# Bow maker vs PortraitWorks

The clearest difference is ads: PortraitWorks at none against Bow maker's shown. Bow maker's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (86% vs 72%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bow maker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PortraitWorks sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bow maker holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 143 and 49 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Bow maker's written reviews are positive against 72% of PortraitWorks's.

Bow maker ships an update monthly, PortraitWorks every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bow maker | PortraitWorks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bow-maker-weapon-simulator/id1539297764/reviews)** | [4.2 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/portraitworks/id1615094444/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **143** | 49 |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 71.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 130 MB | 647 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MIDLANDSTORY inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496271121) | [Worldspinner LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525091264) |

## What reviewers say

### Bow maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bow-maker-weapon-simulator/id1539297764)

Design and create your own unique fantasy bows with a variety of parts and decorations. Save your creations as wallpapers or share them with a community of other users. Customize colors and sizes for truly original weapon illustrations.

**Highlights:** Design custom fantasy bows, Select and place various parts, Customize colors and sizes, Add decorative elements, Save illustrations as wallpaper, Share creations with the community

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hide ads | $7.99 | one-time |


### PortraitWorks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/portraitworks/id1615094444)

Create unique fantasy character portraits with hand-drawn art elements. Build from scratch in six steps or customize existing gallery creations. Offers extensive customization for races, genders, gear, and backgrounds.

**Highlights:** Create portraits from scratch, Customize gallery portraits, Millions of unique face combinations, Extensive gear and background options, Color control for all elements, D&D class integration

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Backgrounds & Frames | $0.99 | one-time |
| Orcs, Half-Orcs, Half-Devils | $0.99 | one-time |
| Reptilians | $0.99 | one-time |
| Outlaw & Commoner Outfits | $0.99 | one-time |
| Light Armor | $0.99 | one-time |
| Spells & Spellcaster Gear | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hairstyles & Facial Hair | $0.99 | one-time |
| High Society Outfits | $0.99 | one-time |
| Monk | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unrestricted | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bundle 1: Launch! | $9.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Export | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bow maker free?

Bow maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PortraitWorks free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bow maker or PortraitWorks?

Bow maker is rated higher. Bow maker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 143 ratings, while PortraitWorks averages 4.2 from 49 ratings.

### Do Bow maker or PortraitWorks have ads?

Bow maker shows ads; PortraitWorks does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bow maker or PortraitWorks?

Bow maker ships an update monthly, and PortraitWorks every 2 months. Most recently, Bow maker was updated on October 15, 2026 and PortraitWorks on October 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*