← Back to Home

Inkling vs Drawful: Which Social Drawing Game Should You Play?

Looking for an alternative to Drawful? Both games bring drawing fun to parties, but in different ways. Here's how Inkling compares to games like Drawful.

What Drawful Does Well

  • Polished Jackbox party game experience with professional presentation
  • Players create fake titles to trick others—great deception mechanic
  • Works well on a big screen for in-person parties
  • Phone-as-controller makes joining easy for guests
  • Part of the popular Jackbox Party Pack collection

How Inkling is Different

Inkling is a fast, frictionless social drawing game you can play instantly in the browser.

  • Completely free: No purchase required—play anytime without buying a game pack
  • Remote-first design: Built for playing online with friends anywhere, not just local parties
  • Everyone draws simultaneously: No waiting for turns—the whole group draws at once
  • Hidden role mechanic: The Faker doesn't know the prompt and must bluff their way through
  • No downloads. No login. No personal data retained.
  • Instant access: Open a link, share a code, start playing in seconds

At a Glance

InklingDrawful
Platform focusBrowser-basedJackbox platform (various)
Session vibeQuick rounds, online playPolished party game
Setup frictionInstant start with room codeRequires game purchase and host
Best forSmall remote groups (3-8)In-person parties
Core mechanicSocial deduction with hidden rolesDraw and create fake titles

Which Should You Choose?

  • Choose Drawful if you're hosting an in-person party with a big screen, already own Jackbox games, and want a polished party game experience with professional presentation.
  • Choose Inkling if you want a free game you can play anytime, prefer playing online with remote friends, and enjoy social deduction where one player is secretly faking it.

Try Inkling

Want a free drawing game you can play right now? Give Inkling a try—no purchase or account required.

Play Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Inkling free?

Yes, Inkling is completely free to play.

Do I need an account?

No. Just pick a username and join a room—no registration or login required.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes! Inkling works on any device with a web browser—phones, tablets, and computers.