Comparison

PainterAR vs Stencil

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

Head to head
About

PainterAR

Transform your sketches into digital art with augmented reality tracing and advanced digital inking tools. This app offers a complete workflow from paper to digital, with features for beginners and professionals alike. Explore a curated library of inspiration and progressive courses to enhance your artistic skills.

Highlights
  • AR drawing with stable projection
  • Advanced AR anchor mode for precise placement
  • Smart plane detection for instant creation
  • Import sketches for digital inking
  • 30+ professional brushes
  • Infinite layers system
  • Curated inspiration library and courses
Features
Read full description

Experience the ultimate "Paper-to-Digital" creative companion. Unlike simple tracing apps, PainterAR creates a complete loop from "Paper Sketch" to "Digital Art". Whether you are a beginner building confidence or a comic enthusiast pursuing professional results, you will find the perfect solution here. 【KEY FEATURES】 1. AR Drawing: Perfect Proportions Technology makes observation intuitive. • Stand Mode: Stable projection with zero latency. The ideal way for beginners to master hand-eye coordination. • Advanced AR Anchor Mode: Lock your virtual art to the paper by snapping a custom anchor (e.g., a doodle or card). Move your phone freely to check details without drift—ideal for easels or detailed desk work. • Smart Plane Detection: Instantly detects surfaces without markers. Start creating anywhere, anytime. 2. Digital Inking & Coloring Classic digital art workflow made easy. • Import & Inking: One-tap import of pencil sketches as a reference layer. • Pro Brush Library: 30+ selected brushes (pencils, ink pens, markers, etc.) for any style. 3. Infinite Layers System Modify without fear. • Professional Layering: Manage line art, base colors, and shadows on separate layers to keep even complex works organized. • Non-Destructive Workflow: Change color schemes anytime without ruining your original line art. 4. Curated Inspiration Library Quality over quantity. • Exclusive Originals: Explore themes from "Fantasy Props" to "Cat Girl" and "Mystic Elf Theatre". • Progressive Courses: From beginner "Playful Shape Friends" to advanced "Fan Art". Every lesson blends storytelling with skills, helping you create stylish art immediately. 【WHO IS IT FOR?】 • Comic Fans: Master the "Sketch -> Import -> Color" workflow. • Beginners: Use AR to fix proportions and build confidence. • Pros: Visual aid for anatomy and perspective. 【AWARDS】 ▶ Microsoft “Imagine Cup” – Top 3 ▶ 13th “Challenge Cup” – 1st Place ▶ 2nd “Internet+” Innovation Competition – 1st Place ▶ 4th College Innovation Competition – 1st Place Privacy Policy: https://painterar.com/Privacy.aspx Terms of Use: https://painterar.com/Terms.aspx Download PainterAR now. Turn your sketchbook into a digital studio! Contact: support@painterar.com

About

Stencil

Enhance your drawing skills with augmented reality guidelines. Customize and overlay guides onto photos or AI-generated images to create hand-drawn art for various projects. Improve your artistic abilities with ease.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality guidelines
  • Customizable drawing guides
  • AI image generation
  • Import photos for tracing
  • Hand-drawn art creation
  • Improve drawing skills
Features
Read full description

Bring ideas from your screen to paper. Stencil helps you trace images and lettering into journals, cards, postcards and other hand-drawn projects. Choose a doodle from the library, use a photo, or generate an image with AI. Add your own text and choose a lettering style to trace. Follow on-screen camera guidelines as you draw on paper, or register a printed reference image for AR drawing. Adjust your stencil’s placement and appearance to suit the page. Follow built-in drawing lessons and explore journal prompts for your next notebook session. Stencil supports English and ten additional app languages, including Arabic with right-to-left layouts. Stencil Plus is an auto-renewing subscription. Access to features and content may require a subscription. Available plans, prices and any trial eligibility are shown in the app before purchase. Manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Privacy policy: https://stencil-journal.web.app/privacy.html Terms of use: https://stencil-journal.web.app/terms.html

Screenshots

PainterAR4 screens
Stencil4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Stencil at 4.8 against PainterAR's 4.4. Stencil also leads on review sentiment (42% vs 33%). PainterAR's advantage is ratings volume (663 vs 125). On price, update cadence, ads 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. PainterAR sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days and Stencil sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Stencil holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PainterAR has 663 ratings behind it against 125, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of PainterAR's written reviews are positive against 42% of Stencil's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PainterAR ships an update weekly, Stencil fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PainterAR versus Stencil: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPainterARStencil
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (663 ratings)4.8 (125 ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.9% of reviews41.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings663 — better125
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size210 MB167 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperPainter AR Ltd.Studio Next Ltd

Customer experience

PainterAR

All ratings663 ratings
Positive83.0%
Neutral3.0%
Negative14.0%
Written reviews79 reviews
Positive32.9%
Neutral5.1%
Negative62.0%

Stencil

All ratings125 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral4.8%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative41.7%

Bugs and requests

PainterAR

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes frequently during use
  • Issues with loading own photos and images
  • AR mode is unreliable and hard to control

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more free drawing options and templates
  • Improve the ability to use own photos and images
  • Provide better instructions and tutorials for new users
  • Fix crashes and stability issues

Stencil

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

PainterAR

Subscriptions9
  • PainterAR-PRO7 Days trial$8.997 Days
  • First 3-Day Free3 Days trial$8.997 Days
  • Painter PRO$8.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • PainterAR-PRO7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • 1 Month$9.991 Month
  • Special Offer$29.991 Year
  • 1 Year1 Year trial$29.991 Year
  • PainterAR-PRO7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • First 3-Day Free3 Days trial$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • PainterAR PRO$79.99
3 purchases

Stencil

Subscriptions3
  • Stencil Plus Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Stencil Plus Quarterly3 Days trial$12.993 Months
  • Stencil Plus Yearly3 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is PainterAR free?
PainterAR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Stencil free?
Stencil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PainterAR or Stencil?
Stencil is rated higher. PainterAR averages 4.4 out of 5 from 663 ratings, while Stencil averages 4.8 from 125 ratings.
Do PainterAR or Stencil have ads?
Neither PainterAR nor Stencil shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PainterAR or Stencil?
PainterAR ships an update weekly, and Stencil fortnightly. Most recently, PainterAR was updated on November 7, 2026 and Stencil on November 3, 2026.

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