Looking for help please, I have just got a tablet with pen and have no idea what drawing apps are good or bad.
So what apps do you use and why?
Thank you.

Sadly I don't have a tablet myself.

Did it come with any recommendations or apps installed?

I don't even know if different tablets can all take the same apps. Is it like the whole Mac vs Windows thing where they have different programs, or... ?

No it gave no recommendations were given.
Only what comes up in the Google play store when you search drawing apps.

That sounds super frustrating!

And, weirdly, it also sounds like a bit of a lost opportunity on the part of the tablet maker. I bet they could have gotten a good partnership going with a software company by selling the tablets pre-loaded with a "trial version" of a drawing app or program. A lot of folk would likely end up buying it at the end of the trial, since it's what they'd have gotten used to.
So I'm surprised, honestly.

I suppose if you follow any artists on social media, a lot of them have the technical information of how they work posted on a FAQ (I never paid much mind to that part since I don't really understand a lot of the terms used, but I recall seeing a few list the programs they use)

Maybe it could be a starting place?

Hiya! I dunno if you still need help, but what tablet do you have? Since you said "Google Play" store I'll assume it's an Android, so in that case, my sister uses a free program called Medibang Paint that she really likes! It should be decently powerful since I follow a lot of artists that use it professionally even.

I bought an iPad recently, so if you have an iPad there's a paid program ($10 USD) called Procreate that's super popular and that I've been having fun with lately! On my computer I usually use Clip Studio Paint (get it when it's on sale, because they always have a ton of sales), and I just realized that you can get a subscription-based version for the iPad!

I hope that helped!

Android kinda lacks in the department of good, widely recognised and developed art apps, but Medibang and Autodesk Sketchbook are quite good. I also heard good opinions about Ibis Paint.

I've heard good things about ClipStudio. I can't really offer much advice, as I'm on a 2-in-1 laptop and use GIMP on that.

oh noticed it's been a while since the topic got posted but if you're still looking - personally I use ArtRage, tho It's mostly bc It came with my tablet years ago and I'm a creature of habit XD and adobe illustrator for vector art - but some programs that I often hear are pretty popular are Clip studio paint, Paint tool sai, MediBang and FireAlpaca, the last two I'm definitely sure you can get them for free

On Android, I can recommend Clip Paint Studio, Ibis paint and Medibang paint.
Autodesk sketchbook is also good! I like the brushes it comes with.

Clip paint is a monthly payment app tho.. so if you're not looking to commit to a sub, I think Medibang is the best option.