Comparison

PainterAR vs Painter Tools

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

Painter Tools

This drawing application offers a range of brushes and background editing tools for both beginners and professionals. Create sketches or complex designs, save your work, and share it with others.

Highlights
  • Multiple brushes
  • Background editing
  • Add images
  • Save drawings
  • Share creations
Read full description

Painter Tools - multifunctional and simple tools to bring your fantasies to life. Our drawing application will appeal to both beginners who make simple sketches and professionals who create complex drawings. Many useful features and tools such as: different brushes, changing the background, adding pictures and different backgrounds will please you and your friends. Save your drawings and share them with your loved ones.

Screenshots

PainterAR4 screens
Painter Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PainterAR at 4.4 against Painter Tools's 3.5. PainterAR also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (663 vs 4). Painter Tools's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence and device support 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. Painter Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PainterAR holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PainterAR has 663 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PainterAR ships an update weekly, Painter Tools every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PainterAR versus Painter Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPainterARPainter Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (663 ratings) — better3.5 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews32.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings663 — better4
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size210 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPainter AR Ltd.Artem Chuvilin

Customer experience

PainterAR

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

Painter Tools

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

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

Painter Tools

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
None

Painter Tools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PainterAR free?
PainterAR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Painter Tools free?
Painter Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PainterAR or Painter Tools?
PainterAR is rated higher. PainterAR averages 4.4 out of 5 from 663 ratings, while Painter Tools averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.
Do PainterAR or Painter Tools have ads?
Painter Tools shows ads; PainterAR does not.
Which is updated more often, PainterAR or Painter Tools?
PainterAR ships an update weekly, and Painter Tools every 5 days. Most recently, PainterAR was updated on November 7, 2026 and Painter Tools on November 3, 2026.

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