Comparison

micro vs Tayasui Sketches School

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

Head to head
About

micro

This app is the essential companion for the BBC micro:bit, a pocket-sized programmable computer. It allows you to wirelessly beam programs to your micro:bit via Bluetooth and includes access to a block-based programming editor. Monitor sensor data and control your micro:bit in real-time.

Highlights
  • Wireless flashing of micro:bit hex files
  • Access to Microsoft MakeCode editor
  • Bluetooth beaming of programs
  • Real-time sensor data monitoring
  • Control micro:bit buttons and pins
  • Debug running program code
  • Store and manage HEX files
Features
Read full description

The micro:bit app is the essential companion to the BBC micro:bit, the pocket sized programmable computer. The app allows you to flash any micro:bit hex file to your device, as well as including online access to the Microsoft MakeCode editor for simple block-based programming. When your program is ready, the app beams it to the micro:bit via Bluetooth wirelessly. Easy-to-follow screens lead you through the process of pairing your iPad (or iPhone) to the micro:bit and then transferring your program code. Compared with previous versions, the micro:bit app Version 3.1 contains these additional features: • A simpler pairing and micro:bit discovery flow • The micro:bit V2 can be put into pairing mode by triple-tapping the reset button • Retrieval of the micro:bit data log files from off your micro:bit • Pair with any number of micro:bits • Choose which micro:bit is currently connected • Store HEX files in the app • Choose a HEX file for flashing • Export and delete HEX files • Import stored HEX files directly into JavaScript Blocks editor • Rapid download from JavaScript Blocks editor • Monitor data detected by micro:bit sensors • Use the range of micro:bit Bluetooth services in real time • Display messages on the micro:bit LEDs • Send control commands to the micro:bit buttons and pins • De-bug your program code while it is running in the micro:bit • Use a simulated gamepad to send commands to the micro:bit • View camera images ready for taking photos or video As well as providing more flexible handling of your program scripts and HEX files, a major addition in Version 3 is the Monitor and Control page. This lets you observe real-time data from the micro:bit sensors, send messages directly to the LEDs and control the micro:bit buttons and pins from your iPad or iPhone. Monitor is ideal for exploiting Bluetooth services in real time, and for de-bugging your program code while it is running in the micro:bit. The MakeCode code editor now requires iOS 13 or later.

About

Tayasui Sketches School

This app offers a user-friendly drawing and sketching experience designed for younger audiences. It provides realistic digital art tools, allowing kids to create illustrations and organize their work with ease. Unlock premium features through a subscription.

Highlights
  • Realistic drawing tools
  • Kid-friendly interface
  • Photo import
  • Organized folders
  • Stylus support
  • Over 20 tools
Features
Read full description

Because beautiful tools make beautiful drawings, we endlessly refined Sketches brushes to create the most realistic drawing tools. Sketches school is a special edition of Sketches targeted for a younger audience, with a specifically designed interface making it very accessible to kids. Sketches is the most realistic, versatile and user-friendly sketching app designed for iPad. This exhaustive artist's toolbox helps users create dazzling sketches, cheerful paintings and smashing illustrations on the go. • Features - Over 20 ultra realistic tools - Import photos • Folders Easily organize your drawings in beautiful and easy to personalize folders. • Pressure Stylus support Discover even more realistic brushes while Apple Pencil. A Unique feeling: Each stroke behaves vividly and truly like a brush on paper, adapting the opacity, angle, and width to your movements. • List of tools - Pencil - Marker - Felt Pen - Pen Brush - Oil Pastel - Watercolor - Acrylic brush - Airbrush - Area and Filling tool - Text - Shapes - Eraser - Cutter - Smudge tool - Ruler Subscribe to access to premium app features; subscription details are the following: • Length: weekly, yearly • Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase • You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase • Your subscription will renew automatically, unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • The cost of renewal will be charged to your account in the 24 hours prior to the end of the current period • When canceling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ If you have any questions please contact us: sketchesschool.help@gmail.com

Screenshots

micro4 screens
Tayasui Sketches School4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Tayasui Sketches School at 4.5 against micro's 3.3. Tayasui Sketches School also leads on ratings volume (9.2K vs 90) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months). micro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Tayasui Sketches School sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. micro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tayasui Sketches School holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tayasui Sketches School has 9.2K ratings behind it against 90, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of micro's written reviews are positive against 64% of Tayasui Sketches School's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

micro ships an update every 7 months, Tayasui Sketches School every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
micro versus Tayasui Sketches School: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermicroTayasui Sketches School
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (90 ratings)4.5 (9.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.6% of reviews63.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings909.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB242 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicro:bit Educational FoundationSKETCHES SRL

Customer experience

micro

All ratings90 ratings
Positive57.8%
Neutral2.2%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews129 reviews
Positive42.6%
Neutral10.9%
Negative46.5%

Tayasui Sketches School

All ratings8,899 ratings
Positive87.9%
Neutral5.0%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews1,381 reviews
Positive63.5%
Neutral10.2%
Negative26.3%

User reviews

micro

From 90 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use and quick to set up
  • 💻 Allows coding on mobile devices
  • 🎓 Great for learning and education
  • ⚡ Fast download and installation
  • 🔧 Works well once properly configured

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent Bluetooth pairing failures
  • 🐛 App crashes during code flashing
  • 🐛 Connection drops after flashing
  • 📱 Poor optimization for phone screens
  • 🔌 Requires frequent device reconnection

Tayasui Sketches School

From 9.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Very good
  • 🎨 Great for drawing
  • 📚 Helpful for school
  • 🤩 Amazing app
  • 🎉 Fun to use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy/buggy
  • 💰 Too many premium features
  • 🔒 Restricted access to tools
  • 🤯 Frustrating issues
  • 🙅‍♀️ Doesn't save drawings

Bugs and requests

micro

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Bluetooth pairing fails or shows false success
  • App crashes when flashing code to micro:bit
  • Connection lost after code flashing
  • White screen display issue
  • Login fails with Google accounts
Show 9 more
  • Text strings display with extra characters
  • Arrow keys non-functional on iPad with Bluetooth
  • Pairing pattern entry buggy and unclear
  • Safari crashes on iPad 2
  • Keyboard blocks code naming on iPhone
  • App crashes when sending feedback
  • Screen freezes during use
  • Recent update broke existing micro:bit connections
  • Flashing takes excessive time (1+ minute)

Requested features

11 requests
  • Offline mode for iOS
  • Integrated IDE in app instead of Safari redirect
  • Support for multiple languages
  • Persistent Bluetooth connection after flashing
  • Mute audio functionality
Show 6 more
  • Better pairing instructions
  • USB cable connection alternative to Bluetooth
  • Improved project save/storage duration
  • WebKit Safari view controller integration
  • Support for actual MicroPython instead of MakeCode Python
  • Device statements for camera operations

Tayasui Sketches School

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Drawings randomly disappearing
  • Blending tool not working properly
  • Screen orientation issues
  • Freezing/crashing when exiting drawings
  • Autosave causing loss of progress

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add layers feature
  • Improve blending tool
  • Allow more photo customization
  • Add stabilizer for smoother drawing
  • Increase brush size options
Show 2 more
  • Add symmetry and shape tools
  • Improve text editing functionality

In-app purchases

None

micro

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Tayasui Sketches School

Subscriptions8
  • Monthly Premium7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Weekly premium7 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Weekly premium$2.997 Days
Show 5 more
  • Weekly premium7 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Weekly premium$3.997 Days
  • Yearly premium7 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Yearly premium$69.991 Year
  • Yearly premium7 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is micro free?
micro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tayasui Sketches School free?
Tayasui Sketches School is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, micro or Tayasui Sketches School?
Tayasui Sketches School is rated higher. micro averages 3.3 out of 5 from 90 ratings, while Tayasui Sketches School averages 4.5 from 9.2K ratings.
Do micro or Tayasui Sketches School have ads?
Neither micro nor Tayasui Sketches School shows ads.
Which is updated more often, micro or Tayasui Sketches School?
micro ships an update every 7 months, and Tayasui Sketches School every 6 weeks. Most recently, micro was updated on November 2, 2026 and Tayasui Sketches School on November 11, 2026.

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