# iPastels vs Sketches

The clearest difference is ads: iPastels at none against Sketches's shown. iPastels also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 4) and device support (4 vs 2). Sketches's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 81%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Sketches holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iPastels has 2.2K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of iPastels's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sketches's.

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, Sketches monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iPastels | Sketches |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipastels/id489302558/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketches-draw-and-trace/id6443802869/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 81.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Norbyte](https://appshunter.io/developer/331310753) | [Ricardo Miron](https://appshunter.io/developer/1207939999) |

## 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


### Sketches

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketches-draw-and-trace/id6443802869)

This drawing app is designed for beginners, offering features to help you start your artistic journey. You can trace images, record your drawing process, and export your creations as videos or PNG files. Your work is automatically saved locally.

**Highlights:** Trace uploaded images, Record drawing progress, Export sketches as PNG, Export progress videos, Manage multiple sketches, Auto-save functionality

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iPastels free?

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

### Is Sketches free?

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

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

Sketches is rated higher. iPastels averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Sketches averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do iPastels or Sketches have ads?

Sketches shows ads; iPastels does not.

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

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, and Sketches monthly. Most recently, iPastels was updated on November 1, 2026 and Sketches on October 24, 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.*