# iDesign vs Archisketch

The clearest difference is rating: Archisketch at 4.3 against iDesign's 2.6. Archisketch also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (266 vs 84). iDesign's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iDesign sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Archisketch sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Archisketch holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 84 and 266 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 51% and 51% positive.

iDesign ships an update every 5 months, Archisketch every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iDesign | Archisketch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idesign/id342790226/reviews) | **[4.3 (266 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archisketch/id725328455/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 84 | **266** |
| Positive reviews | 50.5% of reviews | **51.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 87 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **13.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TouchAware Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/336476151) | [Open Screen Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1185671896) |

## What reviewers say

### iDesign

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idesign/id342790226)

Create professional 2D vector drawings, illustrations, and technical designs on your iPad or iPhone. Offers precise touch-based editing with unique offset controls and a full suite of advanced tools for graphics and technical design.

**Highlights:** 2D vector drawing and design, Precise touch-based editing, Advanced path editing, Technical drawing tools, Shape libraries, Layer management, iCloud sync with XDesign

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |


### Archisketch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archisketch/id725328455)

This app allows users to sketch, doodle, and design to scale, similar to a tracing pad. It supports layering, adding text, dimensions, and symbols, with the ability to import images to set scale. Users can visualize ideas in 3D with perspective tools and export drawings for CAD or creative applications.

**Highlights:** Sketch and draw to scale, Layering and editing tools, Import images to set scale, 3D visualization with perspective tools, Export to CAD and Adobe Creative Cloud, Apple Pencil support, Print drawings up to A1 size

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Colour Plus Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| iCloud Plus Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Advance Colour & iCloud Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Archisketch - Full Version | $17.99 | one-time |
| Full Version with All Add-ons | $30.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Great for scale drawings
- 💡 Helpful for design ideation
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Useful for architects and designers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Limited free trial
- 🔒 Paywall for full features
- 🐛 Inaccurate scaling and measurements
- 🐛 Clumsy erasing and editing

**Reported bugs**

- Compatibility issues with iOS 11 and newer
- Disappearing toolbars and interface elements
- Inability to save or export drawings
- Unreliable performance and stability

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More export options (vector, higher resolution)
- Improved documentation and tutorials
- Better support for mixed units (feet + inches)
- Freehand drawing tools with less smoothing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iDesign free?

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

### Is Archisketch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iDesign or Archisketch?

Archisketch is rated higher. iDesign averages 2.6 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while Archisketch averages 4.3 from 266 ratings.

### Do iDesign or Archisketch have ads?

Neither iDesign nor Archisketch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iDesign or Archisketch?

iDesign ships an update every 5 months, and Archisketch every 2 months. Most recently, iDesign was updated on September 22, 2026 and Archisketch on September 20, 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.*