# Absolute Board Mini vs Paintwork

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Absolute Board Mini at none against Paintwork's 3. Absolute Board Mini also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 65%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). Paintwork's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 34 months) and ratings volume (17K vs 3). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Paintwork sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Absolute Board Mini asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Absolute Board Mini against 4.6 for Paintwork. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paintwork has 17K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Absolute Board Mini's written reviews are positive against 65% of Paintwork's.

Absolute Board Mini ships an update every 34 months, Paintwork weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Absolute Board Mini | Paintwork |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absolute-board-mini/id431500553/reviews)** | [4.6 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintwork-infinite-notebook/id1052957498/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **17K** |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 65.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 200 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hyeoseong Hwang](https://appshunter.io/developer/369169972) | [伟典 苏](https://appshunter.io/developer/1024628394) |

## What reviewers say

### Absolute Board Mini

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absolute-board-mini/id431500553)

A free, simple, and convenient drawing and handwriting app for capturing ideas on an unlimited canvas. Save and share your notes and sketches easily via email or print.

**Highlights:** Unlimited board size, Unlimited color choice, Path traceable eraser, Email snapshot of drawings, Zooming in/out, Undo/Redo functions, Import photos

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Paintwork

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintwork-infinite-notebook/id1052957498)

Create handwritten notes, diaries, and drawings with a vast array of tools. Features include customizable brushes, vector graphics, a rich color palette, and image import. Export your creations as PDFs or images.

**Highlights:** Customizable brushes and erasers, Extensive vector graphics tools, Rich color palette, Image and material import, Handwriting assistance, PDF and image export, Customizable backgrounds and canvas

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription premium | $0.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription premium | $3.99 | per year |
| Unlock local version | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Vast selection of brushes and tools
- 💻 Works well on various devices
- 🎨 Allows for creative expression
- 💰 Free to use with no paywall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Certain features locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches causing crashes or data loss
- 🎨 Limited color palette and blending options
- 🔍 Lack of intuitive UI and tutorials

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing or crashing when using certain features
- Artwork getting deleted or not saving properly
- Inability to import or work with external images

**Requested features**

- Add more color options and blending tools
- Improve stability and reduce crashes
- Provide more tutorials and onboarding for new users
- Allow users to save and access their artwork easily


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Absolute Board Mini free?

Absolute Board Mini is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Paintwork free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Absolute Board Mini or Paintwork?

Absolute Board Mini is rated higher. Absolute Board Mini averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Paintwork averages 4.6 from 17K ratings.

### Do Absolute Board Mini or Paintwork have ads?

Neither Absolute Board Mini nor Paintwork shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Absolute Board Mini or Paintwork?

Absolute Board Mini ships an update every 34 months, and Paintwork weekly. Most recently, Absolute Board Mini was updated on June 1, 2026 and Paintwork on September 26, 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.*