Comparison

GHOSTLINE vs Inksmith

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GHOSTLINE

This app transforms your artwork into print-ready tattoo stencils quickly and efficiently. It offers tools to cut out subjects, upscale references, and customize stencils for various printing methods. Save time on tracing and focus on creating exceptional tattoos.

Highlights
  • Cut out subjects with one tap
  • Upscale and sharpen reference images
  • Generate customizable Classic and Pro stencils
  • Edit stencils with pen, eraser, and ruler tools
  • View stencils as an overlay on artwork
  • Multi-page and multi-size printing
  • Export stencils to various formats
Features
Read full description

Built by tattoo artists, for tattoo artists. Tattooer-owned and operated since 2023. Ghostline turns your artwork into clean, print-ready tattoo stencils in seconds. Cut out your subject, upscale and sharpen your references, generate fully customizable stencils, and print at any size with multi-page print-scale technology. Less time tracing means more time doing what you love: making tattoos you're proud of. THE FUTURE OF TATTOOING IS HERE. CUT OUT - Lift your subject off its background in one tap - The crop follows your subject, so there's nothing to clean up by hand UPSCALE - Enhance your artwork and turn photos into picture-perfect reference - Upscale small, low-res images for sharper, cleaner reference SHARPEN - Sharpen your artwork for higher-quality stencils - Sharpen your reference so you can create better tattoos CLASSIC STENCIL - Generate fully customizable stencils in seconds - Dial in detail and intensity to your liking - Create line-based stencils, 3D value-based stencils, and everything in between PRO STENCIL - The cleanest stencils yet, powered by Ghostline tech - Adjust detail level, contours, and line weight - Blend with Classic Stencil for even more detail options - Tailor output for thermal (Thermofax) or inkjet printers - Never hand-stencil again EDIT - Pen: add extra lines or thicken areas - Eraser: remove anything you don't need - Ruler: draw perfectly straight lines - Blend: combine stencils or mix in your original artwork REFERENCE - View your stencil as an adjustable layer over your artwork while you tattoo - Slide between your artwork and your stencil to find the perfect blend - Choose stencil colors for a clearer visual guide PRINT - Multi-page printing: go as big as you want, from 1 sheet up to 16 - Multi-size: print several sizes of the same stencil on one sheet - Pinch and zoom to size your stencil exactly, from micro tattoos to full back pieces - Rotate or flip to fit your print - Choose paper size and orientation - Print with AirPrint, or save as PDF or images to print later or share to another app EXPORT - Export your stencil at any stage to Photos, Files, or any app - All tools included. No credits, no pay-per-stencil Ghostline saves you hours of tracing every week, so you can put your energy into tattoos that stand the test of time. Ghostline is a subscription-based app. Terms of Use: https://www.ghostline.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.ghostline.app/privacy-policy

About

Inksmith

Generate custom tattoo designs using AI based on your descriptions and preferred styles. Visualize your chosen design on your skin with realistic try-on features before committing to ink.

Highlights
  • AI tattoo design generation
  • Dozens of authentic tattoo styles
  • Realistic photo try-on
  • Design editing and refinement
  • Ultra HD exports for stencils
  • Explore tattoo ideas and collections
Features
Read full description

Your next tattoo is a big deal. Guessing is not a plan. Inksmith turns your idea into custom tattoo designs with AI — then puts them on your skin with realistic photo try-on, so you see exactly how the ink will look before it's forever. Describe a thought, a memory, or a whole story. Pick from dozens of real tattoo styles. Refine every line until it's yours. Walk into the studio sure. First tattoo or fifth sleeve, you deserve better than a saved screenshot and a hopeful shrug. Design it. Try it on. Know. — AI Tattoo Generator — • Describe any idea and get custom tattoo designs in seconds • Dozens of authentic styles: Fineline, Traditional, Realism, Japanese, Blackwork, Geometric, Minimal, Watercolor, Tribal, Chicano, Anime, Mandala and more • Words to tattoo: names, dates and quotes in real tattoo lettering fonts • Pet to tattoo and portrait to tattoo: turn a photo of someone you love into a design that's true to them • Tell your story and let the AI sketch what it meant — Edit Like a Tattoo Artist — • Brush over the part you'd change and regenerate just that — the rest stays untouched • Fine-tune style settings until the design feels handpicked • Ultra HD exports, clean enough to stencil — bring them straight to your tattoo artist — Try On Before You Commit — • Realistic tattoo try-on using your own photos • Resize, place and match your skin tone for an honest preview • Arm, wrist, back, chest — check the placement before the needle does • Save the look and sleep on it — the design will wait — Find Tattoo Ideas — • Explore a feed of tattoo ideas, from small minimal pieces to full sleeve concepts • Pin the designs you love into collections and build toward your next piece • Tattoo articles worth reading before you ink — Made For — • First tattoo and you want to get it right — no pressure, just proof • Collectors planning the next sleeve, gap filler or back piece • Couples and friends designing matching tattoos • Tattoo artists sketching concepts with clients • Anyone who treats body art as autobiography — Inksmith Pro — Start free. Go Pro to unlock: • Unlimited tattoo designs and try-ons • Realistic try-on on your photos • Resize, place & match your skin tone • Ultra HD exports for your artist • Fast processing A tattoo is permanent. Choosing one doesn't have to be hard. Download Inksmith, design something honest, and see it on your skin today. -- Privacy Policy & Terms of Use: https://inksmith.app/privacy https://inksmith.app/terms

Screenshots

GHOSTLINE4 screens
Inksmith4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Inksmith at free with in-app purchases against GHOSTLINE's subscription. Inksmith also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 69%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). GHOSTLINE's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (358 vs 5). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. GHOSTLINE sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Inksmith sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Inksmith holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GHOSTLINE has 358 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of GHOSTLINE's written reviews are positive against 100% of Inksmith's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GHOSTLINE ships an update monthly, Inksmith every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
GHOSTLINE versus Inksmith: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGHOSTLINEInksmith
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (358 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings358 — better5
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB93 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperGhostline, Inc.Appcakes

Customer experience

GHOSTLINE

All ratings358 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral2.8%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive68.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative25.5%

Inksmith

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

GHOSTLINE

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Quarter inch gaps appearing in stencil output
  • App loses important design details in conversion
  • Emphasizes irrelevant details over important ones
  • Inconsistent stencil quality on complex designs
  • Limited customization options for stencil output

Requested features

12 requests
  • One-time purchase option instead of subscription
  • Lower subscription pricing ($6/month considered too high)
  • Lifetime subscription option under $100
  • JPEG file format export option
  • Save reference image as separate file
Show 7 more
  • Reference overlay in edit mode to see original design
  • Pinch zoom in/out functionality
  • Redo button for edits
  • Bookmark pen sizes for quick toggling
  • Background removal tool
  • Ruler/grid overlay option
  • Ability to remove white background from images

Inksmith

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

GHOSTLINE

Subscriptions2
  • Ghostline Unlimited Access7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Ghostline Unlimited Access7 Days trial$59.991 Year
5 purchases

Inksmith

Subscriptions5
  • Inksmith Pro - Weekly7 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Inksmith Pro - Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Inksmith Pro - Weekly3 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 2 more
  • Inksmith Pro - Weekly3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Inksmith Pro - Yearly$39.991 Year

Questions

Is GHOSTLINE free?
GHOSTLINE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Inksmith free?
Inksmith is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GHOSTLINE or Inksmith?
Inksmith is rated higher. GHOSTLINE averages 4.6 out of 5 from 358 ratings, while Inksmith averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do GHOSTLINE or Inksmith have ads?
Inksmith shows ads; GHOSTLINE does not.
Which is updated more often, GHOSTLINE or Inksmith?
GHOSTLINE ships an update monthly, and Inksmith every 4 days. Most recently, GHOSTLINE was updated on October 30, 2026 and Inksmith on October 31, 2026.

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