# StitchBuddy HD vs Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet

The clearest difference is rating: Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet at 4.7 against StitchBuddy HD's 4.1. Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet also leads on ratings volume (3.8K vs 296) and iOS requirement (13 vs 17.0). StitchBuddy HD's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (63% vs 46%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StitchBuddy HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet has 3.8K ratings behind it against 296, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of StitchBuddy HD's written reviews are positive against 46% of Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | StitchBuddy HD | Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (296 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stitchbuddy-hd/id522499369/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-studio-drawing-tablet/id1181582576/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 296 | **3.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **63.3% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 9 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthias Arndt](https://appshunter.io/developer/522499372) | [Astro HQ](https://appshunter.io/developer/934510729) |

## What reviewers say

### StitchBuddy HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stitchbuddy-hd/id522499369)

Manage, edit, and preview machine embroidery designs on your mobile device. Modify designs at the stitch level, change thread colors, and sync across devices. Supports various file formats and printing options.

**Highlights:** Rotate, flip, move, resize designs, Modify designs without changing stitch count, Copy, paste, and combine designs, Change thread colors and palettes, 3D stitch display and zoom options, File management with previews, Convert between embroidery formats

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StitchBuddy Go | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app for beginners
- 💡 Excellent storage management
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive
- 👍 Syncs between devices
- 👍 Affordable pricing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Difficult to use
- 🐛 Doesn't work as described
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Limited functionality
- 🐛 Cannot create designs

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot open certain file formats (e.g., HUS)
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Unexpected behavior when importing designs

**Requested features**

- Add ability to create designs from scratch
- Improve file transfer options (e.g., AirDrop)
- Enhance color editing capabilities
- Provide more comprehensive tutorials and documentation


### Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-studio-drawing-tablet/id1181582576)

Transform your iPad into a professional wireless drawing tablet for demanding creative work. Enjoy customizable workspaces, gesture shortcuts, and high-speed connectivity for efficient digital art creation on Mac and PC.

**Highlights:** Wireless or USB connectivity, Customizable gesture shortcuts, Keyboard support, Pressure curve customization, Second display functionality, Optimized for Apple Pencil

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Astropad Studio Annual | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 🚀 Fantastic drawing experience
- 🚀 Seamless integration with desktop apps
- 👍 Customizable shortcuts and gestures
- 👍 Pressure sensitivity and cursor preview

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Crashes and connection issues
- 🐛 Laggy performance, especially over Wi-Fi
- 💡 Lacks dual-screen functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and disconnects
- Compatibility issues with certain apps
- Unresponsive or glitchy input

**Requested features**

- Ability to use iPad as a secondary display
- More affordable one-time purchase option
- Improved stability and performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StitchBuddy HD free?

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

### Is Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet free?

Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, StitchBuddy HD or Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet?

Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet is rated higher. StitchBuddy HD averages 4.1 out of 5 from 296 ratings, while Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet averages 4.7 from 3.8K ratings.

### Do StitchBuddy HD or Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet have ads?

Neither StitchBuddy HD nor Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StitchBuddy HD or Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet?

StitchBuddy HD ships an update every 3 months, and Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet every 3 months. Most recently, StitchBuddy HD was updated on November 6, 2026 and Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet on November 6, 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.*