Comparison

Drawing Studio vs Gerber Viewer

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

Head to head
About

Drawing Studio

This app combines freehand sketching, structured diagrams, and professional visuals into a unified workspace for knowledge management. Organize notes with folders, revisit past versions, and sync across Apple devices via iCloud. Export your creations in PNG or SVG formats.

Highlights
  • Unified workspace for sketching and diagrams
  • Supports Excalidraw, Mermaid, and draw.io
  • Folder organization
  • Auto version history
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Export to PNG/SVG
Features
Read full description

Draw, organize, and create with AI. Drawing Studio brings draw.io, Excalidraw, and Mermaid editing together with AI diagram generation and editing. Sketch by hand, build structured diagrams, or write diagrams as code. Use a prompt to create a diagram or a conversation to update an existing one. Keep your documents organized with folders, version history, and iCloud sync. THREE EDITORS, ONE DOCUMENT WORKSPACE • Excalidraw: hand-drawn-style sketches, whiteboards, and visual notes with shapes, text, and arrows. • draw.io: structured diagrams for systems, processes, UML, and technical documentation. • Mermaid: diagrams as code, including flowcharts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, and Gantt charts. Drawing and editing do not require AI setup. Work directly in the editor, create with AI, or combine both approaches in the same document. FROM A PROMPT TO AN EDITABLE DIAGRAM Ask for a first draft instead of starting from a blank canvas: • "Create a flowchart for an order, from payment to delivery." • "Draw a sequence diagram for a user signing in." • "Make a mind map for planning a product launch." Keep working on the same drawing. Ask AI to add an exception path, rename steps, or reorganize a section. The assistant can read and update the current document, so the result is an editable diagram, not just an image or a reply to copy elsewhere. KEEP YOUR WORK ORGANIZED • Group drawings into folders by project or topic. • Revisit earlier versions with document history. • Keep AI conversations associated with each drawing. • Sync your work across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iCloud. • Export diagrams as PNG or SVG to share with others. BUILT FOR IDEAS THAT NEED EXPLAINING Map a business process, explain a software architecture, plan a project, or turn study notes into a visual outline. Move from a rough draft to a diagram you can refine and reuse. CHOOSE YOUR AI MODEL AI use requires a configured, compatible model; availability and results depend on the model and provider. Third-party services may require an account and charge for usage separately. YOUR DOCUMENTS AND AI REQUESTS Documents are stored locally and can sync through iCloud. When you use a cloud AI provider, your prompts and document content needed for the task are sent to that provider for processing. Its terms and privacy policy apply. Review generated diagrams before relying on or sharing them.

About

Gerber Viewer

Features
Read full description

The Ultimate Mobile PCB & Gerber File Inspector. Whether you are a hardware engineer, an electronics hobbyist, or a manufacturer, Gerber Viewer provides a desktop-grade experience for opening, inspecting, and verifying your printed circuit board designs directly on your iPhone or iPad. No need to wait until you are at your computer. Open both native CAD PCB layouts and manufacturing Gerber files instantly from your email, cloud storage, or local files. Key Features: Instant ZIP Archive Support: Simply open a .zip bundle of your design! The app automatically decompresses the archive and intelligently matches all layers for you. Advanced Layer Management: Toggle specific layers on and off effortlessly. Isolate copper traces, solder masks, silkscreen layers, and board outlines. Precise Measurement Tools: Check clearances, pad distances, and trace widths on the go with high-precision measurement tools. Smooth Render Engine: Built for speed. Experience fluid zooming, panning, and rendering of complex, high-density multi-layer boards without lag. Secure & Offline: Your designs are safe. All file rendering happens locally on your device, keeping your intellectual property completely secure and accessible offline. Comprehensive File Support: Our robust engine is designed to recognize and render all standard EDA exports automatically: Gerber Files (PCB Layer Artwork): General Gerber: .gbr, .ger Copper Layers: .gtl, .gbl, .cmp, .sol Silkscreen Layers: .gto, .gbo, .plc, .pls Soldermask Layers: .gts, .gbs, .stc, .sts, .st, .sb Board Outline / Keep-out: .gko, .gm1, .gm2, .gml, .profile, .outline, .cut, .out Layer Aliases: .top, .bottom, .bot, .ts, .bs Excellon Drill Files (CNC Holes): Supports: .drl, .txt, .xln, .tap, .drd, .drill, .pth, .npth Gerber ZIP Archives: Direct import of .zip files containing any of the Gerber and Drill files listed above with automatic layer matching! Premium Subscriptions & Plans: Unlock the full power of Gerber Viewer with our flexible premium plans designed to fit your production and engineering workflow. Choose the plan that best suits your needs: Weekly Subscription: $2.99 / week — Perfect for quick project checks and short-term manufacturing reviews. Monthly Subscription: $4.99 / month — Ideal for active hardware developers and engineering students. Yearly Subscription: $19.99 / year — Best value for professionals, offering full year-round access at a massive discount. Note: Payments will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or turn off auto-renew in your Apple ID Account Settings at any time after purchase. Legal & Privacy: Terms of Service: https://sites.google.com/view/gerber-terms/home Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/gerber-policies/home

Screenshots

Drawing Studio4 screens
Gerber Viewer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Drawing Studio at none against Gerber Viewer's 3. Gerber Viewer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Gerber Viewer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Drawing Studio asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Drawing Studio versus Gerber Viewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrawing StudioGerber Viewer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer兴驰 马CODIGITAL SOLUTIONS

In-app purchases

None

Drawing Studio

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Gerber Viewer

Subscriptions3
  • Pro Access$2.997 Days
  • Pro Access$4.991 Month
  • Pro Access$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Drawing Studio free?
Drawing Studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gerber Viewer free?
Gerber Viewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Drawing Studio or Gerber Viewer have ads?
Neither Drawing Studio nor Gerber Viewer shows ads.

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