# Clip Studio Paint for iPhone vs Cipher VDA

The clearest difference is price: Clip Studio Paint for iPhone at Free against Cipher VDA's $9.99. Clip Studio Paint for iPhone also leads on chart position (#133 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Cipher VDA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Clip Studio Paint for iPhone is free to download; Cipher VDA costs $9.99 up front. Clip Studio Paint for iPhone sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Cipher VDA asks for nothing beyond the download.

Clip Studio Paint for iPhone ships an update every 3 weeks, Cipher VDA every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Clip Studio Paint for iPhone | Cipher VDA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint-for-iphone/id1483037022/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 35.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#133** | — |
| Size | 560 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CELSYS,Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/291038364) | [Denis Piatanchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1382298352) |

## What reviewers say

### Clip Studio Paint for iPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint-for-iphone/id1483037022)

**Currently charting:** #133 Top Free · Graphics & Design, #161 Top Grossing · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

Create professional-quality digital art, comics, and animations with a vast array of brushes, materials, and editing tools. Offers features for beginners and pros, including 3D models for reference and advanced layer management.

**Highlights:** Unlimited brushes with realistic textures, Vast library of artist-made materials, Advanced coloring tools with Shading Assist, 3D models for anatomy and perspective reference, Comprehensive comic creation tools, Professional animation features, Non-destructive editing and layer management

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO Monthly Smartphone Plan | $0.99 | per month |
| EX Monthly Smartphone Plan | $2.49 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Single-Device Plan | $4.89 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Single-Device Plan | $4.89 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $7.99 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $7.99 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Premium Plan | $9.49 | per month |
| EX Monthly Single-Device Plan | $9.69 | per month |
| EX Monthly Single-Device Plan | $9.69 | per month |
| EX Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $13.49 | per month |
| EX Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $13.49 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Great for digital art
- 👍 Smooth drawing experience
- 💡 Useful 3D model integration
- 🎨 Powerful drawing tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Restrictive time limit for free users
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤔 Confusing user interface
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Login and account issues
- Unresponsive brushes and tools
- Inability to access purchased content
- Drawings not saving properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to save and continue drawings across sessions
- More free brushes and tools
- Improved mobile optimization
- Perpetual license option for mobile


### Cipher VDA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipher-vda/id6757311485)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Clip Studio Paint for iPhone free?

Clip Studio Paint for iPhone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cipher VDA free?

Cipher VDA costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Clip Studio Paint for iPhone or Cipher VDA have ads?

Neither Clip Studio Paint for iPhone nor Cipher VDA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Clip Studio Paint for iPhone or Cipher VDA?

Clip Studio Paint for iPhone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cipher VDA every 2 months. Most recently, Clip Studio Paint for iPhone was updated on October 2, 2026 and Cipher VDA on September 9, 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.*