Wacom Cintiq pen display tablets have always been considered the industry standard for digital artists and designers.

They are known for their gorgeous screen, excellent drawing performance, solid build quality, and a range of sizes and models to suit different needs.

Whether you are an illustrator, an animator, or a sketch artist, you can never go wrong with a Wacom Cintiq tablet.

The only problem is that they don’t come cheap, and not every aspiring digital artist may be in a position to afford one.

Luckily, Gone are the days when Wacom cintiq tablets were the only game in the field. In the last few years, the competition has finally caught up.

This is great for digital artists – as there are multiple options for drawing tablets available in the market. In addition, these tables are just as good as Wacom Cintiq tablets but at a more affordable price point.

If you are looking to buy a display drawing tablet and can’t justify the hefty price tag that comes with Wacom Cintiqs, you come to the right place.

In this article, I will share my recommendations for the best alternatives to Wacom Cintiq tablets. Plus, I’ll walk you through the features you need to look out for when shopping around.

The 12 Best Wacom Cintiq Alternatives of 2025

Cintiq alternatives have evolved over the years. Below, I review my top picks.

1. XPPen Artist 12 (2nd Gen)

XPPen is a well-reputed brand in the market of drawing tablets. It provides excellent products in a reasonable range.

If you’re looking for a small, cheap yet nice alternative to the 12” Cintiq tablet, the Artist 12 (2nd Gen) from XPPen comes with a fitting profile.

It has a compact 12inch IPS screen with 1080p high resolution and 94% Adobe RGB color gamut that is crisp and sharp.

The fully laminated screen is advantageous for color presentation as well as for the overall durability of the panel. Other than that, there is an anti glare film pre-installed that effectively minimizes reflection and gives a real texture to strokes.

It include an advanced X3 Elite stylus that offers lower 3g IAF, 8192 pressure levels, and tilt support. The stylus has a great drawing performance and draws smooth and consistent strokes every single time.

Another key features of this tablet is the USB-C to USB-C connectivity. This allows us to connect the tablet to the laptop using just a single USB cable.

This USB-C connectivity along with the lightweight and compact size makes it one of the most portable display drawing tablets.

2. Huion Kamvas 13 (Gen 3)

For an alternative to the 13-inch Cintiq tablet, there’s the Kamvas 13 (gen 3) by Huion.

The 13.3-inch screen is very sharp and vibrant with 1920 x 1080 resolution and 90% Adobe RGB color space.

As it is laminated, it allows for accurate positioning and better light transmittance. The screen surface is made of anti-glare etched glass, which makes it very pleasant to work with.

It comes with the huion’s most advanced PW517 stylus that supports 16384 pressure levels, tilt sensitivity, as well as a better initial activation force of 2g. Since the pen is accurate and sensitive, the overall drawing experience is excellent.

Even better, The 2 customizable dial controllers and and 5 silent press buttons on the tablet makes workflow seamless and quick.

Another handy feature is You can connect your Huion Kamvas 13 (gen 3) Display with only one USB-C cable and start your creativity right away.

I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for an affordable pen display that isn’t huge nor tiny and feels great in ur hands and when u are using it.

3. XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro V2

The XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro V2 is the updated model of the older Artist 15.6 Pro. This new model comes with better features, and recognized as a worthy contender to the Cintiq 16 tablet and a lot cheaper!

The tablet comes with a 15.6-inch IPS screen enough of working space, which makes your operation more effective and efficient.

Having a 1080p resolution gives you 141 pixels per inch, resulting in very sharp details. Not to mention it features an exceptional color accuracy of 96%Adobe RGB that’s comparable to most other high-end tablets.

Drawing on the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro V2 is a pleasure. In particular, the fully laminated screen has an anti-glare film and a wide viewing range.

The XPPen’s most advanced X3 Pro smart chip stylus performs incredibly well on the screen. There is little to no lag while making strokes, very sensitive and it has a great texture when the pen is gliding across it.

Another handy feature is the 8 hotkeys, and unique red dial that facilitates a steady workflow to make adjustments quickly and easily, such as zoom in and out.

Right out of the box, you’re only one cable away from using the Wacom One Touch. The setup process couldn’t be easier. It’s a shining example of the ease USB-C brings to display setup.

No wrestling with HDMI cables, you’re only one USB-C cable away from using the xppen Artist 15.6 Pro V2 —just plug one end into the tablet and the other into your laptop.

4. Ugee UE16

Priced at $199.99, Ugee UE16 is an ultimate budget 15.4-inch pen display with excellent drawing performance. You can’t find another one at this size and price on the market.

Other than the 1080p FHD resolution the Ugee UE16 has good color accuracy of 92% Adobe RGB. This results in the display showing clean details and accurate colors.

There is a matte screen protector on the fully-laminated screen, which is ideal for artists who prefer a natural, paper-like feel. It also reduces glare.

The battery-free U-Pencil comes with tilt support, and 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is actually the highest in the industry at the moment. You can enjoy smooth pen performance with no noticeable delay.

There are 8 programmable shortcut buttons as well as one scroll wheel on the tablet. The Single USB-C Cable also works handy and great.

You get a great range of features with fab value for money. So if you’re on a tighter budget, snap up the Ugee UE16 now!

5. Huion Kamvas 16 (Gen 3)

The Huion Kamvas 16 (Gen 3) is a 15.8-inch display drawing tablet that shares a lot of design features with its smaller counterpart – Kamvas 13 (Gen 3).

This device comes with a bigger display with higher 2K UHD resolution that makes images more sharp and works more comfortable.

So as a mid-range product, I really love this product. If you want it all without breaking the bank, this is a good option to consider.

6. Xencelabs Pen Display 16

Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is a serious Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 alternative that comes with amazing display quality, great drawing performance, and usability.

The tablet features an OLED Panel, with an astounding 98% Adobe RGB color gamut, covering 1.07 billion colors. Colors pop and blacks are deeply filled across the screen.

The anti-glare matte etched glass surface and full lamination are bonus features that help keep eye fatigue down while increasing durability and accuracy.

The Included pen is batty-free and comes with 8192 pressure levels, low 3g IAF, and 60 degrees of tilt sensitivity, line quality in consistent and predictable.

The Wireless Quick Keys remote features 8 shortcut buttons and a large physical dial at the top which can have 4 different functions.

7. XPPen Artist Pro 19 (Gen 2)

With ample drawing room and an incredible 18.4-inch 4K UHD display, the XPPen Artist Pro 19 (Gen 2) should be a consideration for any digital artist.

The 4k UHD resolution makes every project you work on crisp and clean, with Calman verified colour performance – supports 116% Adobe RGB color gamut, meaning you get rich, vivid color reproduction.

The X3 Pro Smart chip stylus has a highest 16k levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition, and pretty low 3g IAF, allowing it to capture every stroke with precise detail.

The surface of the laminated screen is slightly matte and feel quite paper-like, very pleasant to draw on, and easy to control long stroke.

You can customise the ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote to zoom in and out of your canvas or scroll up and down, enabling you to optimise your workflow.

Coming in at a price point of $899.99, this isn’t a cheap tablet, but again, it’s fairy cheaper than the closest Wacom Cintiq Pro equivalent. Also, if you consider the features you’re getting, it becomes immediately obvious that you’re getting insane value for money.

8. Huion Kamvas Pro 19

Huion Kamvas pro 19 is another large 18.4-inch display tablet to spark your inspiration.

The screen itself is very large, and that’s more than enough for you to do all your most important work. The tablet also has an overall premium build and feel, offering plenty of value for the price you pay.

Its most outstanding feature is the 4K UHD display with stunning color accuracy of 96% Adobe RGB and showcases over 1.07 billion colors, making it the best choice for pro creatives.

Huion Kamvas Pro 19 has excellent drawing experience thanks to the very precise pen, which has a high-pressure sensitivity level of 16K, very low 2g IAF, as well as 60 degrees of tilt function to boot.

This means your strokes are represented accurately. It also allows for any minor movements for detail work to be translated onto the screen, similar to paper.

Even better, The laminated display boasts an anti-glare matte etched glass surface that delivers a wonderful tactile feel, which is ideal for drawing and sketching.

9. Huion Kamvas 22 Plus

The Huion Kamvas 22 Plus is an affordable large 21.5-inch pen display for beginners and pro artists on a budget with all the essential features.

It spots a QLED screen with a 1080p FHD resolution, 1200:1 contrast ratio and 140% sRGB color gamut coverage. You get a large area to work on and impressive color details—all without the need to zoom in.

Other than that the Kamvas 22 Plus also comes with a laminated display that reduces the parallax and improves stylus accuracy. Plus the scratch-resistant etched glass on top provides a better drawing surface.

The PenTech3.0-equipped Digital Pen PW517 features a smaller magnetic core, which increases the stability of the pen nib and improves the sketching experience – very responsive with virtually no lag.

The only downside is that it has no shortcut keys on the tablet, but if you want some, you can buy a mini keypad dial, but you have to spend more.

10. XPPen Artist 22 Pro (Gen 2)

The Artist 22 Pro (Gen 2) is among the latest offerings from XPPen. It will make a great alternative to the Wacom Cintiq 22 and offers a worthwhile performance.

Among its most notable features is the 2K QHD resolution on 21.6-inch screen. This is not something you find on most affordable 22-inch display tablets on the market; usually, the best you can get is 1080p full HD screens.

This means you enjoy impressive clarity when reviewing the work you’ve created. Aside from the 2K resolution, the Artist 22 Pro (Gen 2) offers excellent color accuracy – 99% Adobe RGB – way more than the 72% Adobe RGB on the Cintiq 22.

The display is laminated to ensure there is no parallax when using the tablet. Also, etched glass on the top severs to offer superior surface texture, allowing for hassle-free drawing.

Another amazing feature you’ll appreciate is the included ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote with a rotating dial and 10 programmable shortcut buttons, which simplifies and expedites access to various tools while working.

The X3 Pro smart chip stylus works impressively to let you create amazing artwork. It comes with Highest 16k levels of pressure sensitivity, lower 3g IAF and 60-degree tilt function to deliver a lifelike drawing experience.

Even though the Artist 22 Pro (Gen 2) is made of plastic, the build quality is pretty decent and you can feel the sturdiness when you handle it.

This helps to keep the price down while ensuring that you get a great bang for the buck! Overall, it is an appropriate option if you can’t afford the cost of the Wacom Cintiq 22.

11. Huion Kamvas 24 Pro

The Huion Kamvas Pro 24 is the best you can get with a big immersive 23.8-inch 4K screen, which makes everything clear, and ultimately improve your work efficiency.

The excellent 96% Adobe RGB color gamut and 1.07 billion colors fulfil the needs of professional colour presentation in painting, designing, and image editing.

It comes with a fully laminated display and an etched glass on top. the etched glass is known for its superior surface texture.

The PW517 stylus performs almost identical to the wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8192 pressure sensitivity, tilt response, fairly low IAF and is able to draw very thin lines consistently, taking a pleasant drawing experience.

To increase the flexibility of your creation and enhance your workflow, it includes a wireless express key remote with 18 buttons and a mechanical dial.

Being half the price of the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24, it’s actually very good for what you pay for.

12. XPPen Artist 24 Pro (Gen 2)

The XPPen Artist 24 Pro (Gen 2) is one of the best drawing tablets with huge screen for professional artists who aren’t on a budget.

The 23.8-inch IPS display has an incredible color gamut of 98% Adobe RGB, and 2.5K QHD display resolution, allowing for detailed clarity and color accuracy—even when handling professional graphics projects.

The X3 Pro smart chip stylus included is incredible. The variety of felt tips feels great as they glide along the screen with close precision and accuracy.

The refresh rate of up to 165Hz provided excellent responsiveness when drawing with the X3 Pro Pencil, everything feel smoother and snappy.

The tablet’s laminated display also features an anti-glare etched screen that enables artists to work for hours without straining their eyes.

Those seeking a cheap Cintiq alternative will be glad to know that the price of this is almost half lower than Cintiq Pro 24. In other words, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Wacom Cintiq Alternatives Buying Guide

Before deciding on what to buy, various factors should be considered to get a worthwhile cintiq alternative.

These features and factors of display drawing tablets can affect your experience when working.

1. Screen Size

Pen displays can range from 10-inches all the way up to 32-inches. The larger the pen display, the more expensive it is.

Smaller pen displays such as those 12-inch or even 10-inch ones, have a very limited drawing area, making adjustments just a bit more challenging.

My general recommendation is to get something that’s at least 13-inches or larger. Using a larger screen allows the artist to be more immersed and alter fine details.

2. Screen Quality

Color gamut and resolution of the screen are noteworthy when it comes to screen quality.

Resolution is the number of pixels the display can show. The size of the pixel is determined by how many of them fit in an inch of screen (pixels per inch, or PPI).

The best Cintiq alternative ≤ 22-inch should have an HD display with at least 1920 x 1080 pixels. With these specs, you’ll know that your illustrations will look incredible.

Don’t forget to double-check the color quality. That refers to both the accuracy and range of the colors.

Try to get a pen display that supports (close to) 100% sRGB colour gamut. The colours will look more vibrant and more accurate.

If you need to compare your art with printed proofs, get pen displays that support (close to) 100% Adobe RGB.

3. Connectivity

Generally, most display tablets connect via 3 cables ( HDMI + 2 USB-A).

However, the best drawing tablets support single USB-C cable connection. This will help to minimise the clutter of wires on your desk for a comfortable working space.

4. Pressure Senstivity

Nowadays, most pens included support at least >4000 levels of pressure sensitivity and many pens support >8000 levels of pressure sensitivity.

Look for a tablet with a stylus that has high pressure sensitivity. The more the pressure levels, the more accurate the stylus will be when you’re shading, or even doing something as simple as sketching.

5. Tilt Senstivity

Tilt sensitivity is a critical feature when drawing on a tablet. It gives the device the ability to make out the angle of the digital pen as you draw.

You can also shade more effectively with tilt recognition. It will feel like you’re drawing with pencil and paper for a realistic and nuanced effect.

6. Express Keys

Shortcut buttons are one of the more handy features of a drawing pad. These physical keys allow the user to alter settings as they are working quickly.

By using these buttons, one can maintain their workflow without having to go into settings and make adjustments.

Some models will come with a scroll wheel or touch bar that allows you to change brush size, zoom or scroll easily and quickly. This is more convenient than common shortcut buttons.

7. Matte drawing surface

Most pen displays nowadays come with a matte drawing surface that provides a more textured tactile experience for drawing.

The matte surface can come in two forms: matte screen protector or matte glass. The texture on both is quite similar.

Advantages of a matte screen protector is it’s cheaper compared to matte glass. Downside is matte screen protector will scratch with usage over time. You may need to replace it after every few months or so.

The etched glass surface is highly durable, permanent and resistant to wear.

Summary

As you can see, there are lots of good cheap alternatives to Wacom Cintiq out there to consider, and they will make a nice option for both beginner and intermediate artists.

They are not only affordable but also offer a range of practical features that may be just as impressive as the ones on the Wacom Cintiq.

I recommend you get one to hone your skill, until you can start to get paid for your work and finally afford whatever premium wacom cintiq pro tablet you really want.

And Who knows, you might actually fall in love with the alternative and become loyal to the brand!

So, take your pick and look forward to an exciting digital art journey ahead! You’ll love getting creative on your new display drawing tablet.

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