# Handy Art Reference Tool vs Paintable

The clearest difference is price: Paintable at Free against Handy Art Reference Tool's $1.99. Paintable also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). Handy Art Reference Tool's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 18) and chart position (#74 vs unranked). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Paintable is free to download; Handy Art Reference Tool costs $1.99 up front. Handy Art Reference Tool sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Paintable asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Handy Art Reference Tool against 4.7 for Paintable. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Handy Art Reference Tool has 1.2K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Handy Art Reference Tool ships an update every 5 months, Paintable weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handy Art Reference Tool | Paintable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-art-reference-tool/id478643661/reviews)** | [4.7 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintable/id6751126346/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 85.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#74** | — |
| Size | 361 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Belief Engine](https://appshunter.io/developer/478643664) | [Paintable Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833558254) |

## What reviewers say

### Handy Art Reference Tool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-art-reference-tool/id478643661)

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app provides artists with rotatable 3D models of hands, heads, and feet for drawing reference. Customize poses and lighting to achieve realistic results for your artwork. Additional packs for animal skulls and foot rigs are available for purchase.

**Highlights:** Rotatable 3D limb models, Customizable poses, Adjustable 3-point lighting, 3D head busts, Animal skull reference pack, Material editing

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feet Models | $1.99 | one-time |
| Animal Skull Pack | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for drawing reference
- 🔍 Useful for lighting and shading
- 🎨 Great for hands and heads
- 💡 Customizable lighting and poses
- 🎨 Diverse skin tone options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes or freezes on some devices
- 💰 In-app purchases for additional content
- 🤔 Limited model variety (no full bodies)
- 🤔 Difficulty with precise positioning
- 🤔 Lighting controls could be improved

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch for some users
- Purchased content not unlocking
- Positioning and movement issues

**Requested features**

- Add full body models and poses
- Include more facial expressions and emotions
- Allow for custom hand and finger posing
- Implement ability to save custom poses
- Add more diverse skin tones and ethnicities


### 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 Handy Art Reference Tool free?

Handy Art Reference Tool costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Paintable free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Handy Art Reference Tool or Paintable?

Handy Art Reference Tool is rated higher. Handy Art Reference Tool averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Paintable averages 4.7 from 18 ratings.

### Do Handy Art Reference Tool or Paintable have ads?

Neither Handy Art Reference Tool nor Paintable shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handy Art Reference Tool or Paintable?

Handy Art Reference Tool ships an update every 5 months, and Paintable weekly. Most recently, Handy Art Reference Tool was updated on September 24, 2026 and Paintable on September 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*