# Value Study vs drawsta

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: drawsta at none against Value Study's 7. drawsta also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Value Study's advantage is ratings volume (3.4K vs 2). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. drawsta asks for nothing beyond the download.

drawsta holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.4K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, drawsta every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Value Study | drawsta |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawsta/id6791345101/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.4K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 92.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 36 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 9+ |
| Developer | [Diem Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439019995) | [Thisisground](https://appshunter.io/developer/1351183334) |

## What reviewers say

### Value Study

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127)

This tool helps artists improve their drawing and painting skills by simplifying reference images into distinct value ranges. It allows users to break down tones step-by-step, highlight areas of similar value, and focus on light, shadow, and form.

**Highlights:** Value breakdown of reference images, Highlighting areas of similar value, Adjustable number of value steps, Focus on light, shadow, and form, Enhances traditional art studies, Cross-platform compatibility

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Value Study Pro | $3.99 | per year |
| Value Study Pro (yearly) | $6.99 | per year |
| Appreciation | $2.99 | one-time |
| Generous boost | $9.99 | one-time |
| Value Study Pro (Lifetime) | $17.99 | one-time |
| Value Study | $17.99 | one-time |
| Amazing supporter | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful for value studies
- 💡 Allows adjusting number of values
- 🎨 Useful for artists and painters
- ⭐ Great tool for beginners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with accurately representing blue hues
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/importing photos
- 🤔 Unclear instructions/lack of tutorial

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or fails to launch on some devices
- Occasional issues with image processing

**Requested features**

- Add ability to adjust value midpoint
- Include color study/color adjustment options
- Provide side-by-side comparison of original and simplified images
- Add customizable grid overlay


### drawsta

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawsta/id6791345101)

This drawing app allows artists to trace images as a ghost layer, enabling them to ink over the reference. It also features a feed of original artwork and replays drawings as shareable time-lapses. Drawings can be shared via links and sync across devices using iCloud.

**Highlights:** Ghost layer tracing, Time-lapse drawing playback, Artwork feed, Shareable drawing links, iCloud sync

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Value Study free?

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

### Is drawsta free?

drawsta is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Value Study or drawsta?

drawsta is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.4K ratings, while drawsta averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Value Study or drawsta have ads?

Neither Value Study nor drawsta shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Value Study or drawsta?

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, and drawsta every 2 days. Most recently, Value Study was updated on October 30, 2026 and drawsta 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.*