GulluA Kids Coloring App Where You Actually Color
Short answer: Yes. In Gullu a child colors with real strokes, using a crayon, a marker, a tiny pen or a magic brush, and picks any color for any part of the picture. It is not a color-by-number app. Tap to fill is there too, for the youngest children.
Many "coloring" apps are tap-the-number games: the app chooses the color, and the child taps where they are told. If you want an app where a child makes the marks and the choices, this is how Gullu works.
Is Gullu a color-by-number app?
No. There are no numbers on the pages and no fixed colors. A child chooses the tool, chooses the color and decides where it goes. A purple lion with green paws is fine.
How does a child color in Gullu?
There are two ways, and a child can mix them on one page.
| Way to color | Tools | What the child does |
|---|---|---|
| Real strokes | Crayon, marker, Tiny pen, magic brush | Drags a finger or an Apple Pencil across the page, the way a crayon moves on paper |
| One tap | Tap to fill | Taps an area and it fills with the chosen color |
On top of both there are glitter, patterns and stickers, an eraser, one-tap undo and pinch to zoom.
Can they color outside the lines?
With the crayon, the marker and the Tiny pen, yes. Those tools draw wherever the finger goes, like the real thing.
The magic brush is different. It is also a stroke tool, but it keeps the color inside the area where the stroke began. A four-year-old can scrub back and forth freely and still end up with a tidy picture. It helps a child finish a page they are proud of. It is not the same as practicing crayon control, so the plain crayon is there for that. Our guide on coloring inside the lines covers when that skill usually arrives.
What about a blank page?
Gullu also has free drawing on a blank sheet, with the same tools, and "Draw it", where a dotted guide appears part by part for the child to trace and then color. See the drawing page.
Is it simple enough for a 3-year-old?
A parent can switch on Simple mode for a child's profile. It leaves only the magic brush and tap to fill. The page for 3 year olds shows how.
What does it cost, and are there ads?
Gullu is a free download on iPhone, iPad and Mac. The first page of every land is free, 47 pages, with every tool. Gullu Plus unlocks the rest of the more than 1,000 pages for US$3.99 a month, US$24.99 a year or US$39.99 once. There is no free trial. On iPhone, iPad and Mac there are no ads.
You can try tap to fill in a browser first on the color online page, or download Gullu on the App Store.
FAQ
Is Gullu a color-by-number app?
No. There are no numbers and no set colors. The child picks every color.
Can my child choose any color?
Yes. Any color can go on any part of any page.
What is the magic brush?
A brush the child moves like a crayon, which keeps the color inside the area where the stroke started.
Can my child color outside the lines?
Yes, with the crayon, marker and Tiny pen. The magic brush and tap to fill stay inside the lines.
Is this app for adults too?
It is designed for children ages 3 to 7. The pictures have bold outlines and big areas, not the fine detail adult coloring apps offer.
