Wacom Cintiq is every digital artist’s dream product. Let’s face it.
But due to recent price hike by Wacom it’s no more a feasible option for aspiring digital designers who are on a budget.
Well this shouldn’t limit anyone to kick-start their digital designing career as we have put forth a list of the Best Wacom Cintiq Alternatives.
As a product line, very few have been able to directly compete with the growth of Cintiq alternatives.
20 Best Wacom Cintiq Alternatives
1. XP Pen Artist 12 and 13.3 Pro
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In terms of value for money, few can outshine the XP Pen Artist 12 and 13.3.
They’re both great in terms of display: the lamination of the screen reduces parallax displacement and is also pleasing to look at aesthetically.
Furthermore, the most updated model of the pen XP is extremely elegantly made and is nearly jitter-free.
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2. Huion Kamvas Pro 13
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Not only does this device have an extremely catchy name, but its specs can arguably be said to be just as good.
It not only possesses a fantastic screen at an extremely reasonable price, but its pen also has tilt-support, which is very useful as a feature.
Perhaps the only downside is the fact that its firmware updates are only available on Windows.
Hence, Mac users should probably err on the side of caution when selecting tablets like these, and the recommendation would still be to keep their options open.
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3. Huion Kamvas Pro 12
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Similar to its larger counterpart, the Kamvas Pro 13, it not only provides great value for money, but also has the same features that the other does, including a laminated screen and a pen that that has tilt-support, unlike its predecessors.
It used to have an issue with wavy lines that appeared on screen, but Huion recently fixed that bug and it’s now better than others. Similar to the Kamvas Pro 13, its firmware can only be updated via Windows, and therefore users of Macs should probably consider other options again.
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4. XP Pen Artist 12
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As a pen, its functionality is great, and its price is also very affordable and within budget.
Perhaps the only downside would be that it has a glossy screen, which is a little off-putting visually, but the pen more than makes up for that drawback.
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5. Artisul D13
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Despite this tablet not being a comparatively recent model (in contrast to the other items on this list), it has stood the test of time and still deserves its spot here just as much as it did when it came out.
Its activation force is superior to most of the other devices present on the list, and its still considered to (overall) be one of the better existing alternatives in the market.
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6. Parblo Coast 13
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The Coast 13 came as a very pleasant surprise, since it was able to prove itself as one of the better pen-related devices in the market of 13”.
It’s an extremely well-rounded device which is a jack-of-all-trades in some respects, because it performs very well in all relevant departments.
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7. Huion Kamyas Pro 16
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This new addition now comes with a laminated screen and undeniably makes itself one of the greatest 16” tablets made for commercial use.
Between this and the XP-Pen, however, it’s a tie (as mentioned below) simply because they both provide extremely good quality devices.
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8. XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro
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The XP-Pen’s performance is almost nearly matched by its aesthetic value.
It possesses a laminated display (which reduces parallax displacement entirely) and it is an extremely budget-friendly device as well.
The experience while drawing is comparable to the Wacom 16, with the added benefit of having shortcut keys lined up alongside it.
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9. Wacom Cintiq 16
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The presence of a Cintiq device on a Cintiq alternative list might be enough to raise a few eyebrows, but the reason why it is present is primarily because of the fact that it is extremely cheap compared to its counterparts.
To get the absolute best out of a pen device with no unnecessary tradeoffs between performance-related functions, this is the one to look out for.
The only drawbacks are the fact that this device has some parallax displacement due to the lack of a laminated display, as well as the absence of shortcut keys entirely from this device.
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10. Huion Kamvas GT-156 v2
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The Huion Kamvas GT-156 v2 gives a pleasing experience in terms of operations, given how the drawing on this tablet is a very smooth and soothing experience.
The quality of build as well as the layout for the buttons are also extremely impressive and being coupled with a very functional slider makes it an overall great experience.
This would have been a strong contender for number one (if not a clear winner), if it did not have a major screen issue.
The screens of the Artisul and the XP-Pen both not only look better, but also have a better color outlay than this device.
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11. Gaomon PD1560
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The Gaomon PD1560 is just about as good in terms of performance as the XP-Pen Artist 16 (mentioned below), but edges it out primarily because its color overlay is overall better than the latter, and its pen functions more smoothly on angled lines than its competitor.
Furthermore, in terms of price, it is significantly cheaper, often coming at around $70 less with better features.
Interestingly enough, this device does not have too many drawbacks, except perhaps the fact that its build quality is not as firm as other devices of this time, as well as the cheap feel of the screen protector and looseness of its buttons.
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12. Veikk VK1560
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The Veikk VK1560 holds its own on this list, given its strong and vibrant colors as well as a decent pen display at a reasonable price point.
The major drawback is that its pen lines have a bit of a jitter, which can be off-putting.
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13. XP-Pen Artist 15.6
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Though the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 may not be able to compare with the Artisul 16 in terms of performance (as a personal view), it is still far cheaper than it.
This device is an all-around great device for drawing, with its drawbacks being that its pen wobbles slightly, and its screens are not very scratch-resistant, which means that it is fairly susceptible to marks.
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17. Huion KAMVAS 22 Pro (2019)
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Though this device might be a tad more expensive than its competitors, it still makes it to one of the lists personal favorites.
It is unique in its ability to provide a laminated screen, which immediately distinguishes it from the XP-Pen.
However, the fact that it is twice its price is still a concern that is yet to be justified.
Regardless, its accuracy still outshines the XP primarily because of its improved screen.
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18. XP Pen Artist 22E Pro
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The latest model of its display has been able to rectify most of the bugs and errors that its predecessors had.
Its initial activation rate is better than before, alongside its pressure curve.
The matte screen is also pre-applied, which was generally an extremely difficult task to do in its previous model where it was not present.
The XP-Pen’s changes are definitely ones to look forward to, especially now that the prices have been reduced as well.
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19. Huion KAMVAS GT-191
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The most obvious benefit to the Huion KAMVAS GT-191 is that its screen is extremely good.
Its downsides are also very minor, so they are not major concerns.
The reason why its price is generally low is because it does not have shortcut buttons present on the face of the tablet, which might not be an issue for most individuals, but can understandably be a problem for individuals that require quick work on-the-fly.
However – if the aforementioned is not a concern to the user – it is a good way to be very cost-efficient.
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20. Artisul D22
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Though the device works very well on Windows, it does not work all that well on the Mac.
Though it has a great stand that allows it to sit well on surfaces (such as desks), it still does not justify its poor line quality on the Mac.
However, for Windows users it is definitely worth looking over.
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