# iPastels vs Sketchbook

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iPastels at 81% against Sketchbook's 21%. iPastels also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.9) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Sketchbook's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iPastels sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Sketchbook sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iPastels holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.2K and 1.3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of iPastels's written reviews are positive against 21% of Sketchbook's.

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, Sketchbook fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iPastels | Sketchbook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipastels/id489302558/reviews)** | [3.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketchbook-create-digital-art/id1541516345/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | **81.0% of reviews** | 20.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 24 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Norbyte](https://appshunter.io/developer/331310753) | [Loyal Foundry, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1620612434) |

## 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


### Sketchbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketchbook-create-digital-art/id1541516345)

This app provides a versatile and user-friendly digital art creation experience for mobile devices. It offers a professional-grade toolset with customizable brushes and layers, allowing users to sketch, paint, and illustrate with ease. Perfect for both beginners and experienced artists looking to bring their ideas to life on the go.

**Highlights:** 60+ realistic brushes and tools, Multiple layers with settings, Import photos for reference, Shape draw assist and rulers, Customizable color wheel, Undo/Redo functionality, Instant sharing

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Features - One Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Features - One Month | $8.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Premium Access | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $22.99 | per year |
| Annually Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Features - One Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Annually Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Appsgonefree Deal | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Deal - Limited Period | $35.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for sketching
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Potential for more features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 💰 Aggressive monetization
- 🤖 Lack of free features
- 📵 Difficult to use without paying

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Drawings not saving properly
- Unreliable performance

**Requested features**

- Add undo/redo functionality
- Improve brush quality and customization
- Implement a true free version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iPastels free?

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

### Is Sketchbook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iPastels or Sketchbook?

iPastels is rated higher. iPastels averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Sketchbook averages 3.9 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do iPastels or Sketchbook have ads?

Sketchbook shows ads; iPastels does not.

### Which is updated more often, iPastels or Sketchbook?

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, and Sketchbook fortnightly. Most recently, iPastels was updated on November 1, 2026 and Sketchbook on November 3, 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.*