Best Wacom alternatives. Budget tablets for professional artists

Wacom makes professional-grade graphics tablets for artists. They have inexpensive tablets without a screen (Wacom Intuos), but a full pen display costs over $1,000. That may be why you want to find an alternative, less expensive option to work with.

I found 9 best Wacom alternatives for beginners and professional artists. Let’s see what they are!

Quick Pick Table

Here are some drawing monitors you can compare with the Wacom Cintiq pen display tablet.

	WacomCintiq Pro 16	HUION Kamvas Pro 16	XP-PEN Artist 16 (2nd Generation)	GAOMONPD1610
Screen type	IPS with Anti-Glare Etched, Full-Laminated  Glass (Matte finish)	IPSAnti-Glare, Full-Laminated Glass	IPSFull-Laminated	16 InchFull-Laminated Anti-Glare
Resolution	3840 x 2160 pixels(4k)	1920 x 1080p(FullHD)	1920 x 1080p(FullHD)	2560*1600 (2.5K QHD)
Viewing angle	178°	178°	178°	178°
Displayable colours	16,7 m	16,7 m	16,7 m	1.07B
Contrast ratio	1000:1	1000:1	1000:1	1000:1
Brightness	300 cd/㎡	220 cd/㎡	220 cd/㎡	＞220cd/m²
RPS Report Rate	200	200	200
Color Gamut	98% sRGB	120% sRGB	127% sRGB, 94% Adobe RGB	120% sRGB
Keys	8 keys and 2 side switches	6 Express Keys & 1 Touch Bar	8 x Shortcut Keys + 3 x Function Keys	8 Touch Keys
Pen pressure sensitivity	8192	8192	8192	8192
Pen Tilt Angle	60°	60°	60°	60°
Compatibility	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS,ChromeOS	Windows,Mac OS,Chrome OS,Android	Windows, macOS, Android
Ports Included	USB-C HDMI	3-in-1 cable with HDMI connection USB-C	2 x USB-C HDMI	USB-C HDMI
Weight	1.9 kg	1.35Kg	?	1.5kg
Thickness	22 mm	11.5mm	12.89 mm	11,5 mm
Price	$1,506.91	$379.99	$379.99	$409.00

HUION Kamvas graphic tablets

HUION offers great drawing tablets with almost the same parameters as Wacom, but $200 to $1,000 cheaper! They have a large selection of tablets from 13 to 24 inches, including the PRO line with 4K resolution, Android support and battery free pen. Hundreds of reviews say that HUION is the best competitor to Wacom.

Comparing HUION VS Wacom

Both of these companies use IPS displays with Anti-Glare technology. They support Windows and macOS as well as all popular drawing programs.

Both HUION and Wacom have basically the same pens and accessories. Some Wacom models (22 and 24 inches) have higher resolution, but HUION has a better report rate and color gamut.

In addition, in 2022, HUION presented new models of its 2.5K and 4K tablets. They have several improvements:

• a QLED display, which provides better brightness, contrast and color reproduction (for example, these tablets have a 145% sRGB wide color gamut and 1200:1 contrast ratio);
• >300PPS report rate, which provides accurate, lag-free drawing (Wacom tablets provide 200PPS);
• Android devices support ( you can connect the tablet to your smartphone);
• a larger display and resolution;
• less weight and thickness.

Wacom drawing tablets don’t have such parameters. So now the HUION 4K can be called the best among the competitors. If you are professionally engaged in digital art, and you really want a new level device, then I recommend you give preference to HUION Kamvas Pro 2.5K and 4K.

But you can consider other options among the “older” HUION tablets and find many decent Wacom Cintiq alternatives.

Kamvas 13 – the Wacom One alternative

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Both tablets (Kamvas 13 and Wacom One) have 13.3-inch screens with 1920 x 1080 resolution, but the HUION has several advantages:

• A laminated display. Since there is no gap between the glass and the display, it seems that lines appear right under the pen tip. However, a small gap will be noticeable if the display is not laminated.
• Express keys. They definitely help with the operation. You can customize the buttons for zooming, changing brush size, changing tools, etc.
• USB-C port. Wacom One so far has a more outdated port. 
• The price is $100 less.

According to the manufacturers, 13-inch Kamvas is suitable for novice artists, but in fact, such a tablet is quite suitable for professionals. Many people find this screen sufficient for work. So this is a great option if you are on a tight budget or just starting in digital art!

HUION Kamvas Pro 16 – the best Wacom cintiq alternative

This 15.6-inch screen drawing tablet could be a great value for money and a worthy alternative to the Wacom Cintiq 16 and even the Pro 16. For a lower price, the HUION offers the same quality and even a few advantages, including a laminated screen, express keys and a USB-C port.

The HUION Kamvas doesn’t have a built-in stand, but that’s a minor drawback. You can buy the adjustable stand separately, although it won’t be able to be attached to the tablet back.

If you compare this model to the Wacom Cintiq Pro, you’ll notice that the Wacom wins slightly here because it has a higher screen resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), which provides more clarity. But is it worth the extra $1,200? I don’t think it is.

The 16-inch size is probably the best size for all levels artists. However, if you prefer a larger size, HUNION has a few more options.

HUION Kamvas Pro 24 (4K) 2022 – alternative to the Cintiq Pro 24

The Wacom Cintiq 24″ tablet has an exorbitant price – almost $2000! Instead, the new Kamvas Pro 24 4K costs $600 cheaper and even surpasses Wacom in display quality! 

Both models have a stunning, full-laminated display with 3840×2160 resolution (4K UHD). They don’t have buttons on display, but you can use the keypad instead.

Also, HUION is noticeably thinner and lighter than Wacom, which is an important plus. But among the reviews, I found complaints about the bad USB-connection that can make the tablet suddenly disconnect from the computer.

HUION pen tablets

HUION also offers pen tablets in different sizes, with different types of coatings, with and without keys. They can be a Wacom intuos alternative. Their price and features are similar, so I won’t focus too much on them.

HUION VS Wacom pen

Besides the tablet parameters, the quality of the pen is important. As for the HUION, their battery free pen has the same pressure levels and tilt sensitivity as the Wacom pen.

They even look alike. So, the HUION pen will provide a similar drawing experience as the Wacom pen. There are no winners among them. But, as you remember, their price is different, and the HUION is more advantageous in this respect.

XP-PEN Artist Pro Tablets

The biggest difference between the XP-PEN and Wacom tablets is their price. The XP-PEN is cheaper by $300-700. These products are generally very similar in parameters, although it is still noticeable that the XP-PEN is a budget option.

The screen surface of the Wacom tablet seems more matte, so it feels more like drawing on paper. On the other hand, the XP-PEN is smoother, and not everyone likes that.

But the difference isn’t so big that you can toss them aside. If you are a novice digital artist, the XP-PEN tablets are a great option for the price. They have a lot of positive reviews.

The XP-PEN features

The XP-PEN is also battery-free and has 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity and a tilt support of 60 degrees. The PPS Report rate is 220. Even externally, it is similar to the Wacom pen, and they do almost the same job.

The XP-PEN has a few drawbacks:

• it’s a bit noisy compared to the Wacom pen. When the nib touches the screen, it makes a clicking noise.
• it doesn’t have an eraser.

In addition, Wacom offers several types of pens, and you can use several of them with different tools. It’s not for nothing that their products are more expensive (although I’m not sure that such a big price difference is justified).

XP-PEN Artist 16 2nd Generation – the Wacom Cintiq alternative

They are almost identical models with a 15.6″ IPS screen with 1920 x 1080p resolution. In some ways, the XP-PEN Artist 15.6 is even superior to the Wacom tablet, although it has some disadvantages. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of thise drawing tablet:

There are also other XP-PEN Artist Series (2nd gen) tablets available in 10″ and 12″ sizes that Wacom doesn’t have, but maybe that’s what you’re looking for.

XP-PEN Artist 24 Pro – the 24-inch Wacom alternative

If you want a bigger screen like the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24, the XP-PEN has the Artist 24 Pro with a 23.8-inch display with 2K QHD resolution.

That’s a bit worse than Wacom’s 4K UHD resolution, but the XP-PEN is still fine for drawing, even for professionals. It also has some benefits, such as:

• USB-C port;
• Android support;
• 20 Customizable Shortcut Keys, which the 24-inch Wacom tablet doesn’t have.

Also, the XP-PEN Artist 24 Pro is more than $1,000 cheaper. Sounds like a significant plus to me, doesn’t it? 

GAOMON tablets

This company offers a small selection of graphic monitors with more or less the same features as Wacom, but the price difference is up to $700. They have several “small” tablets with 11, 12, and 13-inch screens, as well as several 16-inch tablets and only one 22-inch tablet.

It’s a decent replacement for the Wacom, and judging by reviews, its quality is just as good. So, let’s take a closer look at several popular GAOMON models and compare them with Wacom displays.

GAOMON PD1610

The GAOMON PD1610 drawing tablet supports a higher resolution (2.5K QHD 2560:1600) than the Pro versions of HUION or XP-PEN. It has a high-quality, full-Laminated Anti-Glare Pen Display with thin frames and a larger active drawing area. 

With the higher resolution, you won’t have problems with pixelation when zooming in. The image will always stay sharp.

It’s more like the quality of the Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 and even has the same matte finish on display, but its price is $500, not $1,000. The GAOMON PD1610 can offer the same quality and high precision For less money.

What are its features and differences?

• The GAOMON PD1610 has 8 keys, but they are not physical. But this can be a disadvantage as you can press them accidentally.
• But the whole front of the tablet is covered by glass. Without plastic elements, the device looks more stylish.
• Unlike the Wacom tablet, GAOMON doesn’t have a built-in stand; however, it comes with a free-standing adjustable stand. It might not be as good as the Wacom’s, but that’s a minor drawback.
• The GAOMON also has a headphone plug, so you can plug in your headphones and listen to music while you work.
• In addition to Windows and macOS, the GAOMON tablet supports Android-based devices. 

Also, it supports the improved AP51 pen with a shorter and more stable tip. Less oscillation – more accuracy. This pen also requires no charging and I was also impressed that it also has rotation sensing.

GAOMON PD2200 – the Wacom Cintiq 22 alternative

This 21.5-inch display has 1920*1080 resolution, which is a bit inferior to the previous model but comparable to the Wacom Cintiq 22 (not a professional one). But GAOMON PD2200 has a nice price, less than $500. I mean, it’s cheap for such a big display.

All in all, the GAOMON PD2200 is nothing special. It’s not better, but it’s not worse than the competition. This drawing tablet has a laminated display with standard settings, as well as standard equipment.

The GAOMON PD2200 has a good quality built-in stand that you can adjust as you like. It’s probably one of the best tablet stands I’ve seen.

Unlike the Wacom Cintiq, the GAOMON has a USB-C port as well as 8 customizable touch keys. It doesn’t support the Android OS. 

It’s a budget graphics tablet for those who want a big monitor but don’t have the money for more professional models. Of course, it’s not an impressive device, it’s pretty average, but it’s not bad.

By the way, it doesn’t work well as a second monitor for watching videos or playing games. It just doesn’t handle that task well.

iPad – the Wacom MobileStudio Pro alternative

The previous models on this list only work when connected to a computer, but the Wacom MobileStudio Pro is a portable tablet that can be used without a computer. And unfortunately, HUION, XP-PEN and GAOMON have no analogues to this device.

But here is the problem: the price of Wacom MobileStudio Pro goes over $3000! So it is not surprising that people are looking for an alternative. You might be wondering, but it could be the iPad Pro.

iPad pros

The iPad Pro 2022 has a very powerful M2 chip that will perform even better than the Wacom MobileStudio. The Apple Pencil works incredibly accurately with this chip without parallax or excessive shaking.

Perhaps the Wacom pen is better; after all, they create their products specifically for creativity, but working with the Apple Pencil will also be very comfortable.

iPad Pro also has the more advanced Liquid Retina XDR screen with an amazing brightness of 1600 nits and a contrast ratio of 1000000:1! This detail and color reproduction will not provide any graphic display.

Although the iPad doesn’t have a 16-inch screen, 12.9 inches is enough, and some artists are even happy with an 11-inch screen. You can buy an iPad Pro 12.9 512GB for $1,400. But in most cases, 256GB is enough, which costs $1,200.

In addition, the iPad has many advantages over the Wacom:

• better and louder speakers;
• excellent dual camera;
• Face ID.

You’ll be able to use it as a regular tablet for various tasks, not just for work. It’s also worth noting that the iPad is 2.5 times lighter and thinner than the MobileStudio. This makes it more convenient and transportable.

iPad disadvantages

The lack of control buttons on the iPad can be a disadvantage if you are used to using them on your tablet monitor. You should also consider that Apple tablets have a smoother drawing surface than Wacom tablets. Therefore, it is less comfortable to draw on them (although this is a relative disadvantage as you can use a matte screen protector).

The only significant disadvantage of the iPad is the inability to install full-versions applications for graphic design or photo processing. The iOS apps are a bit inferior, as they lack some features. For professional work, it can make a big difference.

But the iPad is very good as a portable device, which you can work, e.g., on a trip. And for regular work at home, you can use a regular display for $ 500, which connects to your computer. Even purchasing two devices will cost less than the Wacom MobileStudio Pro.

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of the iPad:

I hope this information will help you make your choice. And if that’s not enough, read my Best Portable Drawing Tablets review. You will find more ideas there.

Conclusions

The best Wacom alternatives are HUION, XP-PEN and GAOMON tablets. They offer products with the same features as Wacom, but at a lower price.

Instead of the Wacom MobileStudio, you can use the new iPad Pro. It’s a good handheld device for creating digital art.

FAQ