# Paint vs Retro Art Studio

The clearest difference is ads: Paint at none against Retro Art Studio's shown. Paint also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Retro Art Studio's advantage is review sentiment (34% vs 24%) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Paint sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Retro Art Studio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Paint holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 24% of Paint's written reviews are positive against 34% of Retro Art Studio's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Paint ships an update every 7 months, Retro Art Studio every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Paint | Retro Art Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paint/id289520197/reviews)** | [4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-art-studio/id473538911/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 23.7% of reviews | **34.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 148 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alteru Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/434747758) | [Six Foot Three Foot](https://appshunter.io/developer/387610242) |

## What reviewers say

### Paint

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paint/id289520197)

This drawing application offers a simple interface for creating artwork. Users can draw, edit photos, add characters, and create wallet photos. It supports precise line drawing, color filling, shadow effects, and includes various stamps for creative expression.

**Highlights:** Simple user interface, Scrollable tool menu, Photo editing and enhancement, Precise line drawing, Color filling and shapes, Shadow effects, Stamp collection

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paint Ads Free | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Fun stamps and decorative elements for creative expression
- 💰 Affordable price point (under $1)
- 👶 Good for young children aged 3-8
- 🖼️ Ability to import and draw on photos
- 🌈 Color variety and selection options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐌 Severe lag and performance issues across devices
- 🎯 Poor drawing precision and accuracy
- ❌ Missing eraser/clear screen functionality
- 🔧 Limited and poorly organized tools
- 📐 No fill bucket tool for large areas

**Reported bugs**

- Extreme lag when drawing, especially on iPhone 4/4S and iPad
- Drawing lines appear after lifting finger from screen
- Images saved off-center or misaligned
- Orientation not preserved when saving imported photos
- Entire background deleted when removing first mark

**Requested features**

- Eraser tool or clear screen button
- Fill bucket/paint pot tool
- Text tool for adding text to images
- Ability to resize and move objects
- Zoom in/magnifying glass feature


### Retro Art Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-art-studio/id473538911)

Unleash your creativity with three classic-inspired art tools. Design pixel art, create vibrant peg-style designs, or sketch with playful dial controls. This app offers a simple, satisfying, and mess-free way to make art for all ages.

**Highlights:** Pixel art creation, Peg-style artwork, Dial doodle sketching, Intuitive grid interface, Distraction-free design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Good for pixel art
- 🕹️ Nostalgic feel
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🖼️ Clear saving to gallery
- 💡 Good for educational purposes (K-2)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💥 Frequent crashes
- 📉 Low quality etch-a-sketch
- 🤏 Tiny icons
- 🚫 Too many ads
- ❌ No undo feature

**Reported bugs**

- Constantly crashes
- Crashed on save, lost drawing
- Won't load
- Not opening on iPad 2
- Can't open the stupid thing

**Requested features**

- More art settings
- Update to fix crashing
- More colors
- Zoom functionality
- Color Spectrum Pad


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Paint free?

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

### Is Retro Art Studio free?

Retro Art Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Paint or Retro Art Studio?

Paint is rated higher. Paint averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Retro Art Studio averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Paint or Retro Art Studio have ads?

Retro Art Studio shows ads; Paint does not.

### Which is updated more often, Paint or Retro Art Studio?

Paint ships an update every 7 months, and Retro Art Studio every 4 months. Most recently, Paint was updated on October 23, 2026 and Retro Art Studio on October 22, 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.*