Here are the best Wacom alternatives. If you’re an artist looking for a top-notch drawing tablet, you might be considering a Wacom tablet. You’re not wrong, Wacom tablets are among the most well-liked on the market, but they’re not the only choice.
We’ll discuss some of the best Wacom alternatives in this blog post for artists. Some are affordable, while others are pricey. We’ll also discuss the benefits of using one of these substitutes in place of a Wacom tablet.
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7 Best Wacom Alternatives 2023
Ugee M708 - Affordable Alternative
The Ugee M708 graphics tablet is cheaper than the higher-priced Wacom tablets. It is the perfect tool for artists who want to produce digital art because it features a sizable drawing pad and a pressure-sensitive ballpoint pen.
Additionally, it contains eight shortcut keys that you can modify to meet your needs. The tablet offers excellent value for the money due to its low pricing. It does have certain shortcomings, though. The tablet lacks support, and the pen doesn’t have an eraser.
The Ugee M708 is an excellent tablet for artists searching for a cheaper option than the more expensive Wacom tablets.
Huion Inspiroy H640P
A drawing tablet that can support your artistic vision is essential for you as an artist. The Huion Inspiroy H640PA provides a clean and responsive design and is a cheaper Wacom alternative.
This tablet’s 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and small size make it ideal for travel or working in confined locations. And because the pen doesn’t require batteries, you won’t have to worry about power running low in the middle of a project.
You must consider trade-offs, though. Wacom pens and accessories are incompatible with the H640P, lacking Bluetooth connectivity and an eraser. However, the Huion Inspiroy H640P is absolutely something to consider if you’re searching for a high-quality Wacom alternative.
Gaomon PD1161
In terms of drawing tablets, the Wacom drawing tablet is typically regarded as the industry leader. There are a lot of substitutes available on the market, though, that can deliver a comparable experience at a far lower cost. The GAOMON PD1161 tablet is one of the best Wacom alternatives out there.
For artists searching for a cheap Wacom alternative, the PD1161 is an attractive option. It is one of the best digital graphic tablets for individuals looking to produce realistic results in their digital artwork because it has 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity.
It is ideal for individuals who want to produce extensive or detailed pictures because it offers a spacious 11-inch drawing surface. Additionally, it is simple to move around thanks to its lightweight and small size.
XP-pen Deco Pro
The main benefit of the battery-free stylus on the XP-pen deco pro is that it has an active drawing area of 279 x 152mm. The XP-pen Deco Pro could easily replace Wacom graphics tablets. Additionally, numerous programs like Flipaclip, Autodesk, ibis, and others are supported for connection with Android tablets and smartphones.
The XP pen deco pro is a worthy addition to our list of Best Wacom Alternatives. You could adjust the roller wheel’s indication light and brightness level to light up your workspace. This option allows you to work and design your ideal lighting environment.
Additionally, the XP-pen Decor Pro has natural tilt support up to a 60-degree angle, making it the best Wacom alternative tablet. Users benefit from a more seamless transition between lines and strokes when this functionality is present.
The issue arises as to why we choose XP-pen out of all the available Wacom alternatives. The XP-pen Decor Pro is revolutionary as the first drawing tablet with a USB-C connector on the digital art market. There is no need for a USB-C to USB adaptor when connecting an iMac, Macbook, or Windows directly.
Any artist can use the XP-Pen Deco Pro Series with Windows, Mac OS, Android, Linux, and later. Most popular creative software is compatible, such as Photoshop, Clip Studio, Illustrator, Painter, GIMP, Blender 3D, and others.
Gaomon PD1560
Gaomon PD1560 offers a display area of 344.16 x 193.59mm with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080(16:9). You may also get an active smart wireless digital art pen from Gaomon has a comfortable grip for the user. Additionally, a double shortcut button that can be customized makes it simple to switch between a brush and an eraser, inspiring endless creative energy. Also, this offers inbuilt signal interference, preventing the signal line from becoming loose.
Give yourself a comfortable environment by adjusting the angle as necessary. How? You might get enlightened and develop more creative ideas by switching perspectives. After carefully considering everything above, this is a solid choice for the best Wacom alternatives.
Huion Kamvas 22 Plus
- Active drawing area: 476.64 x 268.11mm
- Stylus: Battery-free PW517
- Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels
- Connections: USB / HDMI
HUION made a great pick with this pen tablet, which performs superbly. With a contrast ratio of 1200:1 and an sRGB color gamut coverage of 140%, the display is quite outstanding. Anything you would have worried about Wacom alternatives looking or feeling cheap is entirely dispelled by how wonderful it looks.
The absence of physical shortcut keys on the Huion Kamvas 22 Plus is one of the most obvious ways it manages to keep costs low. Depending on how you work, you can either find this quite bothersome or not at all. Although this would obviously cost more, you can buy a Mini Keydial accessory to give yourself some shortcut buttons.
Huion Kamvas Pro 12
- Active drawing area: 11.6 inch Screen
- Stylus: Battery-free PW507
- Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels
- Connections: USB / HDMI
You could create the ideal mobile workstation with this distinctive drawing tablet from HUION, which can connect to phones and computers. Set up any place if you have a battery-free pen. The drawing pad can recognize a variety of pen movements and strokes compared to modern pen tablets.
The portability of this drawing tablet might be its standout quality. You can easily set up a drawing station anytime using a single wire to connect to a phone. The tablet’s portability is further enhanced by the lightweight design of the entire system, which only weighs 497 grams.
The tablet itself is of the highest caliber, too. The pad picks up the smooth and silent movement of the pen tip as it glides across with every stroke. The drawing pad can detect up to 8192 different levels of sensitivity.
Additionally, the pen does not need to be charged, so you are free from having to keep check of battery life. With this pen, you can tilt your device by 60 degrees while still getting an accurate reading. It’s now simpler than ever to add gradients and shade objects.
Buying Guide for Best Wacom Alternatives
You should be clear about what you want before choosing any great drawing tablet that provides a similar Wacom outcome. Different jobs require different drawing tablet features that are specific to each industry.
Drawing tablets have several features and characteristics that might alter your working experience. Keep these things in mind to help you choose the tablet that offers great value for your money.
Adaptability
The range of systems a drawing tablet is compatible with mirrors the variety of Wacom alternatives manufacturers. Consider where and what device you will use the tablet with before making a purchase.
Windows and MAC OS are the most popular operating systems because of their portability. Ensure your tablet is compatible with the operating system you use at work.
Battery Free Stylus or Pen
Unless they are intended to be used as solo tablets, all drawing tablets come with a pen. These styli are used to translate the input for the tablet or screen.
The pen has several capabilities to improve workflow without having to stop and make modifications. Among pens, a battery-free stylus design is one typical feature.
You don’t need to charge a battery-free pen, which is a plus. It becomes another thing to remember while using styluses or pens that need to be charged. Additionally, because the battery is drained, it reduces the length of time you can work.
Tablets Accuracy
Since these drawing tablets are intended to be a digital depiction of bodily movement, precision is critical. If a Wacom tablet isn’t performing well, changing it is useless.
Wacom competitors have created their tablets with intricate and accurate sensors while keeping a low price tag to get precise feedback on the stylus.
These sensors gather the pen’s movements on several axes to mimic the effect as closely as possible to a physical drawing.
An element that is frequently used is a tilt recognition system. This suggests that the pen can be held at an angle to the tablet’s surface to write with a broader stroke. The tilt sensitivity eliminates the need to manually access settings and modify the line-thickness being drawn.
The pen pressure sensitivity is another valuable aspect of tablet accuracy. This function gauges the pen’s pressure and displays the appropriate line on the screen.
Both the tilt support and pressure sensitivity function together to simulate the sensation of drawing on paper. With these properties, shading can be filled in, or a smooth transitional gradient can be created.
Screen resolution
Some drawing tablets have a real-time screen showing the input, while others only accept simple stylus input. When working, it’s convenient to make tweaks and changes on the drawing surface screen.
As a result, the quality of color and line reproduction is greatly influenced by screen resolution. A high-resolution tablet will be helpful if you work primarily with extreme details. A screen with a high pixel density makes it much simpler to zoom in, correct information, and grade colors.
There are typically two factions of people that use these drawing tablets. The pixels on one kind of tablet are illuminated by LED technology. This approach has the advantages of being less expensive and producing high-quality images.
On the other hand, the realistic color representation of OLED screens makes them a popular screen type. Deeper shadows are produced, and some battery life is even saved because it doesn’t illuminate dark spots.
Either screen might vary in efficiency depending on the type of work being done.
Protection
No one would argue that buying a drawing tablet is not a cheap investment. As a result, these devices need to be built solidly to guard against potential harm.
Some drawing tablets can boast of a matte screen protector as an attachment. Offering both protection and effectiveness, this provides a double advantage. It offers a smooth pen surface and serves as a barrier against grime and grit.
A screen protector can also efficiently eliminate screen reflections and glare. Working outside or in well-lit areas is more uncomplicated and straightforward, and you can see your work more clearly. Also, these screen protectors help in lessening the strain on the eyes.
A glossy screen can be dangerous since it needs to be cared for and kept in good condition; else, it will quickly develop scratches and dents. Besides, because there is no barrier between the screen and your eyes, they also reflect light more sharply. The stylus moves more fluidly across an exposed screen than a screen protector-protected screen.
Additionally, a screen protector layer can leave a space of air between the stylus tip and the screen. This air pocket is relatively small, but it could still result in a tiny amount of positional error. The cursor may appear different from the actual location of the stylus on the screen.
As is apparent, each decision has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Your particular preference will determine whether the drawbacks are acceptable.
Remember to read about the Best Monitors for 3D Artists.
Size
The convenience of transporting drawing tablets around as portable workstations is a plus. A mobile tablet that is light and small will be helpful if you work outdoors. For example, an architect would need such a small design while wandering a construction site.
However, the highly constrained sketching area on these tablets makes changes slightly more complex. In occupations where the tablet is stationary, like those of a digital artist, huge designs are preferable.
An artist can become more absorbed and adjust minute elements when using a wider screen and active drawing area. The work that can be done on these tablets is of a higher caliber, even if they may be heavier than their smaller counterparts.
Conclusion: Best Wacom Alternatives 2023
Using a Wacom alternative has the advantage of excellent performance and great value at a low cost. Now that you know better, you should be able to find the best Wacom Cintiq alternative without going over budget.
For the best tablet experience, we have to pick the Apple iPad Pro from 2021. The XP-PEN Artist22 Pro is a suitable pen display tablet alternative if a stylus is required. For graphic tablet options, we went with the HUION KAMVAS Pro 16 due to its sizable screen.
Whatever Wacom Cintiq alternative model you want to employ, the goal is still the same. Get out there and keep making unique digital art; don’t let the cost of materials stop you.
Abigeal is a professionally trained SEO copywriter, editor, and content marketing strategist with over 7 years of experience.
