# Sketchbook vs Paint by Code

The clearest difference is price: Sketchbook at Free against Paint by Code's $3.99. Sketchbook also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.2). Paint by Code's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Sketchbook is free to download; Paint by Code costs $3.99 up front. Sketchbook sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Paint by Code asks for nothing beyond the download.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Sketchbook | Paint by Code |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[3.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketchbook-create-digital-art/id1541516345/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 20.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Loyal Foundry, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1620612434) | [Tom Paape](https://appshunter.io/developer/1868007411) |

## What reviewers say

### Sketchbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketchbook-create-digital-art/id1541516345)

This app provides a versatile and user-friendly digital art creation experience for mobile devices. It offers a professional-grade toolset with customizable brushes and layers, allowing users to sketch, paint, and illustrate with ease. Perfect for both beginners and experienced artists looking to bring their ideas to life on the go.

**Highlights:** 60+ realistic brushes and tools, Multiple layers with settings, Import photos for reference, Shape draw assist and rulers, Customizable color wheel, Undo/Redo functionality, Instant sharing

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Features - One Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Features - One Month | $8.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Premium Access | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $22.99 | per year |
| Annually Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Features - One Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Annually Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Appsgonefree Deal | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Deal - Limited Period | $35.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for sketching
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Potential for more features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 💰 Aggressive monetization
- 🤖 Lack of free features
- 📵 Difficult to use without paying

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Drawings not saving properly
- Unreliable performance

**Requested features**

- Add undo/redo functionality
- Improve brush quality and customization
- Implement a true free version


### Paint by Code

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paint-by-code/id6791082042)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sketchbook free?

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

### Is Paint by Code free?

Paint by Code costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Sketchbook or Paint by Code have ads?

Sketchbook shows ads; Paint by Code does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sketchbook or Paint by Code?

Sketchbook ships an update fortnightly, and Paint by Code every 10 days. Most recently, Sketchbook was updated on November 3, 2026 and Paint by Code on October 31, 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.*