Best Paint My Cat alternatives for kids on iPhone and iPad (2026)
What are the best Paint My Cat alternatives for kids on iPhone and iPad in 2026?
The best Paint My Cat alternatives are Painto for children aged 2 to 8 who want to paint 3D characters and 2D pages, Crayola Create and Play for a broader creative app, Coloring Games: Painting, Glow for a free 2D option, Drawing for Kids for toddler coloring pages and Pok Pok for wordless open-ended play with a drawing toy. Parents look for alternatives mainly because of pricing: a Paint My Cat store review says an update put activities behind a subscription in an app the family had already bought, and that locked items were easy for children to tap. Painto is the closest match for 3D play: children paint the 3D character itself, spin it and watch it dance, and it works fully offline with no ads. Painto is new, and extra content needs a weekly, yearly or one-time lifetime purchase.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painto (ours) | Children aged 2 to 8 who want to paint 3D characters and 2D pages | iOS | Free to download | n/a |
| Crayola Create and Play | A broad creative app with coloring, pets and puzzles | iOS, Android | Free to download | 4.3 (42,586 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| Coloring Games: Painting, Glow | A free 2D coloring app with many modes | iOS | Free to download | 4.5 (7,523 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| Drawing for Kids - Baby Games | Toddler coloring pages with many drawing tools | iOS | Free to download | 4.3 (637,952 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| Pok Pok Play Room | Wordless open-ended play that includes a drawing toy | iOS, Android | Free to download | 4.7 (25,568 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
1. 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 a 3D character directly, spin it and watch it dance. Ages 2-4: big targets, tap-to-fill, no reading; ages 5-8: color by number. Works fully offline; no ads, no third-party trackers; parental gate on purchases. One-time Lifetime purchase available ($29.99, US App Store, Nov 2026). The main limitations: Extra content needs a Weekly, Yearly or Lifetime purchase; iPhone and iPad only, English only; New app with few ratings.
Why we picked it
- Paint a 3D character directly, spin it and watch it dance
- Ages 2-4: big targets, tap-to-fill, no reading; ages 5-8: color by number
- Works fully offline; no ads, no third-party trackers; parental gate on purchases
- One-time Lifetime purchase available ($29.99, US App Store, Nov 2026)
Limitations
- Extra content needs a Weekly, Yearly or Lifetime purchase
- iPhone and iPad only, English only
- New app with few ratings
Sources: apps.apple.com
2. Crayola Create and Play: best for A broad creative app with coloring, pets and puzzles
Crayola Create and Play (by RED GAMES CO, LLC) is best for A broad creative app with coloring, pets and puzzles. Coloring, glow art, pixel art and 3D designs such as dinosaurs. Kids hatch, design and care for pets. Editors' Choice on the App Store. The main limitations: Subscription after a 7-day free trial; developer says non-subscribers get 7 minutes of play a day; Large download.
Why we picked it
- Coloring, glow art, pixel art and 3D designs such as dinosaurs
- Kids hatch, design and care for pets
- Editors' Choice on the App Store
Limitations
- Subscription after a 7-day free trial; developer says non-subscribers get 7 minutes of play a day
- Large download
Sources: apps.apple.com, screenwiseapp.com
3. Coloring Games: Painting, Glow: best for A free 2D coloring app with many modes
Coloring Games: Painting, Glow (by RV AppStudios LLC) is best for A free 2D coloring app with many modes. Paint, color by number and doodle modes with child profiles. Developer says free with no in-app purchases or third-party ads, and works offline. The main limitation: Flat 2D pages, no 3D characters.
Why we picked it
- Paint, color by number and doodle modes with child profiles
- Developer says free with no in-app purchases or third-party ads, and works offline
Limitations
- Flat 2D pages, no 3D characters
Sources: apps.apple.com, apps.microsoft.com
4. Drawing for Kids - Baby Games: best for toddler coloring pages with many drawing tools
Drawing for Kids - Baby Games (by Bimi Boo Kids Learning Games for Toddlers FZ LLC) is best for toddler coloring pages with many drawing tools. 176 coloring pages in 11 themes, with pencil, brush, crayon, chalk and more. Store page says no ads and works without Wi-Fi. Made for ages 0 to 5. The main limitations: Only 6 animal pages are free; the rest are paid packs or a full-version purchase; 2D only.
Why we picked it
- 176 coloring pages in 11 themes, with pencil, brush, crayon, chalk and more
- Store page says no ads and works without Wi-Fi
- Made for ages 0 to 5
Limitations
- Only 6 animal pages are free; the rest are paid packs or a full-version purchase
- 2D only
Sources: apps.apple.com
5. Pok Pok Play Room: best for wordless open-ended play that includes a drawing toy
Pok Pok Play Room (by Pok Pok Inc) is best for wordless open-ended play that includes a drawing toy. Drawing is one of many play spaces, alongside Town, House and Blocks. No ads and no written instructions, according to the store page. The main limitations: Subscription after a free trial; Not a dedicated coloring app.
Why we picked it
- Drawing is one of many play spaces, alongside Town, House and Blocks
- No ads and no written instructions, according to the store page
Limitations
- Subscription after a free trial
- Not a dedicated coloring app
Sources: apps.apple.com
How we chose
- 3D or 2D coloring, and how the 3D part works
- Controls a 2 to 4 year old can use without reading
- Ads and how locked or paid items are shown to children
- Pricing model as stated on the store page or by the developer
- Offline play for travel
Questions
Why do parents look for a Paint My Cat alternative?
Mostly over pricing. A Paint My Cat store review says an update put activities behind a subscription in an already-bought app, and that locked items were easy for kids to tap. Painto and Drawing for Kids offer one-time purchase options; Coloring Games: Painting, Glow is free according to its developer.
Which alternative is closest to Paint My Cat's 3D play?
Painto. Children paint a 3D character, spin it around and watch it dance. Crayola Create and Play also lists 3D designs such as dinosaurs.
Which one is best for a 2-year-old?
Painto's ages 2-4 mode uses big targets and tap-to-fill with no reading, and Drawing for Kids is made for ages 0 to 5. Paint My Cat itself is made for ages 0 to 5.
Which alternatives work offline?
Painto works fully offline. The store pages or developers of Coloring Games: Painting, Glow and Drawing for Kids also say they work without internet.