Comparison

Manus vs Head Model Studio

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

Head to head
About

Manus

This app provides a 3D hand reference tool for artists. Easily create and customize an unlimited number of hand poses by rotating, bending, and adjusting fingers. Features male and female models with pre-made poses for quick access.

Highlights
  • 3D male and female hand models
  • Customizable finger bending and rotation
  • Pre-made hand poses
  • Adjustable lighting
  • Save and load custom poses
  • Export poses as image files
Features
Read full description

Need a hand on drawing human hand? This nifty little app is friend of anyone who struggles with drawing hands. With this handy tool you can make unlimited number of hand poses in just seconds. It is a must have hand reference tool for any artist’s. With Manus app you can rotate, bend and set distance of every finger to get that pose you are looking for. With flexible camera controls you can pan and rotate hand model freely to examine pose from any angle. App has male and female hand models and variety of pre-made hand poses to get started with. * 3D Male and female hands * Left and right hand * Pre-made poses * Freely rotate lights * Save and load hand poses * Save poses as image files to gallery * Pan and rotate camera Enjoy and become master of drawing human hands. Zoom camera in/out - Pinch gesture Rotate camera - Two finger drag Pan camera - Three finger drag Supported screen size: 4.7" and larger. iPad preferred. If there is any feature you would like to see in the app, please let us know! Website: http://codelunatics.com Twitter: @Codelunatics

About

Head Model Studio

Master portrait drawing with detailed 3D head models. Study facial planes and geometry with customizable lighting and rendering options. Perfect for artists looking to elevate their sketching skills.

Highlights
  • Detailed 3D head models
  • Plane and geometry study
  • Customizable lighting (environmental & studio)
  • Adjustable rendering (edge outline, shininess)
  • Pre-made practice scenes
  • Zoom, tilt, and rotate controls
Features
Read full description

Draw better portraits with Head Model Studio. Study faces in detail from simple planes to complex geometry. It is the best iOS / iPadOS application to learn and study faces in detail. Take your sketches to the next level. INSPIRED BY FAMOUS TECHNIQUES Inspired by master methodologies, Head Model Studio comes with 25 different models, including 2 free. From simple to more detailed models, progress easily by understanding the planes of the face. Expand your practice with 5 classical models. COMPLETE CONTROL You have complete control over the 3D models. Zoom, tilt, and rotate to study each part of the model at will. ENVIRONMENTAL & STUDIO LIGHTING Realistic environmental lighting based on HDR photos, recreate a sunrise, midday, or sunset illumination. Switch to Studio Lighting to create amazing lighting composition with multiple spotlights and different colors. Change the lighting to be at any angle or intensity. Perfect to study the planes of the head and understand tones. CUSTOMISABLE RENDERING The edge outline highlights the planes for easier practice. Turn it off once comfortable and practice in a more realistic setting. Modify the shininess for a different material rendering. PRE-MADE PRACTICE Want to learn to draw but unsure where or how to start? We’ve created a bunch of scenes to get you started. PRICING Head Model Studio offers a couple of free models. A premium access is required to access the rest of the models. Lifetime and Yearly (non-recurring) options are available. WE LOVE FEEDBACK I love coding and drawing, feel free to reach out, and tell me what feature you'd love to see in the app. Terms & Conditions: https://headmodelstudio.com/terms-conditions/

Screenshots

Manus4 screens
Head Model Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Head Model Studio at Free against Manus's $1.99. Head Model Studio also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.9) and update cadence (monthly vs every 31 months). Manus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#24 vs unranked). On ads and device support 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

Head Model Studio is free to download; Manus costs $1.99 up front. Head Model Studio sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.00 per month. Manus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Head Model Studio holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Head Model Studio has 2.5K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Manus's written reviews are positive against 76% of Head Model Studio's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Manus ships an update every 31 months, Head Model Studio monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Manus versus Head Model Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterManusHead Model Studio
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating1.9 (7 ratings)4.6 (2.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews76.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings72.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 31 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
Best chart rank#24 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB2.2 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTomi NevalainenWes Castain

Customer experience

Manus

All ratings7 ratings
Positive14.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative71.4%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative30.0%

Head Model Studio

All ratings2,464 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews237 reviews
Positive76.4%
Neutral9.3%
Negative14.3%

Bugs and requests

Manus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Head Model Studio

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Sudden loss of model functionality after updates
  • Overheating issues on some devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add female Loomis head models
  • Expand customization options for paid users
  • Implement full-body reference models
  • Provide option for one-time lifetime purchase

In-app purchases

None

Manus

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Head Model Studio

Subscriptions2
  • 1 Month Access$9.001 Month
  • 1 Year Access$16.001 Year
One-time2
  • 1 Year Access$23.00
  • Lifetime Access$50.00

Questions

Is Manus free?
Manus costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Head Model Studio free?
Head Model Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Manus or Head Model Studio?
Head Model Studio is rated higher. Manus averages 1.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Head Model Studio averages 4.6 from 2.5K ratings.
Do Manus or Head Model Studio have ads?
Neither Manus nor Head Model Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Manus or Head Model Studio?
Manus ships an update every 31 months, and Head Model Studio monthly. Most recently, Manus was updated on November 6, 2026 and Head Model Studio on November 7, 2026.

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