# ImagineFX vs Paintable

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Paintable at none against ImagineFX's 12. Paintable also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). ImagineFX's advantage is ratings volume (627 vs 18) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ImagineFX sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Paintable asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for ImagineFX against 4.7 for Paintable. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ImagineFX has 627 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ImagineFX ships an update every 3 months, Paintable weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ImagineFX | Paintable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (627 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imaginefx/id451426922/reviews) | **[4.7 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintable/id6751126346/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **627** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 54.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 25 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Future plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/378460265) | [Paintable Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833558254) |

## What reviewers say

### ImagineFX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imaginefx/id451426922)

This app is a digital magazine for fantasy and sci-fi digital artists. It offers expert-led workshops, galleries, interviews with top illustrators, and reviews of creative tools. It's designed to inspire and guide both hobbyists and professionals in mastering digital art.

**Highlights:** Expert-led workshops, Artist interviews, Step-by-step tutorials, Community spotlights, Tool and software reviews, Curated artwork galleries

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Subscription | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Month Subscription | $31.99 | per 6 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| ImagineFX Annual 2025 | $1.99 | one-time |
| May 2012 | $7.99 | one-time |
| August 2012 | $7.99 | one-time |
| October 2012 | $7.99 | one-time |
| November 2012 | $7.99 | one-time |
| The Digital Artist's Survival Guide | $11.99 | one-time |
| All ImagineFX back issues | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Inspiring content and great resources for artists
- 👍 Useful video tutorials and links
- 💻 Convenient digital format

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- ⏱️ Slow page loading and rendering
- 💸 Expensive digital subscription
- 🤔 Confusing purchase and restoration process
- 🔍 Difficulty browsing and finding content

**Reported bugs**

- Issues not displaying properly offline
- Purchased content disappearing or not accessible
- Inconsistent behavior when restoring purchases

**Requested features**

- Ability to access CD/digital content included with print subscription
- Improved offline support and caching
- Bookmarking, highlighting, and annotation tools
- Better organization and navigation of back issues
- Cross-device syncing of purchases and library


### Paintable

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintable/id6751126346)

This app provides a structured learning path and community support for aspiring digital artists. It offers step-by-step guidance, monthly workshops, and personalized feedback to help users build confidence and complete their illustrations.

**Highlights:** 5-Level Learning Path, Monthly Themed Workshops, Private Feedback Space, Supportive Artist Community, Creative Habit Support, Illustration from Imagination

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ImagineFX free?

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

### Is Paintable free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ImagineFX or Paintable?

Paintable is rated higher. ImagineFX averages 4.6 out of 5 from 627 ratings, while Paintable averages 4.7 from 18 ratings.

### Do ImagineFX or Paintable have ads?

Neither ImagineFX nor Paintable shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ImagineFX or Paintable?

ImagineFX ships an update every 3 months, and Paintable weekly. Most recently, ImagineFX was updated on October 16, 2026 and Paintable on October 6, 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.*