Concepts vs Squid (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Concepts if

• Fits if you sketch or mark up PDFs with a stylus
• Works for designers and architects who need real-world scale and DXF export

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you work on a Mac or in a browser, as neither is listed
• Tight if you stay free: 5 layers, JPG export only and no selection tool
• Watch out: one-time purchases only apply to the platform where you bought them
• Not for you if you want typed notes, because it is a drawing app first

Pick Squid if

• Fits if you write by hand on an Android tablet or a Chromebook
• Works for marking up, grading or signing PDFs with a pen, once you pay for PDF import

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you own an iPad or want your notes on a computer, as it's Android only
• Tight if you're staying free, because the highlighter, shapes, typed text, PDF import and cloud backup are all paid
• Not for you if you want to see the price before you install, since Google Play only gives a $1.00 to $14.99 range
• Watch out: purchases only apply on the platform and app store you bought them on
• Watch out: school bulk licenses are quoted on request, with no published price

Concepts

• Several features, including custom brushes, objects and presentation mode, are marked iOS only; the vendor says other platforms are catching up.
• The pages list iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Windows; no Mac or web app is listed, and a cross-platform release is marked as coming soon.
• One-time purchases apply only to the platform where they were bought.
• The site says prices vary by region and points to each app store for the exact figure.

Squid

• Squid is an Android app only. It also runs on Chromebooks that have the Play Store; no iPhone, iPad, desktop or web version is offered.
• PDF import, the highlighter, true eraser, shapes, typed text, premium backgrounds and cloud backup are all paid features.
• Google Play gives in-app prices only as a range of $1.00 to $14.99 per item, without saying which is monthly, yearly or one-time.
• Purchases are tied to the app store account used to buy them and apply only on the same platform and app store.

Concepts

Infinite canvas

Sketch with zoom and movable artboards, and share just the part you choose.

Editable vectors

Strokes stay adjustable after drawing, with infinite layers on the paid tiers.

Precision tools

Grids, line smoothing, live snap and shape guides, with real-world scale and measurement.

PDF and image markup

Drag in images and PDFs, sign documents and mark up files before sending them back.

Export formats

PDF, PNG, PSD, SVG and DXF (AutoCAD); the page ties several formats to paid unlocks.

Presentation mode

Sketch live for a team or client. The page marks this as iOS only.

Squid

Vector ink engine

Strokes stay sharp at any zoom level and can be selected, moved, resized, recolored and reweighted later. A stroke eraser removes whole letters or words at once.

Active pen support

On devices with an active pen, such as Samsung devices with S Pen, the pen writes and a finger erases, with pressure sensitivity and quick actions on the pen's side button.

Paper types and sizes

Pages are infinite by default or sized as letter, legal or A4. Blank, ruled and graph paper are free; math, engineering, music, sports and planning backgrounds need Squid Premium.

PDF markup

A premium feature that imports a PDF as a note to annotate, fill in or sign, then exports the result as a new PDF. It is also sold on its own as an in-app purchase.

Presentation mode

Casts a note to a TV or projector so a tablet works as a virtual whiteboard, or shows imported slides that can be written on during a talk.

Export and cloud backup

Notes export to PDF, PNG, JPEG or Squid Note format. Squid Premium adds backup at set intervals and bulk PDF export to Google Drive, Dropbox or Box.

Concepts

• Basic$0

  Infinite Sketchbook: five layers, unlimited drawings, paper and grid types, JPG export.

• Pro$29.99

  per year, or $4.99 per month

  Over 200 libraries, services and features across iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Windows.

• Essentials (one-time)$1.99

  one-time, per platform; the page lists $1.99 to $39.99 each

  Unlocks selection and editing tools, infinite layers, shape guides, custom grids and PNG, PSD, SVG and DXF export. Brush packs, objects and PDF are sold separately.

• Teams$100

  per license / year ($10 per license billed monthly)

  Concepts Pro for a team with self-service billing, re-assignable licenses and multiple admins.

Squid

• Squid$0

  Base features with no account: vector ink, blank, ruled and graph paper, stroke eraser, image import, folders and export to PDF, PNG or JPEG.

• Squid Premium and in-app purchases$1.00 - $14.99

  per item on Google Play (US); billing basis not shown

  Covers the monthly or yearly Squid Premium subscription and the one-time PDF Import and Tool Pack purchases. The listing does not price each item.

• Education bulk licenseCustom

  Discounted bulk Squid Premium licenses for Google Workspace for Education accounts, quoted on request and assigned in the Google Admin console.

Concepts

• Education

  Free licenses for qualifying schools

  The pricing section lists free Concepts licenses for the entire school at qualifying institutions.

Squid

• Education

  Discounted bulk licensing for schools

  Squid's help center offers discounted bulk licensing of Squid Premium for Google Workspace for Education accounts, by quote, with a trial available on request.

• Annual discount

  Discounted yearly subscription

  Squid Premium is sold monthly or yearly, and the help center describes the yearly option as the discounted price. It does not state the amounts.

• Other savings

  6 months of Squid Premium on eligible Chromebooks

  Eligible Chromebooks get 6 months of Squid Premium free through the Chromebook Perks page, redeemed against the monthly subscription option on Google Play.