DrawRef vs FilePiP
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DrawRef
This utility app helps artists by displaying drawing references in a picture-in-picture mode. It allows you to easily access your gallery, select an image, and overlay it on your screen while using your preferred drawing application. You can resize, reposition, and even hide the reference image to optimize your workspace.
- Picture-in-picture reference display
- Instant gallery access
- Selectable reference image parts
- Adjustable reference image position
- Scalable reference image
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DrawRef suits your needs perfectly if you use references while drawing. The app is designed to save your time and effort by focusing on what really matters in your art process. With DrawRef you can finally stop using a split screen mode and enjoy a picture-in-picture view of your drawing references. DrawRef allows you to save screen real estate for reference images while drawing. You can access the gallery instantly from the app, choose an image for the reference and put it into picture-in-picture mode. Then open your favorite drawing app and enjoy the process. Move the image to any corner, scale it and temporarily hide it by swiping it to the side of the screen. You can also select a part of the image to use it as a reference in the pic-in-pic mode. This utility app will help you in your daily art routine. DrawRef is rather minimalistic, so you don’t need tutorials to start using it and benefit from saving screen real estate. In case you have any questions or app related offers, please, write us on drawrefapp@gmail.com. Features: - instant gallery access; - picture-in-picture image view; - using a part of the image as a reference in pic-in-pic mode; - moving an image by dragging it to other corners of your screen; - pinching/unpinching the image to scale it.
FilePiP
This utility app allows you to multitask by displaying documents and media in a Picture in Picture mode on your iPhone. Seamlessly view PDFs, photos, videos, and even a timer alongside other applications.
- Picture in Picture mode for documents
- View PDFs in PiP
- Photo slideshow in PiP
- Video playback in PiP
- Timer in PiP
- No ads
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Wish you had contents from multiple apps on the screen? FilePiP is here to help. It puts docs in Picture in Picture mode, so you can multitask even on an iPhone. Supported files include PDFs and your own photos / videos. FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS • No ads • 15 seconds jump buttons enables flipping through pages forward & backward while in PiP mode. • PiP PDF files • PiP photo slideshow • PiP a single photo • PiP your own video • PiP a timer
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DrawRef at none against FilePiP's 3. DrawRef also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 61%). FilePiP's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 9 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. FilePiP sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. DrawRef asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for DrawRef against 4.7 for FilePiP. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 102 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of DrawRef's written reviews are positive against 61% of FilePiP's.
DrawRef ships an update every 9 months, FilePiP weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DrawRef | FilePiP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (70 ratings) — better | 4.7 (102 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews — better | 60.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 70 | 102 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Vasilii Sverchkov | Actowise LLC |
Customer experience
DrawRef
FilePiP
In-app purchases
DrawRef
No in-app purchases
FilePiP
- Pro Lifetime$1.99
- Pro Lifetime$3.99
- Pro Lifetime$5.99
