# Flow vs Roughups

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Roughups at 100% against Flow's 24%. Roughups also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Flow's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (7.2K vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Flow sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Roughups sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Flow holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Flow has 7.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 24% of Flow's written reviews are positive against 100% of Roughups's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Flow ships an update weekly, Roughups every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flow | Roughups |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (7.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flow-note-taking-and-sketchbook/id1271361459/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roughups/id1475449385/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.2K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 23.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 247 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bonobo](https://appshunter.io/developer/666155611) | [Prototyper Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078635977) |

## What reviewers say

### Flow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flow-note-taking-and-sketchbook/id1271361459)

Create beautiful notes and drawings with realistic ink and paper. Collaborate on documents in real-time, sketch with customizable tools, and organize your work with infinite width documents and secure cloud syncing.

**Highlights:** Realistic ink and paper drawing, Infinite width documents, Real-time collaboration, Customizable drawing tools, Secure cloud syncing, Apple Pencil support, Export images and timelapse videos

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Membership | $19.99 | per year |
| Bonobo Bundle (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| Bonobo Bundle (Annual Family) | $49.99 | per year |
| Bonobo Bundle (Lifetime) | $129.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Excellent drawing tools and interface
- 🎨 Customizable pens and colors
- 📝 Great for note-taking and sketching
- 🌟 Beautiful and intuitive design
- 🔍 Helpful developer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model not preferred by some users
- 🔒 Limited functionality without subscription
- 🔄 Occasional performance issues and crashes
- 📁 Lacking file management and organization features
- 🔍 Unclear trial period and subscription details

**Reported bugs**

- Drawings disappearing or becoming corrupted
- Eraser tool not functioning as expected
- Scrolling and zooming issues
- Compatibility problems on older devices

**Requested features**

- Add vertical scrolling option
- Improve line smoothing and anti-aliasing
- Implement layers and advanced drawing tools
- Integrate text input and handwriting recognition
- Enhance export and sharing capabilities


### Roughups

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roughups/id1475449385)

Transform your wireframe sketches into interactive prototypes with this intuitive iPad app. Easily draw screens, add interactive components, and even create custom fonts. Share your designs through a secure web service.

**Highlights:** Intuitive wireframe drawing interface, Add interactive components (text fields, toggles), Create custom fonts for wireframes, Record walkthroughs of prototypes, Share creations via secure web service, Password protection for shared designs

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Roughups Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Roughups Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flow free?

Flow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Roughups free?

Roughups is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Flow or Roughups?

Flow is rated higher. Flow averages 4.1 out of 5 from 7.2K ratings, while Roughups averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Flow or Roughups have ads?

Neither Flow nor Roughups shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Flow or Roughups?

Flow ships an update weekly, and Roughups every 2 days. Most recently, Flow was updated on September 26, 2026 and Roughups on September 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.*