# iPastels vs Art Set 4

The clearest difference is update cadence: Art Set 4 at every 6 days against iPastels's every 6 weeks. Art Set 4 also leads on ratings volume (26K vs 2.1K). iPastels's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 63%) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iPastels sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Art Set 4 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for iPastels against 4.6 for Art Set 4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Art Set 4 has 26K ratings behind it against 2.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of iPastels's written reviews are positive against 63% of Art Set 4's.

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, Art Set 4 every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iPastels | Art Set 4 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipastels/id489302558/reviews)** | [4.6 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-set-4/id1418530800/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.1K | **26K** |
| Positive reviews | **81.7% of reviews** | 63.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 12.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Norbyte](https://appshunter.io/developer/331310753) | [LOFOPI](https://appshunter.io/developer/326067842) |

## What reviewers say

### iPastels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipastels/id489302558)

This app offers a realistic digital painting experience with lifelike pastel simulation and interactive textures. It allows for precise color blending and adjustable stroke sizes, catering to both beginners and experienced artists. Explore your creativity without the cost of traditional art supplies.

**Highlights:** Lifelike pastel simulation, Realistic paper/canvas textures, Precise color blending, Fingertip stroke size adjustment, Left-handed toolbar option, Live parameter changes, Multiple layers

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip Jar: Smallest Tip | $1.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar: Small Tip | $2.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar: Medium Tip | $5.00 | one-time |
| Pro Upgrade | $7.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar: Big Tip | $10.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar: Biggest Tip | $25.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Realistic pastel simulation
- 💡 Useful for beginners and professionals
- 🌈 Wide range of colors and shades
- 🔍 Good blending and smudging tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔒 Limited free features, need to pay for more
- 🔍 Lack of zoom or detailed control
- 🎨 Difficulty finding/reusing specific colors
- 🔀 Confusing layer management

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when importing images
- Layers sometimes disappear or get lost
- Undo button deletes entire drawing sections

**Requested features**

- Add color picker tool
- Improve layer management and visibility
- Implement pressure-sensitive brush support
- Provide more paper/canvas texture options
- Allow saving and recalling custom palettes


### Art Set 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-set-4/id1418530800)

Experience hyper-realistic digital art creation with advanced tools for painting and drawing. Explore a vast array of brushes, fluid simulations, and 3D paint effects. This app offers a customizable workspace and professional features for artists of all levels.

**Highlights:** Hyper-realistic art tools, Fluid watercolor simulation, 3D paint effects, Customizable workspace, Time-lapse video recording, PSD export, Layer masks

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Realistic paint and brush simulation
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Excellent oil paint and watercolor tools
- 🎨 Wide variety of art tools and materials
- 👍 Responsive and smooth performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Lack of layer management and export options
- 🔒 Limited brush size and customization options in free version
- 🔒 Confusing UI and hidden features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening color palette or blending
- Unexpected loss of work and canvas resets
- Inability to resize canvas or change aspect ratio
- Brush size and settings not preserved when switching tools

**Requested features**

- Add more free brushes and tools
- Improve layer management and export options
- Allow more brush size and customization options in free version
- Provide better documentation and tutorials
- Add undo/redo gesture support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iPastels free?

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

### Is Art Set 4 free?

Art Set 4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iPastels or Art Set 4?

iPastels is rated higher. iPastels averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Art Set 4 averages 4.6 from 26K ratings.

### Do iPastels or Art Set 4 have ads?

Neither iPastels nor Art Set 4 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iPastels or Art Set 4?

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, and Art Set 4 every 6 days. Most recently, iPastels was updated on September 25, 2026 and Art Set 4 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.*