# Clip Studio Paint vs Art Set 4

The clearest difference is update cadence: Art Set 4 at every 6 days against Clip Studio Paint's every 3 weeks. Art Set 4 also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 46%) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Clip Studio Paint sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.89 per month and Art Set 4 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Clip Studio Paint against 4.6 for Art Set 4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15K and 29K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of Clip Studio Paint's written reviews are positive against 63% of Art Set 4's.

Clip Studio Paint ships an update every 3 weeks, Art Set 4 every 6 days. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Clip Studio Paint | Art Set 4 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint/id1262985592/reviews)** | [4.6 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-set-4/id1418530800/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 15K | **29K** |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | **63.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 583 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **12.4** |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CELSYS,Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/291038364) | [LOFOPI](https://appshunter.io/developer/326067842) |

## What reviewers say

### Clip Studio Paint

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint/id1262985592)

Create digital art with a vast array of brushes, textures, and colors. This app offers tools for drawing, painting, comic creation, and animation, with features like 3D models for reference and advanced layer options. It provides a free trial and subscription plans for full access.

**Highlights:** Unlimited custom brushes, Realistic color mixing, Artist-made materials, 3D model references, Comic creation tools, Animation features, Advanced layer editing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO Monthly | $4.89 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Single-Device Plan | $4.89 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Single-Device Plan | $4.89 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $7.99 | per month |
| EX Monthly | $9.69 | per month |
| EX Monthly Single-Device Plan | $9.69 | per month |
| EX Monthly Single-Device Plan | $9.69 | per month |
| EX Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $13.49 | per month |
| PRO Annual Single-Device Plan | $28.90 | per year |
| PRO Annual Single-Device Plan | $28.90 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best drawing software for iPad
- 🎨 Powerful features like vector layers
- 💻 Seamless transition from desktop to iPad
- 👍 Great for comics and illustrations
- 🎨 Diverse brushes and materials

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Confusing interface for beginners
- 🔒 Requires internet connection to save
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💻 Lacks full desktop feature parity

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save work without subscription
- Laggy performance with large files
- Unreliable auto-save and recovery
- Issues with brush and tool responsiveness

**Requested features**

- One-time purchase option
- Improved file management and cloud integration
- Simplified interface for casual users
- More animation and 3D tools


### Art Set 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-set-4/id1418530800)

Experience hyper-realistic digital art creation with advanced tools for painting and drawing. Explore a vast array of brushes, fluid simulations, and 3D paint effects. This app offers a customizable workspace and professional features for artists of all levels.

**Highlights:** Hyper-realistic art tools, Fluid watercolor simulation, 3D paint effects, Customizable workspace, Time-lapse video recording, PSD export, Layer masks

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Realistic paint and brush simulation
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Excellent oil paint and watercolor tools
- 🎨 Wide variety of art tools and materials
- 👍 Responsive and smooth performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Lack of layer management and export options
- 🔒 Limited brush size and customization options in free version
- 🔒 Confusing UI and hidden features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening color palette or blending
- Unexpected loss of work and canvas resets
- Inability to resize canvas or change aspect ratio
- Brush size and settings not preserved when switching tools

**Requested features**

- Add more free brushes and tools
- Improve layer management and export options
- Allow more brush size and customization options in free version
- Provide better documentation and tutorials
- Add undo/redo gesture support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Clip Studio Paint free?

Clip Studio Paint is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Art Set 4 free?

Art Set 4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Clip Studio Paint or Art Set 4?

Clip Studio Paint is rated higher. Clip Studio Paint averages 4.7 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Art Set 4 averages 4.6 from 29K ratings.

### Do Clip Studio Paint or Art Set 4 have ads?

Neither Clip Studio Paint nor Art Set 4 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Clip Studio Paint or Art Set 4?

Clip Studio Paint ships an update every 3 weeks, and Art Set 4 every 6 days. Most recently, Clip Studio Paint was updated on November 9, 2026 and Art Set 4 on November 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*