Comparison

Realistic Paint Studio vs Paint by Code

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

Head to head
About

Realistic Paint Studio

This digital art software offers a familiar art station experience with realistic brushes, pencils, and markers. It allows users to create art in drawing, watercolor, and oil painting styles with a unique color engine and diverse canvas textures. Step-by-step tutorials and live demonstrations guide users through the creative process.

Highlights
  • Realistic color engine
  • Drawing, Watercolor, Oil Painting styles
  • Realistic brushes and tools
  • Realistic canvases with diverse textures
  • Live demonstration of drawing methods
  • Step-by-step tutorials
Read full description

Realistic Paint Studio is a unique digital art software. The program combines the simplicity of traditional tools and pioneering innovations in digital art. No special education is required to work in Realistic Paint Studio. The interface is designed to show a familiar art station with real paper, brushes, pencils, pens, and markers, etc. instead of a complicated and hard-to-understand graphic editor. With Realistic Paint Studio you will forget that you are using a digital editor, being completely absorbed in the art process! Easy-to-use, yet powerful engine allows to draw and paint in any desirable style! - "Realistic color" - Unique color engine! - 3 creative styles: Drawing, Watercolor, Oil Painting "Realistic brushes" carefully designed to convey all the nuances of real brushes, pencils, pens, markers, etc. - “Realistic showcase” - You can instantly have a look at your picture within a beautiful scene - “Realistic Canvases” - 15 types of sketchbooks, paper sheets, and canvases with 45 different textures scanned from real materials. - “Realistic palettes” - Most of the brushes have their own palette's presets. - “Live demonstration” - Instant demonstration of drawing methods for the selected tool - Live liquid watercolor drops - Step by step tutorials - Сoloring with the edge control function

About

Paint by Code

Features
Read full description

Paint by Code turns your favorite photos into beautiful paint-by-numbers canvases — ready to color in the app or print at home. HOW IT WORKS 1. Add a photo from your library or camera 2. Choose your style — 8 to 24 colors, detail level, and canvas format 3. Generate your numbered canvas with a matching color legend 4. Paint in the app with Apple Pencil, or export to print FEATURES • Smart region detection — clear, paintable areas • Numbered canvas with color legend matched to your palette • Paint mode with Apple Pencil support • Colored pencil matching — see which real pencil matches each color • Export & print — A4, Letter, or square format • Save canvases locally on your device PERFECT FOR • Creative relaxation and mindfulness • Personalized gifts from your own photos • Family projects and rainy-day activities • Artists who love paint-by-numbers Everything runs on your device. Your photos stay private — no account needed, no cloud required. Start with any photo. Finish with something you made.

Screenshots

Paint by Code1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Paint by Code at $3.99 against Realistic Paint Studio's $11.99. Paint by Code also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). Realistic Paint Studio's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.2). On ads 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

Realistic Paint Studio costs $11.99 and Paint by Code $3.99 up front. Realistic Paint Studio sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Paint by Code asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Realistic Paint Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, Paint by Code every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Realistic Paint Studio versus Paint by Code: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRealistic Paint StudioPaint by Code
Price$11.99$3.99 — better
Rating4.7 (765 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews67.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings765 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size1005 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleksandr KomarovTom Paape

Bugs and requests

Realistic Paint Studio

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when using the camera feature
  • Inconsistent behavior with the undo/redo function
  • Issues with the color mixing in the palette
  • Delayed response and lag when using Apple Pencil

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for PSD export with layers
  • Implement canvas rotation and resizing options
  • Allow for more brush customization and pressure sensitivity
  • Improve color picker and palette functionality
  • Introduce a simple, distraction-free canvas mode

Paint by Code

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Realistic Paint Studio

One-time12
  • Artistic brushFree
  • Mechanical penFree
  • Glitz penFree
Show 9 more
  • Glass penFree
  • Fountain penFree
  • Calligraphy brushFree
  • Hieroglyph brushFree
  • Diamond brushFree
  • Album with six color sheetsFree
  • All brushes from the VIP boxFree
  • Dragon brush$0.99
  • Crystal brush$0.99
None

Paint by Code

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Realistic Paint Studio free?
Realistic Paint Studio costs $11.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Paint by Code free?
Paint by Code costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Realistic Paint Studio or Paint by Code have ads?
Neither Realistic Paint Studio nor Paint by Code shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Realistic Paint Studio or Paint by Code?
Realistic Paint Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, and Paint by Code every 10 days. Most recently, Realistic Paint Studio was updated on November 3, 2026 and Paint by Code on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons