# HEAVYPAINT Classic vs Head Model Studio

The clearest difference is rating: Head Model Studio at 4.6 against HEAVYPAINT Classic's 4.1. Head Model Studio also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 54%) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 179). HEAVYPAINT Classic's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HEAVYPAINT Classic sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Head Model Studio sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Head Model Studio holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Head Model Studio has 2.5K ratings behind it against 179, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of HEAVYPAINT Classic's written reviews are positive against 76% of Head Model Studio's.

HEAVYPAINT Classic ships an update every 5 days, Head Model Studio monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HEAVYPAINT Classic | Head Model Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (179 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heavypaint-classic/id1469848546/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/head-model-studio-art-study/id1527028690/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 179 | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | **76.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 51 MB | 2.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HEAVYPOLY, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469848545) | [Wes Castain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527028692) |

## What reviewers say

### HEAVYPAINT Classic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heavypaint-classic/id1469848546)

A streamlined painting application focused on pure colors and shapes. It offers essential tools for artists, including improved smudge and blur, layers, masking, and erasing. Ideal for quick sketches, studies, and plein air work.

**Highlights:** Improved Smudge tool, Improved Blur tool, Layers, Masking, Clipping, Erase tool

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seurat Texture Brushes | $4.99 | one-time |
| HEAVYPAINT Pro | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Unique, innovative painting tools and brushes
- 💡 Forces deliberate, decisive artistic decisions
- 🎯 Minimalist interface encourages focus on fundamentals
- 🔄 Playback feature to review artwork creation
- 🎪 Fun, experimental approach to digital art

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and data loss
- 😤 Confusing, unintuitive UI/UX
- 🔄 Inconsistent UI changes between updates
- 💰 Switched from one-time purchase to subscription model
- 🚫 Poor documentation and lack of tutorials

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently, causing work loss
- Auto-save feature unreliable despite crashes
- Canvas flips upside down randomly
- Transform tool deletes paintings
- Undo button requires multiple taps

**Requested features**

- Gesture controls (2-finger undo, 3-finger redo)
- Pressure sensitivity for brush size
- Lasso tool for moving selections
- Redo button functionality
- Canvas zoom capability


### Head Model Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/head-model-studio-art-study/id1527028690)

This app provides 3D reference models for artists to study and draw faces. It offers detailed control over lighting and rendering to help users understand facial planes and tones, aiding in portrait drawing practice.

**Highlights:** 25 detailed 3D head models, Full 3D model control (zoom, tilt, rotate), Realistic environmental and studio lighting, Customizable rendering with edge outlines, Pre-made practice scenes, Study facial planes and geometry

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Access | $9.00 | per month |
| 1 Year Access | $16.00 | per year |
| 1 Year Access | $23.00 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $50.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Excellent reference tool for artists
- 🔍 Helpful for understanding head anatomy and planes
- 🔧 Customizable lighting and model features
- 💰 Reasonable subscription pricing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Premium features locked behind paywall
- 🔒 Lack of free trial to test premium content
- 🔧 Limited customization options for free users
- 🐛 Occasional technical issues with lighting and model adjustments

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HEAVYPAINT Classic free?

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

### Is Head Model Studio free?

Head Model Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HEAVYPAINT Classic or Head Model Studio?

Head Model Studio is rated higher. HEAVYPAINT Classic averages 4.1 out of 5 from 179 ratings, while Head Model Studio averages 4.6 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do HEAVYPAINT Classic or Head Model Studio have ads?

Neither HEAVYPAINT Classic nor Head Model Studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HEAVYPAINT Classic or Head Model Studio?

HEAVYPAINT Classic ships an update every 5 days, and Head Model Studio monthly. Most recently, HEAVYPAINT Classic was updated on October 18, 2026 and Head Model Studio on October 20, 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.*