Comparison

MetaBrush vs Abstractor

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

Head to head
About

MetaBrush

Transform your photos into artistic paintings with a variety of brush presets and advanced settings. This app offers layers support and the ability to import Photoshop brushes, allowing for detailed customization of your artwork.

Highlights
  • 30 brush presets
  • Layers support
  • Import Photoshop brushes (.abr)
  • Customizable stroke settings
  • Paint with images
Features
Read full description

With Metabrush you can easily turn your photos into paintings. The result images are very artistic, as you brush with different presets and settings. Visit the gallery at http://instagram.com/metabrush for many examples. Features: • 30 brush presets for artistically clone your original image. • Layers support • 500+ brushes bitmaps • Support for importing directly Photoshop brushes (.abr) • Include many settings for the strokes as dynamical size, rotation, shadow, and opacity. • You can assign colors to the strokes, but also paint with images (as if they were colors). Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

About

Abstractor

This drawing app uses generative magic and dynamic flow brushes to create unique, animated artwork. Explore infinite possibilities with brushes that respond to your gestures, imported images, and algorithmic patterns.

Highlights
  • Generative flow brushes
  • Image-driven velocity maps
  • Algorithmic particle behavior
  • Color shifting based on stroke
  • Layer support
  • Color source layers
Features
Read full description

ABSTRACTOR: PAINT WITH GENERATIVE MAGIC Unleash your vision with Abstractor, a poetic drawing app for iPad and iPhone, crafted for artist explorers and playful creators. Paint with infinite possibilities, where every stroke pulses with generative magic. FLOW BRUSHES: THE HEART OF CREATION Dive into the soul of Abstractor with flow brushes, where particles swirl like living liquids, leaving hypnotic trails across your canvas. These dynamic tools respond to three unique velocity maps: • Stroke Paths: Your gestures carve flowing rivers, guiding particles along vibrant trails. • Image-Driven Flow: Import an image to shape a velocity field, infusing brushes with textured, directional energy. • Algorithmic Soul: Add generated noise or patterns to give particles a distinct character—turbulent storms or gentle ripples. Tune particle behaviors in real time, sculpting their essence like a visual composer. Blend these maps to create mesmerizing, emergent patterns that surprise and inspire, making every stroke a performance. Colors shift with stroke angle, pressure, or speed, weaving emotion into every line. Use familiar layers or bind tools to them for tailored magic. Paint over a color source layer, pulling hues from imported images to craft radiant distortions—flow brushes shine here, warping visuals into dreamlike abstractions. Abstractor is your canvas for boundless wonder. Download now and let your art flow eternal.

Screenshots

Abstractor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Abstractor at 5.0 against MetaBrush's 3.7. Abstractor also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). MetaBrush's advantage is ratings volume (21 vs 5) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. MetaBrush sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Abstractor sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Abstractor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of MetaBrush's written reviews are positive against 71% of Abstractor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MetaBrush ships an update every 2 months, Abstractor every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and July 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MetaBrush versus Abstractor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMetaBrushAbstractor
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (21 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.4% of reviews71.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings21 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size253 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developertalonsodevsuperdiagonal

Customer experience

MetaBrush

All ratings21 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral4.8%
Negative23.8%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive65.4%
Neutral3.8%
Negative30.8%

Abstractor

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

MetaBrush

Subscriptions2
  • Metabrush PRO3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Metabrush PRO3 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Metabrush PRO$9.99
3 purchases

Abstractor

Subscriptions2
  • All Access · 1 Month$0.991 Month
  • Premium · 1 Year14 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • All-Access$9.99

Questions

Is MetaBrush free?
MetaBrush is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Abstractor free?
Abstractor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MetaBrush or Abstractor?
Abstractor is rated higher. MetaBrush averages 3.7 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Abstractor averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do MetaBrush or Abstractor have ads?
Neither MetaBrush nor Abstractor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MetaBrush or Abstractor?
MetaBrush ships an update every 2 months, and Abstractor every 5 days. Most recently, MetaBrush was updated on September 20, 2026 and Abstractor on July 23, 2026.

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