# SimpleDraw vs Charcoal

The clearest difference is update cadence: Charcoal at every 2 months against SimpleDraw's every 199 months. Charcoal also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SimpleDraw ships an update every 199 months, Charcoal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleDraw | Charcoal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charcoal/id1490279484/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **143** |
| Positive reviews | 72.6% of reviews | **76.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | — | No |
| Update frequency | Every 199 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Samuel Li](https://appshunter.io/developer/312257246) | [Lars Augustin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1806278075) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleDraw

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpledraw/id312257243)

This intuitive drawing app offers a clean, distraction-free canvas for unleashing creativity. Redesigned for the modern era, it features a floating menu for easy access to tools and allows users to save and share their artwork.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free canvas, Intuitive drawing tools, Adjustable line width, Save and share artwork, Modern interface

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple, fast, and efficient
- 👍 Straightforward interface
- 👍 Great for quick sketching and note-taking
- 👍 Responsive and follows finger well
- 👍 Useful for various purposes like lectures, ideas, etc.

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited color palette
- 🐛 Drawings not saved automatically
- 🐛 Shake to erase feature too sensitive
- 🔍 Difficulty drawing at the bottom of the screen

**Reported bugs**

- Drawings disappear when app is closed without saving
- Difficulty remembering gesture to access second page

**Requested features**

- More color options
- Ability to load and edit saved drawings
- Option to draw on photos from the album
- Additional drawing tools like shapes, lines, etc.


### Charcoal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charcoal/id1490279484)

This app offers a simple yet powerful sketching experience with rich tools and beautiful color palettes. Easily create and export your artwork for use in other graphics programs. It supports modern iOS features like multiple windows and dark mode for enhanced productivity.

**Highlights:** Simple sketching interface, Rich drawing tools, Beautiful color palettes, Export sketches, Multiple window support, Dark mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and intuitive
- 👍 Great for quick sketching
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
- 💰 Free with no ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎨 Limited color palette
- 🎨 Lack of customization options
- 🎨 Missing advanced drawing tools
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Saved sketches lose quality
- Palette colors change unexpectedly
- Freezing when opening color palette

**Requested features**

- Ability to change brush/pen size
- Layers and blending tools
- Color wheel and custom color selection
- Import/export options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleDraw free?

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

### Is Charcoal free?

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

### Which is updated more often, SimpleDraw or Charcoal?

SimpleDraw ships an update every 199 months, and Charcoal every 2 months. Most recently, SimpleDraw was updated on September 18, 2026 and Charcoal on September 8, 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.*