# Head Model Studio vs Pocket Easel

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pocket Easel at every 3 days against Head Model Studio's monthly. Pocket Easel also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 76%). Head Model Studio's advantage is ratings volume (2.5K vs 6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Head Model Studio sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.00 per month and Pocket Easel sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pocket Easel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Head Model Studio has 2.5K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Head Model Studio's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pocket Easel's.

Head Model Studio ships an update monthly, Pocket Easel every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Head Model Studio | Pocket Easel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/head-model-studio-art-study/id1527028690/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-easel/id6792240582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 76.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 2.2 GB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wes Castain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527028692) | [彬 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/6790275793) |

## What reviewers say

### Head Model Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/head-model-studio-art-study/id1527028690)

This app provides 3D reference models for artists to study and draw faces. It offers detailed control over lighting and rendering to help users understand facial planes and tones, aiding in portrait drawing practice.

**Highlights:** 25 detailed 3D head models, Full 3D model control (zoom, tilt, rotate), Realistic environmental and studio lighting, Customizable rendering with edge outlines, Pre-made practice scenes, Study facial planes and geometry

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Access | $9.00 | per month |
| 1 Year Access | $16.00 | per year |
| 1 Year Access | $23.00 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $50.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Excellent reference tool for artists
- 🔍 Helpful for understanding head anatomy and planes
- 🔧 Customizable lighting and model features
- 💰 Reasonable subscription pricing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Premium features locked behind paywall
- 🔒 Lack of free trial to test premium content
- 🔧 Limited customization options for free users
- 🐛 Occasional technical issues with lighting and model adjustments

**Reported bugs**

- Sudden loss of model functionality after updates
- Overheating issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Add female Loomis head models
- Expand customization options for paid users
- Implement full-body reference models
- Provide option for one-time lifetime purchase


### Pocket Easel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-easel/id6792240582)

This app helps artists study color harmony on the go using traditional painting techniques. It offers tools for quick color selection, fine-tuning, and precise shape drawing, with options for exporting time-lapses of your creative process. Designed for efficient mobile use, it focuses on color studies rather than detailed illustration.

**Highlights:** Gamut masking for harmonious color palettes, Joystick color adjustment for fine control, Canvas zoom, pan, and reset, Precise shape drawing tools, Color-process time-lapse export, Landscape mode for two-handed painting

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Easel Pro | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Head Model Studio free?

Head Model Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pocket Easel free?

Pocket Easel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Head Model Studio or Pocket Easel?

Pocket Easel is rated higher. Head Model Studio averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Pocket Easel averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Head Model Studio or Pocket Easel have ads?

Neither Head Model Studio nor Pocket Easel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Head Model Studio or Pocket Easel?

Head Model Studio ships an update monthly, and Pocket Easel every 3 days. Most recently, Head Model Studio was updated on October 20, 2026 and Pocket Easel on October 18, 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.*