Simply Draw: Learn to Draw
Short video lessons break pencil drawings into manageable steps, then ask children to practice on paper and photograph their work. The paced instruction can build confidence, but most of the course sits behind a subscription after the introductory lesson.
- Route
- Make
- Ages
- Ages 7+ with adult setup
- Best for
- Children who want structured pencil-drawing lessons they can follow at their own pace
At a glance
- Developer
- Simply Ltd
- Platforms
- iPhone, iPad, Android
- Cost
- Free with subscription
- US App Store
Free introductory lesson; continued access requires a subscription.
The short version
Simply Draw earns a place for turning screen time into pencil-on-paper practice. Its calm, pause-friendly lessons suit beginners, while the sharp subscription cutoff and broad data disclosures make adult setup essential.
Simply Draw is one of the better screen-to-paper drawing tools for beginners. A short artist-led video introduces each step, pauses for the child to copy it with a real pencil, and later uses a photo of the drawing for feedback. That rhythm is less frantic than a continuous tutorial and gives children a concrete result they can keep. The lessons move beyond tracing into outline, proportion, pattern, and shading, so repeated use can build a genuine foundation. The main limitation appears immediately after the introductory fish lesson: most of the course requires a subscription. Recent store feedback repeatedly praises the teaching pace while criticizing that cutoff, and some families report lag or feedback that misses the mark. For a child who actively wants to learn to draw, Simply Draw can be a motivating guided course. An adult should set up the account, review camera and privacy permissions, and explain the subscription boundary before the first session.
What we found
Strengths
- Lessons pause between steps, so beginners can draw on paper without racing a continuous video.
- The course teaches concrete skills such as outlining, proportion, pattern, and shading instead of offering a passive coloring activity.
- Frequent updates and a large rating base suggest that families can expect an actively maintained lesson library.
Watch-outs
- The free experience covers an introductory drawing; most later lessons require a subscription, a point raised often in recent store reviews.
- Apple says the app may track identifiers and link photos, contact details, usage data, and diagnostics to an account.
- Children photograph their drawings for feedback, so an adult should review camera access and account settings.
Before you download
- Age guidance
- The store rating is 4+, but the reading, camera workflow, and subscription setup make this a better independent fit from about age 7. Younger children can use it alongside an adult.
- Privacy
- Apple reports tracking and account-linked collection that can include contact information, photos or videos, identifiers, usage data, and diagnostics. A parent should handle account creation, camera permission, and privacy choices.