someone who’s got a bit of experience under their belt, Simply Draw has something for everyone. I was particularly impressed by the step-by-step tutorials, which are easy to follow and packed with helpful tips.

That guided format is especially useful if you are the kind of learner who freezes when faced with an empty page. Instead of deciding what to draw, how to begin, and whether your proportions look right all at once, you can concentrate on the next instruction. For a first-week routine, I would keep a pencil and scrap paper nearby, follow one lesson, then try repeating the same subject without looking at the steps. That second pass is a better test of what you learned than simply completing the tutorial.

Simply Draw is free to start, rated for Everyone, and has a 4.7 average from around 33,000 ratings. It has passed a million installs, which suggests plenty of people are curious about this approach to learning. The current version is 1.5.0, and the app was released on October 30, 2025. Those details are useful context, but the real test for me is whether its lesson-led approach fits how you actually want to draw.

Features that help, and a few things to weigh

One of the coolest features of the app is its interactive learning approach. The app guides you through each drawing with detailed instructions and visual aids, making the whole process feel like a fun game rather than a lesson. I found myself genuinely enjoying the learning experience, which is a rare find in educational apps.

Another aspect I appreciated was the variety of drawing tools available. From pencils to brushes, the app lets you experiment with different techniques and styles. This flexibility allowed me to explore my creativity without feeling restricted. Plus, the app’s realistic tool simulation gives you a sense of what it’s like to draw on paper, which is quite satisfying.

There is a trade-off between a guided digital exercise and drawing with physical materials. An on-screen tool can make experimentation convenient, but it does not fully replace the feel of paper, the resistance of a pencil, or the small corrections you make by hand. If your aim is to become more comfortable sketching on paper, use the app as a guide and do some of the same work with a real pencil. If your main goal is simply to explore a digital drawing process, staying on-screen may suit you better.

The app is free to download, with in-app purchases ranging from $14.99 to $89.99 per item. That makes it worth checking what is included before committing to a purchase, especially if you are still deciding whether guided lessons suit you. I would begin with the free experience and pay only if you have used it enough to know that its teaching style is helping you practice. It is a poor fit to buy a larger option just because you hope it will provide motivation by itself.

Making lessons fit a real routine

One of the things I really appreciated about Simply Draw was the ability to learn at my own pace. The app doesn’t rush you through the lessons, allowing you to take your time and really grasp each technique. For someone like me who’s juggling a busy schedule, this flexibility is a game-changer.

A realistic way to use that flexibility is to set aside a short, repeatable moment rather than waiting for a free afternoon. You could open a lesson after dinner, work through one drawing, and leave yourself a note about the part that felt awkward. The next time, revisit that specific challenge before moving on. This turns a sequence of finished pictures into practice with a purpose, and it helps you notice whether you are improving at shapes, lines, or observation rather than only collecting completed exercises.

The app also offers offline access, which means you can continue your lessons even when you’re not connected to the internet. This came in handy during my commute, turning otherwise mundane moments into productive learning sessions.

For a commute, I would still think about the practical setup: drawing while standing or with a phone balanced awkwardly can be frustrating, and a small screen may make details harder to follow. A seat and a stylus or pencil-compatible setup, if you already use one, can make the session more comfortable. If those conditions are not available, it may be better to review a lesson when you have a stable surface instead of forcing a rushed attempt between stops.

Month-to-month value: practice beyond the tutorial

The strongest reason to keep returning is not simply that lessons are easy to start. It is that a guided exercise can give you a repeatable framework: look carefully, make one part of a drawing, compare it with the instruction, and adjust. That process can be useful even after you no longer need help with every step. I would treat the lessons as scaffolding, then gradually spend more time drawing the same kind of subject from memory or from something nearby.

This is also where the app differs from the usual alternatives. A blank drawing app gives you tools and freedom, but it expects you to supply your own subject, sequence, and method. A video tutorial can demonstrate a technique, yet it may be less convenient to pause and work at your own speed. A book gives you a steady reference without relying on a screen, but it cannot make the practice feel as interactive. Simply Draw’s appeal is the middle ground: more direction than a blank canvas, with an active lesson format that can be easier to follow than watching a demonstration passively.

That middle ground will not suit everyone. If you already have a clear project in mind, such as designing characters or building a personal sketchbook, a general lesson path may feel like a detour. You may get more value from a focused course, an artist’s book, or a drawing app that leaves you free to work on your own references. For a newcomer who wants help starting, though, guided instruction can remove the hardest early obstacle: deciding what to practice next.

To make recurring use worthwhile, I would avoid treating every finished lesson as proof of progress. Pick one skill you want to carry into everyday drawing, such as noticing the outline of an object or keeping its parts in proportion. After a lesson, sketch a mug, a shoe, or another familiar object from life and see whether the same idea applies. This small transfer exercise reveals whether you are learning a reusable habit or only following instructions on the screen.

Community, motivation, and possible fatigue

Simply Draw also encourages you to share your creations with a community of fellow art enthusiasts. I loved browsing through the gallery to see what others had created; it’s a great source of inspiration. Plus, getting feedback from other users is a fantastic way to improve your skills.

The app also integrates seamlessly with social media platforms, so you can easily share your masterpieces with friends and family. I must admit, there’s nothing quite like seeing a thumbs-up from your mom on a drawing you’ve worked hard on!

Sharing can provide a welcome nudge, but I would keep it secondary to the actual practice. A polished result is not the only useful outcome of a drawing session; noticing that a shape is off and correcting it can matter more. If comparing your work with other people’s pictures makes you hesitant to continue, skip the gallery for a while and use the lessons privately. The best measure is whether you feel more willing to pick up a pencil, not whether every drawing looks ready to show.

Another possible source of fatigue is the structure itself. Step-by-step guidance is reassuring at first, but repeating guided exercises can start to feel restrictive if you want to invent your own subjects. A simple way to avoid that is to alternate: use a lesson when you want instruction, then make a small drawing of your own using one idea from it. If that independent step is what you enjoy most, you may eventually prefer a less structured tool; if you still need prompts and sequence, the guided format continues to earn its place.

For families or younger learners, the Everyone content rating is reassuring as a broad age classification, but it does not tell you whether a particular lesson will match an individual child’s patience or interests. I would try a session together first and see whether the instructions hold their attention. For an adult beginner, the same test applies: the app can lower the barrier to starting, but it cannot make every practice session enjoyable or replace the effort of repeating a technique.

Maintenance burden and who should choose another option

Keeping an art habit going usually takes more effort than opening an app. A small, practical routine is easier to maintain than an ambitious plan: leave a sketchbook where you can reach it, decide on a convenient time, and stop while you still have enough energy to return another day. The app’s self-paced lessons can fit around that routine, but they will not decide your schedule or guarantee that you keep drawing.

I would also keep track of what you have practiced in a way that is useful to you, whether that means saving a few drawings or writing a short note about what you found difficult. The point is not to build a complicated progress system. It is to make it easier to notice a recurring problem and choose a lesson or exercise that addresses it, rather than opening the app and browsing without a plan.

Simply Draw is at its best for someone who is new to drawing, wants a clear next step, and benefits from visual instruction. It can also suit a casual learner who wants a guided creative break without turning art into a formal course. I would be more cautious if you are already comfortable developing your own projects, strongly prefer paper-only instruction, or want detailed feedback tailored to your personal work. In those cases, a book, a class, a specialist tutorial, or an open-ended drawing tool may serve you better.

Long-term verdict

All in all, Simply Draw is a fantastic tool for anyone looking to dive into the world of drawing. It combines educational content with an engaging user experience, making learning both fun and effective. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this app has something to offer.

My longer-term recommendation is more specific: use it as a starting point and a source of practice prompts, not as a promise that drawing will become effortless. Its value lasts when you carry an idea from a lesson into your own sketches and return because you want to improve, not just because the next tutorial is waiting. The free entry point makes it reasonable to explore, while the paid items mean it is sensible to judge the teaching style for yourself before spending. If a guided path keeps you drawing, that is meaningful value; if you quickly want more freedom, you have learned that too.

If you’re ready to transform those doodles into something spectacular, give Simply Draw a try. Who knows? It might just unlock a hidden talent you never knew you had!

Pros and Cons