# Wooly Willy

> Digital reimagining of the classic Wooly Willy magnetic toy for creative fun. (iPhone/iPad app by Neal Colston.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wooly-willy/id284944951 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Neal Colston](https://appshunter.io/developer/284944938)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Family
- Price: $0.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 68 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 18 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-01-31
- Data updated: 2026-08-12
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wooly-willy/id284944951/reviews.md

## What is Wooly Willy?

Stuck in a waiting room with nothing to do? Yearning for a bit of nostalgic fun from childhood? Need to keep the kids entertained? Check out the new Wooly Willy game for the iPhone or iPad! No metal shavings or magnetic wands required. Now you can have the magic of this classic toy at your fingertip everywhere you go.

Since the 1950's, Wooly Willy has been providing hours of giggles and laughs. Unleash your creativity on the classic images of Wooly Willy and Hairdo Harriet or give your friend a makeover by choosing from your own image library!

New
• Optimized for iOS 10 and 9
• New Drawing Brushes

Features
• Choose from 3 Classic Wooly Willy Characters: Wooly Willy, Hairdo Harriet, and Buddy Beagle.
• Also choose from 8 Halloween and Christmas Characters: Jack O Lantern, Freaky Frank, Cool Ghoul,Wacky Witch, Santa Willy, Nutcracker, Elfred Elf, and the Gingerbread Man.
• Use images taken instantly from your Camera or saved from your Photo Library 
• Shake to Erase or clear with a button

## Key features

- Classic character customization
- Photo library integration
- New drawing brushes
- Shake to erase functionality
- Seasonal character themes

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $0.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Halloween Add On Pack | Free | one-time |
| Christmas Add on Pack | Free | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #194 in Top Paid · Family (US App Store)

## What do users think of Wooly Willy?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 💖 Nostalgic childhood memories
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fun for kids and family
- 💡 Creative expression
- 💰 Good value for price
- 📸 Ability to use own pictures
- ✨ Slick design and easy to use

**Cons**

- 🐛 Glitchy and doesn't work
- 🐌 Slow performance
- ❌ Not like the original toy
- 💸 Waste of money
- 🤔 Pointless and gets old
- 🪲 Poorly coded
- 📉 Misleading screenshots

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Doesn't work
- Very glitchy
- Can only draw one line
- App crashes immediately
- Crashes every time
- Slow on iPhone 4
- Finger tracking not good
- Just draws little x's
- Draws little x's wherever you drag your finger
- Hair doesn't have magnetic feel
- Slow performance
- Doesn't allow dragging from bottom
- Doesn't allow dragging anything
- Stuck with mistakes
- Dust doesn't look right (asterisks)
- Makes it look like ants crawling
- More you spat on, worse it looks
- Gravity missing
- Draws black stars all over
- Too damned slow
- Poorly coded

**Most requested features**

- Undo button
- Take pictures from camera
- Drag shavings onto picture
- Save creations
- Color palette
- Different drawing tools
- Improve finger tracking
- Add gravity
- Adjust pressure sensitivity
- Drag filings around
- Drag from edge to pick up filings
- Remove filings by dragging to edge
- Make it free
- Make it easier to put woolys on
- Improve graphics
- Add accelerometer for gravity effect
- Digital shavings that slide around
- Pile of digital shavings at bottom
- Move shavings up to position them
- More realistic magnet feel
- Retro feel
- Different colors of hair
- Make drawing faster with full lead
- Fix drawing when fast
- Add more to do
- Improve speed

## Recent user reviews (10 of 68)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wooly-willy/id284944951/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Needs work. But ok

*2018-09-15, version 3.0*

Needs and undo button and able to take pics from camera.

### 5/5 — Love it!!

*2013-11-26, version 2.4*

This is my daughters favorite app. She just loves it! She is constantly playing it!!

### 2/5 — ?

*2013-04-07, version 2.4*

Just.... Why?

### 5/5 — Very cool update!!

*2012-09-16, version 2.0*

My kids really dig the updated colors! Great job guys!

### 5/5 — Great app

*2012-07-26, version 2.0*

I love this app nothing to change about it

### 2/5 — Do NOT like the new app icon. 👎

*2012-06-03, version 1.8*

It doesn't catch your eye as the classic wooly willy. Disappointed.

### 3/5 — Ok

*2012-05-22, version 1.74*

Would be cooler of it was like the original and you had to drag the shavings onto the picture.

### 1/5 — Terrible

*2012-03-16, version 1.69*

Doesn't work, very glitchy, I can only draw one line.

### 5/5 — Very disappointed

*2012-01-21, version 1.69*

Does not work.. Reported the problem Nd nothing has been done about it.. Wow!!!

### 5/5 — Very Good

*2011-12-06, version 1.69*

I recall playing this when I was very young. Your never too old!,

## Frequently asked questions about Wooly Willy

### What is this app?

This application is a digital adaptation of the classic Wooly Willy magnetic toy. It allows users to create fun hairstyles and makeovers on various characters or even their own photos using a touch interface.

### What are the key features?

Key features include the ability to choose from classic characters like Wooly Willy and Hairdo Harriet, as well as seasonal characters. Users can also import photos from their camera or library and utilize new drawing brushes. The app offers a 'shake to erase' function for quick clearing.

### Is this app free to download?

The app is free to download and offers in-app purchases. This means you can get started with the basic features at no cost, with options to acquire additional content or features through in-app transactions.

### What devices is this app compatible with?

The app is optimized for iOS 9 and iOS 10, making it compatible with iPhones and iPads running these operating system versions.

### What are some common use cases for this app?

This app is perfect for passing time during waiting periods, providing entertainment for children, or simply indulging in some nostalgic fun. Users can unleash their creativity by giving characters and friends unique makeovers.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.2 — 2025-11-03

Updated the classic app to work better on newer devices and newer OSes.

### 3.0 — 2019-01-31

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Completely updated for iOS 9 and 10
Crisp detail on Retina devices
Includes a new color chooser and brushes
All Seasonal images are now included free

### 2.4 — 2012-12-02

Now purchase a Christmas pack with new images to keep you in the Christmas spirit. Willy's friends Gingerbread Man, Alfred Elf and Nutcracker join him in a Santa cap for some Christmas cheer.

### 2.3 — 2012-10-19

iOS 6 share sheets — Share to Facebook, Twitter and more
iPhone 5 — Taller images allow more space for creating whacky and fun hairdos 
New Seasonal in-app purchase images starting with 4 new images for Halloween

### 2.0 — 2012-07-19

Now with color! Added color chooser for drawing and updated the particles for a more realistic effect.

## More apps by Neal Colston

- [Quitter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quitter/id284944935)
- [My Lists](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-lists/id284945109)
- [KUAF](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kuaf/id411537649)

All apps by Neal Colston: https://appshunter.io/developer/284944938

## Related topics

[wooly willy](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wooly-willy)

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*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 2026-08-12.*