Coloring is an integral part of childhood, from school to restaurants to the kitchen table. It’s a developmental activity, creative outlet, and mindfulness practice that both kids and adults alike enjoy.
There are many resources online with free, printable coloring pages. And with the rise of electronic devices, it’s easier than ever to take online coloring pages on the go. These interactive pages are often available in a web browser or dedicated apps for drawing and coloring.
According to Common Sense Media, there are different types of screen time, from passive “mindless” games or video viewing to content creation like coloring and drawing. Pursuing high-quality screen time like creating art—balanced with non-screen time—gives your child the opportunity to engage in a meaningful way with the activity.
If you’re looking for the best online coloring pages for your kids, keep reading for insights about the different resources out there and how to choose.
Best online coloring pages: Quick overview
There are many online coloring pages available, so figuring out the best option for your kids comes down to factors like how accessible the resource is, cost, and whether they’re created with kids in mind. Here is a quick look at the top online coloring pages, who they’re best for, and what features make each stand out.
Benefits of coloring for kids
Coloring is a timeless activity that helps kids learn how to make creative choices and express themselves artistically. But more than being a creative outlet, coloring benefits both kids and adults by helping with emotional regulation, stress reduction, and developing fine motor skills.
For kids especially, coloring is a low-stimulation activity for when they’re upset or stressed. While online games can sometimes overstimulate a child, coloring (even on a mobile device or iPad) can have a calming effect. It’s recommended by mental health professionals as a mindfulness activity, especially when kids are feeling big emotions. Mindful coloring can relax an overstimulated mind, and even many adults use it to reduce stress and anxiety.
Best resources for online coloring pages
The best online coloring pages for kids are safe, with no inappropriate ads or content, and provide options for various ages and levels. Some coloring page resources also offer online drawing lessons and other activities to help your child develop confidence in their artistic abilities. Here are some of the best coloring resources designed with kids in mind.
1. Aqua by Adobe: Best for both printables and a creative app experience designed for kids
Aqua by Adobe is the #1 art app for kids aged 5-12, built by a team of Adobe parents who wanted a safe, ad-free design app for kids that makes learning feel like play. Find free coloring pages on the app (available on iPad, iPhone, and Android) or print pages directly from the website.
When finished, your child can save and showcase their art in the app’s built-in digital museum, or you can upload photos of a printed page. Choose from hundreds of coloring page options, from famous art to superheroes to K-Pop and so much more. Free drawing lessons are available on the app and Youtube, taught by illustrators to help kids build confidence through creativity.
Cost: Free
2. Coloring Online: Best for no-frills access to a library of online coloring pages
Coloring Online is a simple coloring page resource developed by Dutch publishing company Zygomatic. This no-frills website houses a large collection of online coloring pages suitable for both kids and adults. You can print the coloring pages or color on a website browser.
While there’s no app, you can access the browser and online coloring features on an iPad and mobile. No account creation is required, and your progress is saved to the browser. The coloring pages range between eleven themes: alphabet, animals, birthday, fantasy, holidays, houses/buildings, kids, love, mandalas, nature, and transport.
Cost: Free
3. Crayola: Best for print-only coloring pages for kids
Crayola offers a library of 20+ categories of coloring pages for both kids and adults. These coloring pages are only available to print, unlike other online coloring resources with in-app or browser coloring options. You can choose from categories like Disney, back to school, or color by number, and you can even upload a custom photo to create your own coloring page.
Cost: Free
4. Coloring Bunny: Best for a wide range of coloring pages for all ages
Coloring Bunny is an online coloring tool with thousands of both printable and online coloring pages. Designed for kids, teens, and adults, this large library of coloring pages offers unique categories like pop culture franchises, including Harry Potter and Stranger Things, plus "cozy" holidays and settings. There are two specific options for accessing the coloring pages: Some are available to color online in the browser, while others are strictly for printing. This site doesn’t require you to create an account, but it saves your online coloring to the site.
Cost: Free
5. Room Recess: Best for easy online fill-in coloring for kids
Room Recess is a website with learning games for children from kindergarten through 6th grade, with a small library of online coloring pages. There are about thirty pages to choose from, and your child can fill in the picture directly in the browser on a computer, iPad, or phone. These pages aren’t printable and don’t save to the browser. You can subscribe for a monthly or annual fee to create an ad-free account; otherwise, access to the coloring pages is supported by ads that show up on every web page.
Cost: Free with ads or subscribe for an ad-free account for as little as $3.95/month
How to choose the best sites for online coloring pages
You don’t have to look too far to find sites with online coloring pages, but finding the resource that works best for your family can take more work than expected. Don’t have access to a printer? You’ll need to know which sites offer digital coloring pages. But does the site save your child’s progress? Not all do. If you want a quick guide to finding the best coloring pages for your child, here are some things to consider:
- Print versus online coloring: Some websites only offer printable coloring pages, while others are strictly for digital coloring. Many have both options. Before your child chooses the page they want to color, make sure the site has the option you need.
- Apps vs. browser coloring: Many online coloring pages can be colored in a web browser. However, there are a few drawing apps like Aqua by Adobe that have coloring pages available in the app. This makes it easy to access an ad-free digital drawing environment where they can save their progress.
- Saving your kid’s art: While many online coloring pages save progress in the browser without an account, some do not. Test this out before your child loses all their hard work. Aqua by Adobe has an in-app digital museum where you can save your child’s art.
- Additional resources: Many websites with online coloring pages also have additional resources like video drawing lessons, art supplies recommendations, and supplemental crafts to create from colored pages.
- Learning to draw: Some websites have tracing pages and activities that help your child learn how to draw. This can be a great way to help them expand their creative skills beyond coloring in between the lines by actually drawing the lines and building their own designs.
- Watch out for ads: Consider that many online coloring pages are on ad-supported websites, and the website owners have no control over what those ads are. Parents may want to be mindful and check to make sure the ads are age-appropriate.
Take your art anywhere with free, printable coloring pages from Aqua by Adobe
Coloring is a great activity to take on the go, especially now with so many free online coloring pages. You can find just about any picture, as many resources have hundreds of pages to choose from. In just a few minutes, you can download and print a coloring page, or your kid can color directly on a handheld device, either in a web browser or with a free drawing app.
Aqua by Adobe is a coloring app developed by parents who wanted children to have a dedicated space to be creative. Access hundreds of coloring pages directly in the app, plus interactive games and an in-app museum where your kid can save and display their art. Aqua by Adobe helps make screen time fun and interactive, helping kids grow their curiosity and creativity one color at a time.
Online coloring pages FAQs
Can I color online, or do I need to print?
Every online coloring page website offers something different. Some, like Crayola, are available for print only, others are only available online, while others offer both. It’s important to know that not all online coloring pages save your kid’s work, so make sure to test this if that’s important to them.
Aqua by Adobe is one of the few that offers both print and online options, and it has a dedicated art app with coloring pages, video lessons, and creativity games that help kids grow their artistic skills.
How do I print a coloring page?
Printing coloring pages is easier than ever. In most cases, there’s a print button next to the coloring page image. Simply click the button and the print box will open up.
If there isn’t a button, you can press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Command+P (Mac) to open the print menu. Choose your printer, color and size settings, and press print! You can load thicker paper into your printer for a higher-quality coloring page.
What devices work with online coloring pages?
Most online coloring sites have coloring pages that open directly in the web browser, which can be accessed on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. Keep in mind that smaller devices, like a phone, might make coloring in small spaces more difficult.
Not every site saves your child’s work, so test this out by refreshing the browser before they begin. Some sites, like Aqua by Adobe, also offer a dedicated coloring app where your child can access hundreds of online coloring pages and save their work to a digital museum when finished.