Comparison

Drawing from References vs Draw Gestures

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

Head to head
About

Drawing from References

This app provides a vast library of curated portraits and poses for artists to practice and learn realistic drawing. It offers AI-powered portrait generation, customizable drawing aids like grids and filters, and access to additional reference collections.

Highlights
  • Vast library of portraits and poses
  • AI-powered custom portrait generation
  • Customizable grid overlay
  • Blur and grayscale filters
  • Searchable Unsplash database
  • Additional reference collections (hands, feet)
Features
Read full description

* No more "I don't know what to draw" Blank page anxiety is real. "Drawing from References" fixes it with thousands of curated portraits and poses you can actually use — no endless scrolling, no copyright headaches, just reference photos picked for artists who want to get better. * The tools that actually help - A huge library that keeps growing. Portraits, full-body poses, hands, feet, even still life setups. - AI portraits on demand (Premium) Need a specific look that doesn't exist yet? Generate one. Pick the gender, age, expression, hair, vibe — get a custom reference built for exactly what you're practicing. * Built-in drawing aids that don't get in your way - Grid overlay Nail your proportions without guessing. Adjustable, so it fits your style. - Blur filter See the big shapes first. Details can wait. - Grayscale filter Kill the color noise and train your eye on values — the thing that actually makes shading look right. * More than portraits Hands, feet, still life, and a direct line into Unsplash's massive photo library when you want something specific. * Practice with a plan, not just vibes Likeness, proportion, values — the stuff that trips everyone up. Drawing References gives you the reference and the tools to actually fix it, session after session. Download it. Open the app. Start drawing. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.drawingreferencesapp.com/privacy-policy/

About

Draw Gestures

Master figure and gesture drawing with timed pose practice. This app offers a smooth drawing experience with pressure sensitivity and tracks your progress. Ideal for artists of all levels looking to improve speed, accuracy, and confidence.

Highlights
  • Timed pose practice
  • Smooth, responsive drawing engine
  • Pressure sensitivity support
  • Practice tracking and history
  • Relaxed mode for untimed drawing
  • Cloud library for reference import
  • Customizable timers
Features
Read full description

Master gesture drawing with timed practice sessions used by artists and art students worldwide. Pick a pose reference, set a drawing timer, and sketch — just like a real life drawing class. Whether you're a beginner learning figure drawing or a pro warming up before a studio session, DrawGestures gives you the structured quick sketch practice that animators, illustrators and concept artists use every day. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose your reference - figure drawing poses, animals, faces, hands, or your own photos 2. Set your timer - 30 seconds to 10 minutes per pose 3. Draw and improve - track your gesture drawing progress over time Practice 15 minutes a day to build confidence, speed and flow in your figure drawing. WHAT'S FREE - Timed gesture drawing sessions with a built-in drawing timer - Built-in pose reference library, plus your own photos and files - Draw straight onto the reference image - tracing mode included free - A real sketch canvas with brushes, layers, eraser and undo - Grid overlay for proportions and line of action - Streaks, practice heatmap and full session history - Daily practice reminders to build a drawing habit - Free sessions run up to 30 minutes with up to 20 reference images DRAWGESTURES PRO - Unlimited reference images and unlimited practice libraries - Unlimited session length - Cloud reference libraries - Pinterest, Google Drive and Dropbox - Classroom mode - simulate art school life drawing sessions - Quantity mode and custom intervals - Relaxed mode - practice with no timer pressure - Side-by-side and floating reference layouts - Left-hand mode - Shuffle your pose reference order - Watermark-free export - Import your own paper textures BUILT FOR ARTISTS WHO PRACTICE - Art students studying anatomy and figure drawing - Illustrators and concept artists warming up - Animators practicing gesture, movement and action poses - Character designers studying poses and silhouettes - Anyone doing daily croquis or 30-second gesture drills PRACTICE METHODS SUPPORTED - Classic timed gestures - 30s, 1min, 2min, 5min, 10min - Classroom mode - structured like an art school figure drawing class - Quantity mode - set your own session goals - Relaxed mode - study a pose reference with no countdown MADE FOR IPAD AND APPLE PENCIL Pressure and tilt support, a stylus-only drawing option so your palm never leaves a mark, and a full-screen canvas for life drawing practice anywhere. Your pose reference, your pace, your practice. Start your first timed gesture drawing session today. drawgestures.com Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your Apple ID settings. Terms: https://drawgestures.com/terms Privacy: https://drawgestures.com/privacy

Screenshots

Drawing from References4 screens
Draw Gestures4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Draw Gestures at 64% against Drawing from References's 25%. Draw Gestures also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. Drawing from References sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Draw Gestures sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Draw Gestures holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 41 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Drawing from References's written reviews are positive against 64% of Draw Gestures's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Drawing from References ships an update every 2 months, Draw Gestures weekly. The most recent releases landed on August 18, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Drawing from References versus Draw Gestures: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrawing from ReferencesDraw Gestures
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (10 ratings)3.9 (41 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews63.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1041 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
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
Size73 MB130 MB
Age rating12+12+
Developerfnx.ioAvinash Kumawat

Customer experience

Drawing from References

All ratings10 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative30.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Draw Gestures

All ratings41 ratings
Positive65.9%
Neutral9.8%
Negative24.4%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Drawing from References

Subscriptions2
  • Upgrade to PRO7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Upgrade to PRO7 Days trial$9.991 Year
6 purchases

Draw Gestures

Subscriptions5
  • Pro$1.991 Month
  • Starter$1.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$49.99

Questions

Is Drawing from References free?
Drawing from References is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Draw Gestures free?
Draw Gestures is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Drawing from References or Draw Gestures?
Draw Gestures is rated higher. Drawing from References averages 3.5 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Draw Gestures averages 3.9 from 41 ratings.
Do Drawing from References or Draw Gestures have ads?
Drawing from References shows ads; Draw Gestures does not.
Which is updated more often, Drawing from References or Draw Gestures?
Drawing from References ships an update every 2 months, and Draw Gestures weekly. Most recently, Drawing from References was updated on August 18, 2026 and Draw Gestures on September 22, 2026.

Other comparisons