Comparison

Sketchar vs DrawBuddy

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

Head to head
About

Sketchar

Learn to draw with augmented reality and AI-powered lessons. This app offers a comprehensive drawing tool, community contests, and personalized learning plans to enhance your artistic skills. Practice art to relieve stress and impress others with your creations.

Highlights
  • Augmented Reality drawing guidance
  • AI-powered personalized learning plans
  • 550+ drawing lessons
  • Comprehensive drawing toolset
  • Community contests and collaboration
  • Stress relief through art practice
Features
Read full description

Sketchar is for you if you want to improve your drawing skills, express yourself through art, impress friends and family with stunning artwork, collaborate with peers, relieve stress, or become a Pro. We have merged AR and AI together to speed up your learning experience and make it more entertaining.  Here are the unique features that can only be found on the Sketchar app:  1.COURSES 550+ drawing lessons based on characters you love. You can start with a beginner set or delve deeper into a specific topic to improve your artistic skills, for example, in creating portraits or anime.  2. PERSONALIZED PLAN Based on AI to speed up your creative growth 3. DRAWING TOOL Powerful toolset to create stunning art in minutes. 4.CONTESTS Join the community to collaborate with peers. 5. AUGMENTED REALITY for drawing  We invented that in 2012. Through your smartphone camera, you can see an AR sketch on the surface in front of you. Just take a pencil and follow the virtual lines on the paper step-by-step. This function is also employed by professional artists to scale sketches onto surfaces like walls. Use carefully and follow the video guide. and many other features.  Btw, practicing art helps relieve stress. Download Sketchar now and learn to draw like never before. ---  In-app purchases: Sketchar offers four paid auto-renewable subscription options that give you unlimited access to the app's premium content and features.  1-Week Subscription - $7.99 / Week 1 -Month Subscription – $14.99 / Month  1-Year Subscription with 3-Day Trial – $69.99 / Year  1-Year Special Offer Subscription – $34.99 / Year  Prices may vary across countries. Prices are equal to the value that Application Store Matrix determines as the equivalent of the subscription price in USD.  We are always interested in your opinion, so please email us at hi@sketchar.io.

About

DrawBuddy

Learn to draw with step-by-step tutorials and guides designed for artists of all levels. Enhance your digital art skills using Apple Pencil with a variety of drawing categories. Practice on the go with quick draw options and create masterpieces.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step drawing tutorials
  • Digital art creation
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Quick draw practice
  • Multiple drawing categories
  • Skill enhancement for beginners and professionals
Features
Read full description

This drawing app for iPad is the perfect tool for artists of all the levels to create a stunning digital art. With the use of the Apple Pencil, users can easily learn how to draw and develop their skills with the help of the art drawing tutorials and step-by-step guides. The app also features quick draw options for those who want to practice their skills on the go. Drawing lessons are available for users to improve their techniques and create masterpieces. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, this digital drawing app will provide everything you need to enhance your artistic abilities. The app offers a range of categories for drawing, including: • Architecture • Home Interior • Celebrities • People • Artists • Animals • Landscapes • Nature • Dinosaurs • Children • And others Download our drawing app for iPad and don’t forget to share it with your friends on social media or messengers. The app contains the following subscription options: • A 1-month membership costs from $6.99 • A 3-month membership costs from $12.99. • A 1-year membership costs from $29.99 after a 7-day free trial. The price is for US customers. Pricing in other countries may vary, and actual charges may be converted to your local currency, depending on the country of residence. Payment will be charged to the iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. The account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period and will identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user, and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of the free trial will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. • Privacy Policy: https://tappa.tech/drawbuddy/privacy-policy • EULA: https://tappa.tech/drawbuddy/eula • Terms of use: https://tappa.tech/drawbuddy/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Sketchar4 screens
DrawBuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Sketchar at free with in-app purchases against DrawBuddy's subscription. Sketchar also leads on ratings volume (9.9K vs 482) and review sentiment (33% vs 19%). On price, rating, update cadence 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. Sketchar sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and DrawBuddy sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DrawBuddy holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sketchar has 9.9K ratings behind it against 482, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Sketchar's written reviews are positive against 19% of DrawBuddy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Sketchar versus DrawBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSketcharDrawBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (9.9K ratings)4.4 (482 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.4% of reviews — better19.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9.9K — better482
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#151 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size227 MB42 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperSketchARBohdan Hlushko

Customer experience

Sketchar

All ratings9,830 ratings
Positive79.7%
Neutral5.6%
Negative14.7%
Written reviews1,295 reviews
Positive33.4%
Neutral12.1%
Negative54.5%

DrawBuddy

All ratings479 ratings
Positive83.5%
Neutral4.4%
Negative12.1%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive19.0%
Neutral9.5%
Negative71.4%

User reviews

Sketchar

From 9.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great for projecting digital art
  • 🚀 AR technology makes a superior stencil
  • 👍 Helpful for learning to draw
  • 👍 Amazing app, game changer

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy AR tracking and detection
  • 🐛 Laggy and unstable performance
  • 💰 Overly restrictive free version
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription

DrawBuddy

From 482 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Amazing drawings
  • 👍 Good app for drawing
  • 👍 Great app potential

Room to improve

  • 💰 Requires payment for basic features
  • 💰 Free trial issues
  • 💰 Unexpected charges
  • 💰 App not free
  • 💰 Expensive subscription

Bugs and requests

Sketchar

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • AR tracking frequently loses paper
  • App crashes and resets progress
  • Ads disrupt drawing and cause loss of work
  • Brightness/lighting issues affect performance

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more free drawing lessons and content
  • Improve AR tracking and stability
  • Allow drawing without full page detection
  • Add more drawing tools and brushes for free users
  • Improve organization and navigation of lessons

DrawBuddy

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Video not playing during free trial
  • Payment pop-ups prevent drawing
  • Charged full month instead of trial

Requested features

4 requests
  • More drawing options
  • More pictures/drawings
  • Make the app free
  • Add pencil tool back

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Sketchar

Subscriptions9
  • 1 Week$7.997 Days
  • Sketchar PRO$10.991 Month
  • 1 month$17.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • 1 Year$34.991 Year
  • 1 Year1 Year trial$44.991 Year
  • 1 Year3 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • SketchAR PRO$69.991 Year
  • Sketchar: Learn to Draw7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • 1 Year3 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$149.99
10 purchases

DrawBuddy

Subscriptions9
  • Weekly subscription$6.997 Days
  • Monthly subscription3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Weekly subscription3 Days trial$9.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • Monthly subscription$12.991 Month
  • Three month subscription7 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Monthly subscription1 Month trial$19.991 Month
  • Annual subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Annual subscription7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Annual subscription14 Days trial$69.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlimited Access$79.99

Questions

Is Sketchar free?
Sketchar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DrawBuddy free?
DrawBuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sketchar or DrawBuddy?
DrawBuddy is rated higher. Sketchar averages 4.2 out of 5 from 9.9K ratings, while DrawBuddy averages 4.4 from 482 ratings.
Do Sketchar or DrawBuddy have ads?
Neither Sketchar nor DrawBuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sketchar or DrawBuddy?
Sketchar ships an update every 3 weeks, and DrawBuddy every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sketchar was updated on November 3, 2026 and DrawBuddy on November 3, 2026.

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