FocalPaint vs VectorPaint
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FocalPaint
This app offers a unique brush engine for realistic paint simulation, pigment mixing, and canvas textures. It allows for custom brush and layer creation using Metal GPU or Javascript code, with advanced features like spectral color models and Apple Pencil Pro support.
- Realistic paint and pigment mixing
- Custom brush and layer creation
- Transparent ink simulation
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- Spectral color model
- Open source shader code library
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FocalPaint's unique brush engine simulates thick paint and real pigment mixing with accurate physics models. Features: - Realistic color blending behaves like real paint! - Real canvas texture and paint thickness - Transparent Ink simulation - Open Source GPU shader code library for reference and customization - Write your own custom brush with Metal GPU or Javascript code - Write your own custom layer modes with Metal GPU code - Apple Pencil Pro support with hover - 16 channel "spectral" color model (256 bits per pixel) - Wide color gamut (P3) Please note: Apple A12 GPU or newer is required Terms of Use: https://www.focalpaint.com/p/terms-of-use.html Privacy Policy: https://www.focalpaint.com/p/privacy.html Special Thanks to: Scott Allen Burns Troy James Sobotka & Friends colour-science.org python library MyPaint painting software team Anna Timm (@anti-art)
VectorPaint
Create and edit vector illustrations with a powerful toolset inspired by desktop software. Features include advanced path manipulation, layer management, and grid snapping for precise designs. Export your artwork in various formats.
- Vector illustration creation and editing
- Metal-powered rendering for speed
- Advanced path manipulation tools
- Layer isolation and outline modes
- Grid and ruler snapping
- Export artwork
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VectorPaint is a vector drawing and SVG editing app for iPhone and iPad. Create illustrations, design logos, draw icons and compose posters with editable paths, shapes and text. Draw freely, refine precisely Use the pen, freehand and shape tools to build your artwork. Edit Bézier nodes, curves and outlines, then arrange objects with alignment, distribution, grids and guides. Zoom into your canvas to refine the details. Bring layers, color and type together Organize artwork with layers and groups. Adjust opacity, fills, strokes and gradients, use masks to control what appears, and place text along a path. Combine lettering and graphics for logos, illustrations and layouts. Trace images into editable paths Import an image as a reference or generate a vector tracing preview before applying it. Tracing works best with logos, line art and flat-color images. Photos are quantized to your chosen number of colors, so results depend on the source image. Export for your next step Import SVG, VectorPaint, Inkpad and common image files. Export SVG, PDF and PNG, or keep an editable VectorPaint document. PNG supports transparent backgrounds. SVG and PDF may include bitmap elements from your artwork; export does not automatically turn every object into vectors. A local workspace for your artwork Drawing and artwork management use local files and work offline. Keep projects organized with groups, tags and favorites. Use undo, redo, versions, recently deleted artwork and backups to manage your creative process. For anyone looking for vector illustration, SVG editing, logo creation and graphic artwork on iPhone or iPad, VectorPaint brings paths, layers, color and typography into one workspace.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VectorPaint at none against FocalPaint's 3. VectorPaint also leads on price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and chart position (#161 vs unranked). FocalPaint's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 12 months) and review sentiment (79% vs 50%). On ads, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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
FocalPaint costs $4.99 and VectorPaint $0.99 up front. FocalPaint sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. VectorPaint asks for nothing beyond the download.
FocalPaint holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FocalPaint has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of FocalPaint's written reviews are positive against 50% of VectorPaint's.
FocalPaint ships an update monthly, VectorPaint every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FocalPaint | VectorPaint |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (13 ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.6% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 12 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #161 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 557 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | brien dieterle | Anyi County Bingzhiyi Trading Co., Ltd. |
Customer experience
FocalPaint
VectorPaint
In-app purchases
FocalPaint
- Generous Tip$0.99
- Big Tip$4.99
- Huge Tip$9.99
VectorPaint
No in-app purchases









