# Clip Studio Paint vs Barcode Flow

The clearest difference is price: Clip Studio Paint at Free against Barcode Flow's $1.99. Clip Studio Paint also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 20 months). Barcode Flow's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and device support (4 vs 1). On ads there is nothing between them.

Clip Studio Paint is free to download; Barcode Flow costs $1.99 up front. Clip Studio Paint sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.89 per month. Barcode Flow asks for nothing beyond the download.

Clip Studio Paint ships an update every 3 weeks, Barcode Flow every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Clip Studio Paint | Barcode Flow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint/id1262985592/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 45.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 20 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 583 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CELSYS,Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/291038364) | [敬 潘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630712468) |

## 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 (11)**

| 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 | $28.90 | per year |
| 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


### Barcode Flow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-flow/id6739764220)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Clip Studio Paint free?

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

### Is Barcode Flow free?

Barcode Flow costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Clip Studio Paint or Barcode Flow have ads?

Neither Clip Studio Paint nor Barcode Flow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Clip Studio Paint or Barcode Flow?

Clip Studio Paint ships an update every 3 weeks, and Barcode Flow every 20 months. Most recently, Clip Studio Paint was updated on October 15, 2026 and Barcode Flow on October 7, 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.*