# Forge - Brainstorm & Organize — user reviews > 85 indexed App Store user reviews of Forge by YY7, rated 3.40/5 from 5 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-brainstorm-and-organize/id1021428095/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-brainstorm-and-organize/id1021428095.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 3 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 2 ## Newest reviews (15 of 85) ### 3/5 — Apple pencil jitter *2017-12-07, version 1.4.5* Lots of potential but a huge amount of jitter with the Apple Pencil on the Pro 10.5 running iOS 11.2 ### 2/5 — too bad brushe quality *2017-09-15, version 1.4.5* lines are wiggle when using apple pencil, very disappointed. ### 3/5 — Not sure... *2017-08-29, version 1.4.5* I have an iPad Air 2 and won't buy a pro... I don't need the Pro with thePencil because I use my Adonit Touch. But... Versions go toward the iPad Pro, and support less of the iPad Air 2 (multiscreen) I don't get it ??? Update: I bought a Pro, but I also bought a Jot Pixel to replace the Touch. The funny thing? Forge does not support the Jot Pixel... ### 3/5 — Does not rotate to portrait view. *2017-06-25, version 1.4.5* Not a realistic tool for many thinking environments ### 3/5 — Lots of potential, but crashy *2017-06-15* This is a great app for jotting ideas down and keeping them loosely organized. The UI is nice and mostly intuitive and the organizational structure using cards to represent each page works pretty well — the way you can store cards in the corner of the screen is cool. Unfortunately it is too buggy. It crashes about half the time I use it. Not what you want when you're trying to get your thoughts down! **Developer response:** Hello and regards, Forge has not received much love and care in several years. That has changed. Over the last few months we have been working hard to make it rock-solid. If you encounter trouble with the latest version, please let us know and we will be happy to get fixes out promptly. ### 4/5 — Very useful & enjoyable to use, but needs sync *2017-04-27, version 1.4.5* Very useful tool for brainstorming without becoming bogged down or distracted by too many formatting options. It's great to have to work within the confines of only 5 layers, and I love being able to see my thumbnails all together. Importing reference pictures works well, and duplicating specified layers to another iteration is fantastic. Exporting pictures was easy and fast. I would very much like to have the ability to sync projects between devices, and to duplicate projects. Being able to change the size of the displayed thumbnails would be good - I'd like the option to have them a little bigger. ### 3/5 — Great for arranging sketches *2017-02-27, version 1.4.3* Great to be able to work simply, arranging drawings, and have just found can make own small palettes (review edited to reflect that). Nice to be able to set up a range of colours. Nice set of pens/brushes too. One small request about an undo/redo button, as I keep accidentally erasing a mark now and then. ### 4/5 — Good but very much in need of split view *2016-10-17, version 1.4.3* This is a very good, lightweight drawing app, but it is in desperate need of split view support to allow reference images to be viewed side by side ### 4/5 — Back in the game *2016-10-16, version 1.4.3* With recent updates I'm really enjoying the refreshed forge. Apple Pencil seems fine as well. Would love a virtual ruler / flex ruler for sharp colour boundaries vs erasing edges to define. Good base tool set with nice options for quick drafting. ### 3/5 — Worth a Look. *2016-10-08, version 1.4.3* I'm glad to see them continue the development of Forge because it has great potential. The interface and workflow if very refined and fluid. I like the idea of moving quickly between drawings and trying out different possibilities instead of being isolated on a single image. Buuuuuuuuut, the tools aren't quite there yet. At least not with the Apple Pencil. The lines are a bit jittery and the pressure sensitivity isn't working well enough yet. Once they address this it'll easily be worth $5-10. ### 3/5 — Potential is huge *2016-09-17, version 1.4.1* This app could replace almost 3/4 drawing app I have. The brushes are great and the UI/UX is absolutely perfect for iterating on concepts. Pencil support is there but it's lacklustre. No angle support and if you draw fast there's no lag but it drops segments of your stroke. Really hope they keep iterating on this because wow it could be great. ### 4/5 — Escaped from oblivion! *2016-09-05* September 2016: Great update of adding "pressure sensitivity" to the drawing engine. It might not be adjustable, but for what it is, it is excellent! Glad to have it now! More stabilize when using. Thank goodness! Plz tell me there are these features in the update road map: Lasso and Move tool? Copy, Cut, and Paste (And across files?)? Transform anybody? iCloud support? There's definitely more, but these would be my immediate personal wish list... Having said all that... You guys are amazing! Great job Team Forge! I love your app, and continually use it everyday! August 2016: Ah!!! I am so elated that the Forge team are still together, no longer in stealth mode, and the Forge app is being updated again! This was one of the best sketch / ideation apps prior to the Apple Pencil release, and with the update that actually supports the Apple Pencil that got rid of the unacceptable lag, this app is back in my work flow. I am back drawing quickly again. Sketching out ideas, iterating and moving ideas around so quickly. This app is second to no one in that respects. I can nip pick on the drawing engine, but for what it does, it just awesome, which is getting ideas down and iterating quickly. Looking forward to the new updates that continue to stabilize the app from crashing, plus support for better cloud storage transfer. Maybe psd conversations would be great as well. ### 3/5 — Needs work *2016-08-21, version 1.4* Crashes while drawing. Can't draw right to the edge or you start pulling the toolbars onto the canvas. Should distinguish between Apple Pencil and finger so you can use your fingers to change tools/sizes while drawing with the pencil (like in OneNote). ### 4/5 — Where's the pressure detection? *2016-08-18, version 1.4* Great Ux, but the brushes aren't very flexible. Sure, Apple pencil works, but it's unresponsive to pressure. ### 4/5 — New bugs? *2016-08-18* The new update hopefully fixes the merge layers glitch where merging two layers caused the app to crash sometimes and delete the layers, but it seems everytime I exit the drawing and re-enter it the colors move closer and closer to the bottom right of the canvas. Can you fix this please? I've been using this app for a long time and I love it, but these bugs make things harder... Also glad to see you've updated it finally! Keep making improvements on this app! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Used to be great *2021-09-24* Forge immediately crashes on my iPad mini. I used to love it for taking notes. But not only can I not use it I have no access to existing notes! ### 1/5 — Incredible garbage *2021-06-28* Why is this still here? Create a drawing, never get access again. This app guarantees you waste your time. Please, don’t bother. ### 1/5 — Update required *2020-04-21, version 1.4.5* This was a great app however, it now crashes upon opening ### 1/5 — APP STILL CRASHES - NEED UPDATE *2020-03-11, version 1.4.5* Please update the App. It was brilliant but keeps crashing now. I tried leaving a message on your site but no update? ### 1/5 — Don't get this app *2018-02-13, version 1.4.5* I have had this app for 3 weeks and in that amount of time it has closed unexpectedly 15 times, erasing my most recent sketches and work and putting me behind schedule on assignments. It's not worth getting. ### 1/5 — Stuck on second screen *2017-08-14, version 1.4.5* Opened it, swiped second screen as directed, stuck there, can not proceed, useless app. ### 1/5 — Keeps losing all work *2017-02-17, version 1.4.3* App automatically turns off. I haven't been able to finish a single project because it keeps turning off, and losing all of my progress ### 1/5 — Why is it getting worse with your own stylus?! *2016-09-27* Ever since the software group separated from Adonit and started this new version, I'm having more and more problem with my Adonit Touch and Adobe Ink(Adonit as OEM for Adobe). Specifically the latency with the stylus and palm rejections are really bad. I've tried Adobe Sketch,Concepts and Procreate, they all have better performance. When I try to draw an ecplise in Forge, it looks like a polygon! That's how bad the latency is. Forge was such a beautifully designed app, but it's really frustrating that its core function isn't working, I can't even make a smooth curve, with the hardware that was made by the (former)same company. ### 1/5 — Wait up! Forge development team *2016-05-28, version 1.3.8* I have been patiently waiting for the development team of the Forge app to reduce the sizes of both the app itself and the artwork files it creates, for more than 15 months till now. I shouted out in two previous reviews in the AppStore, but nothing has changed. The ArtStudio app is only 28 MB in size, but it is 10X better than Forge in terms of its functionalities for sketching, drawing and painting with 150 brushes and unlimited number of layers, plus being also a capable photo editor with double exposure with 21 blend modes. And what is the size of Forge that can't do any of these - 201 MB. 8X more size providing 10X less functions. Even one-man developers like You Doodle are doing everything they can to reduce the size of their apps, utilizing technologies like iOS bitcode etc. And what has the developers done at Adonit, a company maybe 100X bigger? In my view, the Adonit management should fire the entire development team and starting all over again, starting from the head of the team for negligence and being blind to competition requirements. I really like the concept of the Forge app, e.g. its project wall, yet I also really hate to find a 3 MB sketch take up more than 20 MB of storage on my iPad. I also don't believe a file management module for the project wall would take up 180 MB in size. Wake up Forge developers! You only have 2.5 stars left for all-versions reviews, which means users are leaving, like myself. Last review: The difference between this and the old version really is just that this so-called "New" Forge app comes without the 135MB sample file. Its size is 6 MB less than the old one, to be fair. Allow me to give a little more details why I feel sorry for the Forge development team. As a comparison, except for the project wall view, the ArtStudio app does everything ten times better than this Forge app, but it's only 21.8MB without sample files. With that 21.8MB it is able to offer you 120+ brushes, unlimited layers, plus a full-featured photo editor and some filters. You can also add text with one of its 150+ fonts. It also helps create unlimited looks and feels with 21 blending modes. Its gallery view is not much less than the project wall view of Forge, if you just have to see all your drawings and photos together on one blank background, whatever you call it. Other leading drawing apps like ArtRage and Aurin Ink are around 30MB. Paper, Tayasui Sketches, Bamboo Paper, Adobe Illustrator Draw, Adobe Photoshop Sketch, Adobe Illustrator Line are all under 70MBs in size. Not to mention Procreate, the golden standard of the drawing and sketching category. It packs everything you can think of for a drawing app into a body of 68.4MB without the sample files, plus some of the best photo editing features. And one of the best user experience. I have written a review 6 months ago calling for a slim down of the old Forge app, because I like the Forge concept, and was considering buy the IAP. But it seems the developers have made no progress on this version of the Forge app, except putting the word New on the icon. For its current functionalities, this Forge app should be around 20MB in size, without the scooter sample file, which by itself is also ridiculous, a 135MB sample file!? What a shame! Come on Forge development team, you can do better than that. Like I said last time, I would buy the IAP and give it 5 stars if you guy are able to lose enough weight. Good luck till then! ### 1/5 — App not compatible with Apple Pencil *2016-05-03, version 1.3.8* Too slow when sketching ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Thank You for returning Adonit Bluetooth stylii support to Forge! *2020-07-13* Thank You for reinstating Adonit Bluetooth stylus support to Forge. I have waited a long time for this stylus maker support to return to the Forge App! A VERY Looooong time! Very, VERY much appreciated!!! I LOVE your app and missed using it with a much better and precise third party Bluetooth stylus. A love my Adonit stylii and still use mine to this day! Thank You, THANK YOU VERY MUCH for doing this!! Forge is one of my “Go To” apps for ANY art/design ideation! I can truly appreciate this app, once again! MANY THANKS! ### 5/5 — Use it all the time *2018-06-07* This app is a pleasure to use, and the tools feel easy and intuitive to use, even though there isn't a straightedge. If you're stuck between this and paper 53, think about what you hope to get out of them. This is better for organization and, beacause of the layers, illustrations. If you're looking for something more focused on free form drawing, look at paper 53 (it's on the App Store). ### 5/5 — Perfect for Ideation and Storyboards! *2017-10-01* I’ve experimented with a lot of apps on my iPad Pro when it comes to sketching and storyboarding ideas. Forge is perfect when it comes to getting those quick sketches to well-thought out storyboards! The UI is a pleasure to work in and the functionality is great! Recommend this to anyone who is thinking about downloading The only thing that I do wish was better was the support for the Apple Pencil; sometimes I notice there is a lag when the iPad registers that my palm is on the screen. Maybe could be fixed with an option to only draw with the Apple Pencil when one is connected? ### 5/5 — Ideal *2017-06-08, version 1.4.5* Wonderful app...just perfect for what I need to develop ideas. You can take an image off the net, write comments on another layer and the sketch out other ideas on a fresh 'sheet' and save in the same project folder. Simple, effective, ideal for brainstorming. ### 5/5 — more tool please !!!! *2017-04-14, version 1.4.5* great app and i need water color tool please ### 5/5 — Comic drawing *2017-01-25, version 1.4.3* I'm in the process of Storyboard making for my graphic novel, and this app is so helpful. ### 5/5 — Beautiful and Professional *2016-09-15, version 1.4.1* An absolutely gorgeous looking application, possibly one of the best UI's I've came across ever on iOS - It fits in perfect with the clean look of iOS 10. As for the functionality and usefulness of the app, I cannot fault it, and I am so happy to see it re-launched after a period of no updates now to run super smooth with Apple Pencil on iPad Pro. I highly recommend this app for concept creation, mood boards and general annotations, it is perfect and one of my all time favourite apps! ### 5/5 — The best is back *2016-08-17, version 1.4* I've never been so happy to see an app come back from the ashes. Jumping for joy. ### 5/5 — Perfect storyboarder *2015-09-29* This app is perfect for storyboarding. You can rearrange pictures in all sorts of wonderful ways. Batch download and upload images from/to Dropbox. Move whole scenes to the clipboard and drop them somewhere else. This is the ONLY app I could find that suits this purpose so well! ### 5/5 — Great app! *2015-08-18, version 1.2* I'm an interior designer and this has been great for building up concepts and mood boards to show clients. Would love to be able to share projects. Keep up the good work! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*