# iPastels vs Real Art Academy

The clearest difference is monetization model: iPastels at free with in-app purchases against Real Art Academy's subscription. iPastels also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 10) and device support (4 vs 2). Real Art Academy's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iPastels sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Real Art Academy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $39.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Real Art Academy 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 10, so its average is the more settled of the two.

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, Real Art Academy monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iPastels | Real Art Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipastels/id489302558/reviews) | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-art-academy/id6738841622/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 81.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 24 MB | 69 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) | [OTERO GONZALEZ PATRICIA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1782536298) |

## 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


### Real Art Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-art-academy/id6738841622)

Master realism with guided video lessons from artist Patricia Otero. Explore pastel techniques, access a growing library of content, and join a global community. Learn, create, and even launch your art career.

**Highlights:** Pastel technique tutorials, Growing library of realism content, Lessons for all skill levels, Art for relaxation and inspiration, Business of art guidance, Global artist community, Direct feedback from instructor

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $39.00 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $299.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iPastels free?

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

### Is Real Art Academy free?

Real Art Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iPastels or Real Art Academy?

Real Art Academy is rated higher. iPastels averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Real Art Academy averages 5.0 from 10 ratings.

### Do iPastels or Real Art Academy have ads?

Neither iPastels nor Real Art Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iPastels or Real Art Academy?

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, and Real Art Academy monthly. Most recently, iPastels was updated on November 6, 2026 and Real Art Academy on November 4, 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.*