# Photo Retouch vs PaintUp

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PaintUp at 100% against Photo Retouch's 11%. PaintUp also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and ads (none vs shown). Photo Retouch's advantage is ratings volume (2.8K vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photo Retouch sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days and PaintUp sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PaintUp holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photo Retouch has 2.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of Photo Retouch's written reviews are positive against 100% of PaintUp's.

Photo Retouch ships an update every 5 weeks, PaintUp every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photo Retouch | PaintUp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-retouch-erase-objects/id1621536290/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintup-remove-objects/id6468915481/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 11.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 126 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Europosit](https://appshunter.io/developer/935673733) | [Karolis Raiselis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1442359782) |

## What reviewers say

### Photo Retouch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-retouch-erase-objects/id1621536290)

Easily remove unwanted objects or people from your photos with a single tap. This app offers a fast and simple way to clean up your pictures, adjust retouching tools, and apply filters for a polished look. Share your edited images instantly on social media.

**Highlights:** Smart object removal, Adjustable retouch brush, Awesome filters, Instant social media sharing, Background cleanup

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Remover and Photo Editor | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| PRO Eraser for Object Removal | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| AI Remover and Photo Editor | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| AI Remover and Photo Editor | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| PRO Eraser for Object Removal | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Access | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast processing
- ✨ Nice visual effects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Misleading advertising
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🚫 Limited functionality
- 💤 Slow performance

**Reported bugs**

- Eraser tool doesn't work as advertised
- Blurry results after editing
- Crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Improve eraser tool accuracy
- Add more editing options
- Provide a truly free version


### PaintUp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintup-remove-objects/id6468915481)

Effortlessly remove unwanted objects, blemishes, and distractions from your photos to achieve stunning, picture-perfect results. This user-friendly tool offers professional-quality editing for everyone, from photographers to casual users. Enhance your memories and share flawless images with ease.

**Highlights:** Object removal, Blemish correction, User-friendly interface, High-quality results, Save and share functionality, Regular updates

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PaintUp Premium | $0.99 | one-time |
| PaintUp Premium | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photo Retouch free?

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

### Is PaintUp free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Photo Retouch or PaintUp?

PaintUp is rated higher. Photo Retouch averages 3.9 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while PaintUp averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Photo Retouch or PaintUp have ads?

Photo Retouch shows ads; PaintUp does not.

### Which is updated more often, Photo Retouch or PaintUp?

Photo Retouch ships an update every 5 weeks, and PaintUp every 2 months. Most recently, Photo Retouch was updated on October 2, 2026 and PaintUp on September 23, 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.*