Guides
Drawing app without an account
Velika lets you draw on macOS without creating an account. Local projects stay on the device. Compare this no-login painting loop with subscription and marketplace tools.
Updated 2026-09-13
Short answer: Velika is a drawing app that does not require an account for core painting. Create, save, and reopen local projects on macOS without signing in. Cloud features, if they appear later, must stay optional and explicit.
Why “no login” is a product requirement
Many professional tools ask for an identity before a blank canvas. That is reasonable for sync, fonts, or marketplace assets. It is friction when you only want to draw. Velika’s rule is the reverse: the hand comes first, and connected services remain visible if they exist.
What you can do without an account
- paint with the bundled professional brushes
- use layers, masks, and a color-managed workflow
- take pen pressure and stabilizer input from a tablet or pen display
- keep editable project files on the machine
- work through the core loop offline
You should still email the team if you want preview support or to join a waitlist. That is a website conversation, not a gate in front of the canvas.
What still needs an internet connection
Installing the preview, reading this website, and sending support mail all use the network. Analytics scripts on getvelika.com are delayed and documented on the privacy page. They are not the painting app. Local Velika files are not uploaded because you visited the marketing site.
How this differs from common alternatives
| Tool | Login to start drawing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Velika preview | No | macOS community preview; local files default |
| Krita | No | Mature free desktop painting on several platforms |
| Clip Studio Paint | Depends on license and device plan | Assets and some services are account-aware |
| Photoshop | Yes for desktop membership | Official requirements include activation and validation |
If your priority is “open the file and draw,” Krita and Velika both respect that. Choose Krita when you need a mature cross-platform editor today. Choose Velika when you are on a Mac and want to follow a project-centered roadmap.
Privacy boundary
Local artwork belongs on the device unless you deliberately send a file or use a connected feature. The privacy notice explains website analytics, preview emails, and how to make a privacy request. Do not attach original pages to email unless a team member asks and describes a safe transfer.
Related Velika pages
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to join a beta to draw?
The public download page describes the current community preview. Core painting is positioned as usable without an account. Follow that page for the installer that actually exists.
Will Velika later require a login?
Optional connected services may have their own plans. The core local loop is intended to remain usable without an account. If that boundary changes, the download and privacy pages must say so.
Are my drawings used to train models?
Do not invent a training policy that the product pages do not state. Local files stay local unless you send them. For website data, read the privacy notice.
Can a whole studio work without accounts?
Local files can be exchanged like any other document. Shared cloud libraries are not a shipping claim of the current preview.
Related guides
Clip Studio Paint alternative for comics and illustration
A factual look at Velika as a Clip Studio Paint alternative—what CSP already does well, what the Velika macOS preview ships today, and what remains roadmap work.
Free drawing software for Mac
Velika is a free macOS drawing app for comics, illustration, and animation. No account is required for core painting. Windows and Linux builds are still planned.
Krita for comics — where Velika is different
Krita is already a strong free painting app. This guide explains when to stay with Krita for comics and animation, and when Velika’s macOS preview is a separate project-centered experiment.