Comparison

Paper vs Chalk Draw

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

Head to head
About

Paper

This app offers a clean and configurable writing environment for various creative projects. It supports Markdown and plain text, syncs with iCloud, and integrates with other tools. Users can publish drafts to popular blogging platforms and export documents in multiple formats.

Highlights
  • Gorgeous writing space
  • Silky-smooth typing
  • Deep personalization (Pro)
  • Markdown or Plain Text support
  • iCloud sync
  • Publish to Medium, WordPress, Ghost
  • Export to PDF, HTML, DOCX, ePub
Features
Read full description

“This is a super-clean writing space with a lot of configurability that stays out of sight when you don’t need it.” App Store Review 2020 # STORY Read it here → paper.pro/story # HIGHLIGHTS · Gorgeous writing space · Silky-smooth typing · Deep personalization (Pro) · Markdown or Plain Text · Syncs with iCloud · Integrates with TextExpander · Publishes drafts to Medium, WordPress, Ghost, or Micro.blog · Exports to PDF, HTML, RTF, DOCX, ePub, image, or clipboard · Works seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac # PRO FEATURES Basic adjustments like text size are free in Paper. More advanced personalization can be purchased with Pro Features. You will not be buying anything blindly, though. The trial period for Pro Features is untimed, so you can take your time to decide if they are a worthy investment. While trialing Pro Features, you might occasionally see a popup. Simply press Reset in the popup to get rid of it completely. Pro Features are either a subscription or a one-time purchase. Both the subscription and the one-time purchase unlock Pro Features on all your iPhones and iPads that share the same Apple ID. This subscription (or one-time purchase) applies only to iPhones and iPads. Macs require a separate subscription (or one-time purchase). The one-time purchase is hidden by default. To enable it, go to the Settings app → Apps → Paper → Purchases → toggle "Show Lifetime Option". If you want to upgrade from a Monthly subscription to a Yearly one (or to a Lifetime license), go to Paper’s page in the App Store and press the rounded button with the price next to the Yearly subscription option (or next to the Lifetime in-app purchase). # BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS Businesses, schools, and organizations can use one of the following methods to purchase the Pro version of the app: · Apple Business Manager · Apple School Manager · Volume Purchasing The Pro version of the app can be accessed from this link → paper.pro/get # MARKDOWN FORMATTING SYNTAX # Heading 1 ## Heading 2 ### Heading 3 #### Heading 4 ##### Heading 5 ###### Heading 6 **Bold** __Bold__ *Italic* _Italic_ ~Underline~ ~~Strikethrough~~ ==Highlight== ::Highlight:: `Inline Code` ``` Code Block ``` [Link Text](http://paper.pro) ![Alt Text](http://image.jpeg) - Bulleted List - Bulleted List - Nested Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Nested Bulleted List 1. Numbered List 2. Numbered List 3. Numbered List 1. Nested Numbered List - [ ] Task List - [x] Task List > Blockquote >> Nested Blockquote >>> 2x Nested Blockquote Text that needs a footnote[^Footnote description] ++ Inline comment ++ /* Inline comment */ %% Comment block | Col 1 | Col 2 | | ------ | ------ | | Cell 1 | Cell 2 | | Cell 3 | Cell 4 | --- ← Horizontal Rule \_ ← Markdown Escape ° ← HTML Escape # FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ## How do I share my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Share" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar, then tap the round "Share" button in the popup. ## How do I print my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Print" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar. Select "Print" from the menu. ## Can I draw in the app? No. Paper is purely a plain-text editor. ## Can I add pictures? You can only link to public images on the Web. ## Can I password-protect my notes? No. ## Paper changes the font when I switch between alphabetic and non-alphabetic keyboards. How do I prevent it? · Change the keyboard to a non-alphabetic one (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.). · Tap the "Settings" button in the top right corner. · Under the "Font" submenu, toggle "Keep for ABC Keyboards". ## Need more help? You can reach me via the in-app chat → "Settings" button in the corner → "Chat with the Maker" # TERMS OF USE paper.pro/terms-of-use

About

Chalk Draw

Transform your device into a digital chalkboard for writing and drawing with colored chalk. Ideal for educational purposes, professional explanations, or casual games.

Highlights
  • Digital chalkboard simulation
  • Colored chalk drawing
  • Writing functionality
  • Educational tool
  • Drawing tool
  • Game board
Features
Read full description

Chalk Draw is a new application that turns your iPhone/ iPad into a genuine chalkboard! The application lets you write and draw everything you want on the board, using colored chalks.This application is very useful in many situations: teach your child math, explain graphs to your colleagues, or simply play tic-tac-toe. Let your children play with Chalk Draw and teach them how to draw their first butterfly. Thank you for taking the time to report any bugs or to request an enhancement to Chalk Draw application. Feedback is very important to us. We will do our best to answer queries. Email us at drawerfree@gmail.com

Screenshots

Paper4 screens
Chalk Draw1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Paper at none against Chalk Draw's shown. Paper also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (72% vs 59%). Chalk Draw's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Paper sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Chalk Draw sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Paper holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.8K and 3.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Paper's written reviews are positive against 59% of Chalk Draw's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Paper ships an update monthly, Chalk Draw every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Paper versus Chalk Draw: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaperChalk Draw
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.8K ratings) — better4.5 (3.6K ratings)
Positive reviews71.6% of reviews — better59.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1.8K3.6K — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1513.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMihhail LapushkinAn Banh

Customer experience

Paper

All ratings1,729 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.4%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews232 reviews
Positive71.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative19.0%

Chalk Draw

All ratings3,649 ratings
Positive86.5%
Neutral6.8%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral6.8%
Negative33.9%

User reviews

Paper

From 1.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💗 Fantastic app
  • 🎀 Great tool for writers
  • 👍 Clean writing app
  • 🤩 Awesome app
  • 👍 Cute animations

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
  • 💰 Paywalled features
  • 🐛 Lost files and documents
  • 🐛 Cursor issues
  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable

Chalk Draw

From 3.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Realistic chalkboard experience
  • 💡 Useful for online teaching and communication
  • 🚀 Simple and easy to use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent ads disrupting usage
  • 💡 Limited color options
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with Apple Pencil

Bugs and requests

Paper

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Files randomly disappearing
  • Cursor issues causing freezes
  • Syncing and iCloud integration problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add image support
  • Improve file management and recovery
  • Expand font and customization options
  • Implement team/collaborative writing features
  • Add text formatting options like italics and bold

Chalk Draw

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashing on restart
  • Drawing not registering accurately with Apple Pencil

Requested features

4 requests
  • More color options
  • Gallery/history of drawings
  • Sound effects for a more immersive experience
  • Undo/redo functionality

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Paper

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Features — Discounted$14.991 Month
  • Pro Features$29.991 Month
  • Pro Features — Discounted$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Features$99.991 Year
One-time2
  • Pro Features — Discounted$99.99
  • Pro Features$199.99
1 purchases

Chalk Draw

One-time1
  • Upgrade PRO version$1.99

Questions

Is Paper free?
Paper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chalk Draw free?
Chalk Draw is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Paper or Chalk Draw?
Paper is rated higher. Paper averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Chalk Draw averages 4.5 from 3.6K ratings.
Do Paper or Chalk Draw have ads?
Chalk Draw shows ads; Paper does not.
Which is updated more often, Paper or Chalk Draw?
Paper ships an update monthly, and Chalk Draw every 5 months. Most recently, Paper was updated on November 3, 2026 and Chalk Draw on November 3, 2026.

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