FocalPaint vs Storybook Magic
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)
Storybook Magic
Create enchanting animated stories with customizable characters, settings, and tones. Share your tales and bring them to life with motion-based spellcasting and interactive book covers. Designed for young creators to build imagination and storytelling skills.
- Customizable heroes, settings, and story tones
- Animated and interactive book covers
- Motion-based spellcasting for interactive play
- Save and share created stories
- Safe environment for young creators
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Become the wizard of your own story! Step into Storybook Magic, the ultimate storytelling app where kids and dreamers of all ages create enchanting tales with just a wave of their hand. Personalize every adventure, craft dazzling animated books, and explore a world of imagination—right from your device. Magical Features: Craft Your Own Adventures Mix & match fantasy heroes (like a Goblin Trickster or Phoenix Sorcerer), settings (from Whispering Isles to Starlit Ruins), and magical story tones—sparkling humor, chilling mystery, or glowing wonder. Save & Share Your Stories Name your wizard persona, select your story length, and store your creations in a glowing digital spellbook. Revisit, reread, or share with fellow storytellers anytime. Animated Book Covers Each tale unlocks a shimmering, interactive book cover—watch it come to life with tilt-based animations that reflect your story’s magic. Motion-Based Wand Play Wave your device to "cast spells" and reveal new characters, locations, or twists. It’s interactive storytelling like you’ve never seen. Cast Your Feedback Connect with the Storybook Wizards directly to request features, get help, or share your experience with a quick tap. Why Kids & Families Love Storybook Magic: Completely free—no subscriptions or hidden fees Safe and designed for young creators Builds imagination, creativity, and storytelling skills Perfect for bedtime stories or daytime adventures Crafted with care by the Storybook Wizards Download today and unlock your storytelling powers! Privacy Policy: https://cognitoware.dev/storybook_magic/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://cognitoware.dev/storybook_magic/terms-of-service
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Storybook Magic at Free against FocalPaint's $4.99. Storybook Magic also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). FocalPaint's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 1.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, 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
Storybook Magic is free to download; FocalPaint costs $4.99 up front. Storybook Magic sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. FocalPaint asks for nothing beyond the download.
FocalPaint holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.0. 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.
FocalPaint ships an update monthly, Storybook Magic every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FocalPaint | Storybook Magic |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (13 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 13 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 17.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 557 MB | 58 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | brien dieterle | Luis Salcedo |
In-app purchases
FocalPaint
No in-app purchases
Storybook Magic
- Unlimited Access3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Unlimited Access$17.991 Month









