Comparison

Manikin vs Sidenote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Manikin

This app provides a 3D posing tool for artists, offering a collection of models and tools to help with drawing anatomically correct figures. It allows for quick scene creation, storyboard generation, and comic book illustration framing, with intuitive posing and adjustable camera and lighting.

Highlights
  • 3D model posing
  • Anatomy reference
  • Intuitive controls
  • Adjustable camera and lighting
  • Character animations
  • Cutout screenshots
Features
Read full description

Sketch fast with MANIKIN a 3D posing tool containing a collection of models and tools aimed to help professional artists and amateurs alike in drawing anatomically correct figures with respect to light & perspective. Create scenes with multiple characters or manipulate simple 3D shapes to quickly visualize the outlines of your sketches, generate storyboards with screenshots or frame your comic book illustrations and mangas. ARTISTS MANNEQUIN The mannequin was born out of the need for an interactive human anatomy reference to tackle problems like foreshortening, proportion and depth. We expand upon the wooden mannequin for figure drawing with various 3D models and tools to help you with shape recognition, shading, perspective and stance. POSE FAST Moving things in 3D often involves a lot of interaction for even the simplest of goals. This is why we wanted posing to be as intuitive and simple as possible with a bare minimum in menu diving and without losing complexity. A straightforward and intuitive design keeps all functionality close without drowning you in options. Our goal is to let you spend more time drawing and less time preparing. APPLY ANIMATIONS Even for the most hardened artists it’s not easy to imagine how the body moves. In MANIKIN all animations can be viewed in detail. Use them to get faster to your desired stance or as use them as a figure study for motion. CAMERA & LIGHT We also give full control over camera & light. Use 360 mode to work and use "point of view mode" to get the exact camera angle you had in mind. To ease your shading needs you have up to 4 fully adjustable lights at your disposal to create dynamic drop shadows and realistic depth. SCREENSHOTS FOR DIGITAL PAINTERS MANIKIN also features cutout screenshots so you can immediately use them in Photoshop, Coreldraw, Procreate, Paper or whatever digital drawing software you use. No more hassle with editing screenshots. FEATURES * View character animations in detail. * A straightforward and intuitive design. * Various tools and effects such as outline, cut-out, grid, ... * Dynamic light with up to 4 fully adjustable lights * Freelook camera * Screenshots without background. * Share your creations on any platform and much more …

About

Sidenote

Features
Read full description

Some thoughts don't need a folder, a title, or a five-step workflow. They just need to be written down before they disappear. Sidenote is a quiet capture app for the in-between moments - the reminder you think of on a walk, the sentence that arrives in the shower, the idea you don't want to lose before you reach your desk. Open the app, start typing, tap Done. Your thought drops into a simple stream, timestamped and waiting whenever you scroll back. No accounts. No sync. No noise. Everything stays on your iPhone. CAPTURE WITHOUT FRICTION Sidenote opens ready to write. A single prompt, a clean canvas, and nothing else competing for your attention. When you're done, your thought settles into your stream with a subtle, satisfying motion - then the screen is clear again for whatever comes next. Drafts are saved automatically, so if you're interrupted mid-thought, nothing is lost. YOUR THOUGHT STREAM Scroll down to revisit earlier sidenotes, grouped by day with timestamps. Search when you need to find something specific. Edit a note, share it, or remove it with a long press. Export your entire stream as plain text whenever you want a copy outside the app. Removed sidenotes stay on your device for 30 days, so you can restore them if you change your mind. GO LIVE Pin any sidenote to your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island with Go Live. Keep a reminder, a phrase, or an idea in sight for up to eight hours - without opening the app again. Choose a default or clear appearance to match how you want it to look on your Lock Screen. HOME SCREEN WIDGET Add a Sidenote widget to see your latest thought at a glance. Tap it to jump straight back into your stream. MAKE IT YOURS • Light, Dark, or System appearance • Font choices: System, New York, Georgia, or Mono • Adjustable text size across the app, widget, and Live Activity • Thoughtful haptics and animations (respects Reduce Motion) Sidenote is designed to feel calm, fast, and personal - like jotting something in the margin of your day. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Sidenote keeps your thoughts on this iPhone. There is no account to create, no server to sync to, and no data leaving your device. Your sidenotes belong to you. Built for people who think in fragments, capture in bursts, and want a place that stays out of the way until they need it. Start typing.

Screenshots

Manikin4 screens
Sidenote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sidenote at none against Manikin's 1. Sidenote also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months). Manikin's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Manikin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sidenote asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Manikin ships an update every 2 months, Sidenote every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Manikin versus Sidenote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterManikinSidenote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (4.4K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews74.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.4K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size226 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUNSH VOFAlexander James Walters

Bugs and requests

Manikin

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unlocked items disappearing
  • Horizontal camera toggle not working
  • Pose resets when using certain features
  • Inability to move multiple models independently

Requested features

9 requests
  • Digitigrade leg toggle
  • Ability to scale and customize body parts
  • Add animal models (e.g. cats, dogs)
  • Ability to import custom 3D models
  • Perspective slider for camera view
Show 4 more
  • Posable fingers and toes
  • Mobility equipment like wheelchairs
  • Animation and video creation tools
  • More free models and animations

Sidenote

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Manikin

One-time1
  • Manikin - full$9.99
None

Sidenote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Manikin free?
Manikin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sidenote free?
Sidenote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Manikin or Sidenote have ads?
Neither Manikin nor Sidenote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Manikin or Sidenote?
Manikin ships an update every 2 months, and Sidenote every 8 days. Most recently, Manikin was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sidenote on October 20, 2026.

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