Comparison

Geometrica vs DotShake Brush Studio

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

Head to head
About

Geometrica

This drawing app empowers tattoo artists with advanced symmetry and pattern-making tools. Create intricate designs with rotation, repetition, and gradient effects. It also offers specialized drawing tools like markers, straight lines, and customizable dotwork.

Highlights
  • Rotation effect (mandala maker)
  • Repeat effect for patterns
  • Polar repeat with spiral option
  • Wallpaper effect for full page patterns
  • Gradient thickness for lines
  • Customizable marker tool
  • Dotwork tool with adjustable settings
Features
Read full description

Geometrica is the first drawing app made for tattooers, by a tattooer. Second generation tattooer and geometric/dotwork pioneer, Cory Ferguson, has built on 30 years in the industry to create a way for tattooers to push their geometric drawing to the next level. Even though we're focused on the needs of tattoo artists and solving problems specific to their workflow, we have been pleasantly surprised to learn that artists from many different disciplines have become fans of Geometrica. From quilters, to illustrators, to tattoo veterans, the power of this fun to use app is undeniable. [ SYMMETRY AND PATTERN MAKING FEATURES ] Combine and use these simultaneously: ROTATION EFFECT - AKA the mandala maker. Other apps may have this, but not like ours. With Geometrica your mandala can be a maximum of 200 mirrored segments (so technically 400 segments!). REPEAT EFFECT - Multiplies your drawing and repeats it in a row formation to create a “band” of pattern either vertically or horizontally. POLAR REPEAT - Combines with the rotation effect to repeat your drawing in rows of concentric circles that get smaller towards the center. Toggle on curve to draw in spirals. That’s right, your drawing curves out in any number of spirals! WALLPAPER EFFECT - We took all known symmetry groups used to make full page patterns, and figured out a way to vastly expand them to make them customizable. GRADIENT THICKNESS - Lines increase from thin to thick on the canvas in the direction that you choose, top to bottom, outward in a circular, left to right in multiple rows. There are dozens of options! Combine it with any of the above symmetry tools for a drawing experience you have to see to believe. [ DRAWING TOOLS ] Here’s just a couple of our favourites: MARKER TOOL - The main drawing tool in the app can be customized in many ways, by turning various functions on. These include tapers, a whip shading option, and a “rope stabilizer” that helps draw the smoothest curves. STRAIGHT LINE TOOL - Hold the Pencil on screen to draw straight lines. Works well with symmetry effects for sharp, industrial images and unexpected designs. Enable its "continuous" option for a unique drawing experience. DOTWORK TOOL - We couldn’t release a Cory Ferguson app without a dotwork tool, so we made the most customizable version of pointillism shading we could think of. Change the dot size, density, the brush size, randomize the size of the dots. Personalize it to suit your taste. [ FOR PROFESSIONAL TATTOOERS ] - Keep your work organized with folders in the Gallery section. - Convert To Lines function turns any image into a line drawing with one click, then you can fine tune the image from there. - Adjustable grids can be turned on in the background such as square, hexagon or isometric. - Snap Menu allows the straight line tool to "snap" to points on the grid, or place your symmetry tool at the exact centre of your drawing after you’ve moved it. Rotate layers in 5 degree increments when transforming. - Printing features that EVERY tattooer needs. Print drawings at ANY size! Want a tattoo to measure 28” tall? Enter those numbers into our print system and the app will break the image up into as many pages as needed, and you’re ready to stencil. No more resizing on the photocopier! Various image adjustment tools to make sure you get the cleanest, most accurate stencils. - Monthly Patterns. Each month you get 6 patterns that show off the possibilities of what Geometrica can do. You are free to make use of them however you wish. [ SUBSCRIPTION ] Because Geometrica is focused on a small niche market of working tattoo professionals, it requires a subscription. After the 14 day free trial period ends, the subscription equals approximately 11.50 USD per month when you sign up for the full year. An investment in yourself that is certain to level up your geometric tattooing. Privacy Policy: http://geometri.ca/privacy Terms of Use: http://geometri.ca/tou

About

DotShake Brush Studio

Features
Read full description

DotShake Brush Studio is where DotShake's brushes are made. Start from a brush that already exists, tune it until it feels right, and save it as your own. A CABINET OF BRUSHES, EACH SHOWING ITS OWN STROKE Every row draws a real stroke, so you never have to open a brush to find out what it looks like. The categories are on the row too: Line, Dab, Airbrush, Oil Paint, Palette Knife, Liquid, Optical Glass, Liquid Metal, Halftone, Particles, Noise, Volumetric, Dynamic Field — and a whole family of type that runs along the stroke. NOT JUST LINES Pencil, charcoal, marker, calligraphy, impasto, gouache and fan brush for the traditional hand. Then glass, liquid chrome, meteor and flame — and butterflies, moths, clouds and maple leaves that chase the stroke. TYPE THAT FOLLOWS THE STROKE Kinetic type, pop type, glass type, falling poems, and leader brushes that trail a small shape behind them. EVERY BRUSH IS EDITABLE • Size and opacity, with the preview updating as you go • Customise the pressure curve so the tip answers to your hand • Enough parameters that there is a search field for them • Preview in light or dark, and reset in one tap • Save as a copy — the original stays as it was IMPORT AND EXPORT Export the brushes you make, and import the ones other people made. Requires DotShake.

Screenshots

Geometrica4 screens
DotShake Brush Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Geometrica at Free against DotShake Brush Studio's $0.99. DotShake Brush Studio's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Geometrica is free to download; DotShake Brush Studio costs $0.99 up front. Geometrica sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $16.99 per month. DotShake Brush Studio asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Geometrica ships an update every 3 months, DotShake Brush Studio every 3 days. Both last shipped on September 30, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Geometrica versus DotShake Brush Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGeometricaDotShake Brush Studio
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.4 (577 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews40.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings577 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB108 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTattooLoyal Inc.Zhen Chen

Bugs and requests

Geometrica

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Subscription issues (expired, failed to load)
  • Disappearing layers/work
  • Inconsistent color handling
  • Freezing/crashing on certain actions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Higher resolution export option
  • Repeated spiral pattern tool
  • Color picker improvements
  • Selection/layer management tools
  • Offline access

DotShake Brush Studio

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Geometrica

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription14 Days trial$16.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription14 Days trial$139.991 Year
None

DotShake Brush Studio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Geometrica free?
Geometrica is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DotShake Brush Studio free?
DotShake Brush Studio costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Geometrica or DotShake Brush Studio have ads?
Neither Geometrica nor DotShake Brush Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Geometrica or DotShake Brush Studio?
Geometrica ships an update every 3 months, and DotShake Brush Studio every 3 days. Most recently, Geometrica was updated on September 30, 2026 and DotShake Brush Studio on September 30, 2026.

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