Best coloring apps for kids on iPhone and iPad (2026)
What are the best coloring apps for kids on iPhone and iPad in 2026?
For most parents, the best kids coloring apps are Paint My Cat for toddlers who want a painted picture to turn into a 3D toy, Painto for children aged 2 to 8 who want to paint 3D characters directly and also use a 2D coloring book, and Coloring Games: Painting, Glow for a broad set of modes that its developer says is free. Paint My Cat is a long-running app made for ages 0 to 5, though a store review complains that an update put some activities behind a subscription. Painto offers tap-to-fill and big targets for ages 2 to 4, color-by-number for ages 5 to 8, works fully offline and has no ads; extra content uses a weekly, yearly or lifetime purchase, and it is a new app with few ratings.
Disclosure: ODEL makes Painto. We list other apps on their merits, say where they are the better choice, and link our sources. Store ratings and prices are from the public App Store listing on the date shown.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Price | Store rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint My Cat! Kids Painting | Toddlers who want their painting to become a 3D toy | iOS | Free to download | 4.5 (1,530 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| Painto (ours) | Children aged 2 to 8 who want to paint 3D characters and 2D pages | iOS | Free to download | — |
| Coloring Games: Painting, Glow | Many coloring modes in one app, including glow and doodle | iOS | Free to download | 4.5 (7,520 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| Crayola Create and Play | Preschoolers who like drawing mixed with other play | iOS, Android | Free to download | 4.3 (42,586 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
1. Paint My Cat! Kids Painting: best for toddlers who want their painting to become a 3D toy
Paint My Cat! Kids Painting (by Nanu Interactive Inc.) is best for toddlers who want their painting to become a 3D toy. Color a picture and it becomes a 3D character to play with. Guided for children who cannot read; Made for Ages 0–5 on the App Store. The main limitations: A store review says an update added subscription-locked activities to an already-bought app; Some reviewers ask for more places and content.
Why we picked it
- Color a picture and it becomes a 3D character to play with
- Guided for children who cannot read; Made for Ages 0–5 on the App Store
Limitations
- A store review says an update added subscription-locked activities to an already-bought app
- Some reviewers ask for more places and content
Sources: apps.apple.com
2. Painto: best for children aged 2 to 8 who want to paint 3D characters and 2D pages
Painto (by ODEL) is best for children aged 2 to 8 who want to paint 3D characters and 2D pages. Paint real 3D characters, spin them around and watch them dance. Ages 2–4: big targets, forgiving taps, tap-to-fill, no reading. Ages 5–8: color-by-number mode, free pencil, eraser and zoom. Works fully offline; no ads, no third-party trackers; parental gate on purchases. The main limitations: Extra content needs a weekly, yearly or lifetime purchase; iPhone and iPad only, English only; New app with few ratings so far.
Why we picked it
- Paint real 3D characters, spin them around and watch them dance
- Ages 2–4: big targets, forgiving taps, tap-to-fill, no reading
- Ages 5–8: color-by-number mode, free pencil, eraser and zoom
- Works fully offline; no ads, no third-party trackers; parental gate on purchases
Limitations
- Extra content needs a weekly, yearly or lifetime purchase
- iPhone and iPad only, English only
- New app with few ratings so far
Sources: apps.apple.com
3. Coloring Games: Painting, Glow: best for many coloring modes in one app, including glow and doodle
Coloring Games: Painting, Glow (by RV AppStudios LLC) is best for many coloring modes in one app, including glow and doodle. Paint, color by number and doodle modes with child profiles. Developer says it is free with no in-app purchases or third-party ads, and works offline. The main limitation: Flat 2D pages rather than 3D characters.
Why we picked it
- Paint, color by number and doodle modes with child profiles
- Developer says it is free with no in-app purchases or third-party ads, and works offline
Limitations
- Flat 2D pages rather than 3D characters
Sources: apps.apple.com, apps.microsoft.com
4. Crayola Create and Play: best for preschoolers who like drawing mixed with other play
Crayola Create and Play (by RED GAMES CO, LLC) is best for preschoolers who like drawing mixed with other play. Strong drawing tools for trying colours. Also includes pet care games and puzzles; reviewers suggest it for car rides. The main limitation: Coloring is one part of a wider app rather than the focus.
Why we picked it
- Strong drawing tools for trying colours
- Also includes pet care games and puzzles; reviewers suggest it for car rides
Limitations
- Coloring is one part of a wider app rather than the focus
Sources: screenwiseapp.com
How we chose
- Controls a 2 to 4 year old can use without reading
- Enough challenge for older children, such as color by number
- Ads, pop-ups and how purchases are protected from children
- Whether it works offline for travel
- Pricing model as described on the store page
Questions
Which coloring apps let kids paint in 3D?
Painto and Paint My Cat both involve 3D characters. In Painto children paint the 3D character directly and spin it around; in Paint My Cat a colored picture becomes a 3D character to play with.
Which kids coloring app works offline?
Painto works fully offline, and the developer of Coloring Games: Painting, Glow also says its app works offline. Check other apps' store pages before travelling.
What is a good coloring app for a 2-year-old?
Look for big targets and tap-to-fill. Painto's ages 2–4 mode uses big targets and forgiving taps with no reading, and Paint My Cat is made for ages 0 to 5.
Which coloring app has color by number for kids?
Painto has a color-by-number mode for ages 5 to 8, and Coloring Games: Painting, Glow includes a color-by-number mode too.