WowPaint vs Canvas Software
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WowPaint
Create seamless patterns for backgrounds, textures, and more with intuitive drawing tools. Adjust parameters live while painting and utilize fingertip-based stroke sizing. Supports Apple Pencil and multiple layers.
- Seamless pattern creation
- Wrapped painting mode
- Fingertip stroke size adjustment
- Live parameter changes
- Multiple layers
- Photo tracing mode (Pro)
Read full descriptionHide full description
Pattern/texture designers: You’ll find the app’s unique feature set very useful when making repeatable images (patterns). Other artists: WowPaint is great for drawing and painting “normal” art as well! • CREATE SEAMLESS PATTERNS • Use the Seamless Pattern Options to aid you in creating seamless patterns that can be used as website or desktop backgrounds, in print, or for textures in 3d modeling. When you have switched on Wrap X/Y, any strokes you paint that go over the picture’s edge will continue on the opposite side. That means that there will be no hard edges where strokes are cut off (since they continue instead), which makes the picture a perfect candidate for being seamlessly repeated. A tremendous help when using the Wrapped Painting mode is the option of having the picture displayed as tiles next to each other. You’re free to paint anywhere on these tiles, and you will see the results in real time. You can also switch on Edge Indicators, to make it easier to see where the picture being repeated begins and ends. • FINGERTIP = STROKE SIZE • When you paint, the app measures how much of your finger is touching the screen and changes the stroke size accordingly. There’s a huge difference between using just the corner of your fingertip and pressing down the whole fingerprint area! A 2nd tool assigned to your finger will still use this feature, so don’t ignore it just because you have an Apple Pencil! • LEFT-HANDED? • Just swipe the toolbar over to the other side! • PARAMETERS CAN BE CHANGED LIVE • Use any buttons or controls to change/adjust color, size, force, simultaneously while painting. • UNIVERSAL PURCHASE • If you choose to buy the Pro upgrade, this one-time in-app purchase will unlock all Pro features in the app on all available platforms (iPad-iPhone-Mac)! • METAL • The engine is based on Metal, with 128-bit color and floating-point arithmetic. • SWIFT • The app was developed entirely using Swift (earlier versions used C++). • APPLE PENCIL SUPPORT • FULL SCREEN PAINTING • • DARK MODE • LANDSCAPE • PORTRAIT • WIDE COLOR • • MULTIPLE LAYERS • PHOTO TRACING MODE (Pro feature) •
Canvas Software
A powerful yet user-friendly drawing application for iPad and Mac, powered by a custom engine for smooth 60fps rendering. Offers features like adjustment layers, timelapse recording, and filters for creative expression.
- Canvas7 drawing engine
- 60fps rendering
- Adjustment Layers
- Timelapse recording
- Filters
Read full descriptionHide full description
Painter is a feature-rich, easy to use drawing app for the iPad and Mac. It uses the custom built Canvas7 drawing engine for rendering at 60fps. Some of the features include Adjustment Layers, Timelapse, Filters, and more. Make sure to leave a review and let me know how Painter can be improved!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: WowPaint at 4.7 against Canvas Software's 4.0. WowPaint also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 40%) and ratings volume (119 vs 1). Canvas Software's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On price and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. WowPaint sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Canvas Software asks for nothing beyond the download.
WowPaint holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WowPaint has 119 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of WowPaint's written reviews are positive against 40% of Canvas Software's.
| Parameter | WowPaint | Canvas Software |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (119 ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.9% of reviews — better | 40.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 119 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 14.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Norbyte | Canvas Software LLC |
Customer experience
WowPaint
Canvas Software
In-app purchases
WowPaint
- Tip Jar: Smallest Tip$1.00
- Tip Jar: Small Tip$2.00
- Tip Jar: Medium Tip$5.00
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Pro Upgrade$7.00
- Tip Jar: Big Tip$10.00
- Tip Jar: Biggest Tip$25.00
Canvas Software
No in-app purchases









