# Clip Studio Paint vs Core Image Tools

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Core Image Tools at 100% against Clip Studio Paint's 46%. Core Image Tools also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Clip Studio Paint's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and ratings volume (14K vs 3). On update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Clip Studio Paint is free to download; Core Image Tools costs $0.99 up front. Clip Studio Paint sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.89 per month. Core Image Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

Core Image Tools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Clip Studio Paint has 14K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Clip Studio Paint's written reviews are positive against 100% of Core Image Tools's.

Clip Studio Paint ships an update every 3 weeks, Core Image Tools every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Clip Studio Paint | Core Image Tools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint/id1262985592/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-image-tools/id6748240493/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 583 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CELSYS,Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/291038364) | [Lino Bailey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804513706) |

## 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


### Core Image Tools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-image-tools/id6748240493)

This app offers over 100 image editing tools with a simple interface for various effects. Easily edit, enhance, resize, and apply filters to your photos across multiple devices. Its intuitive workflow allows for seamless, step-by-step image manipulation without complex file management.

**Highlights:** Over 100 image editing tools, Simple and intuitive user interface, Multi-platform support (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Vision), Resize images with added pixels, Flip and mirror functionality, Various blur effects, Chroma-keying tools

**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 Core Image Tools free?

Core Image Tools costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Clip Studio Paint or Core Image Tools?

Core Image Tools is rated higher. Clip Studio Paint averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Core Image Tools averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Clip Studio Paint or Core Image Tools have ads?

Neither Clip Studio Paint nor Core Image Tools shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Clip Studio Paint or Core Image Tools?

Clip Studio Paint ships an update every 3 weeks, and Core Image Tools every 2 weeks. Most recently, Clip Studio Paint was updated on October 19, 2026 and Core Image Tools on October 8, 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.*