# AmberDraw vs PicoChat for iMessage

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PicoChat for iMessage at none against AmberDraw's 2. PicoChat for iMessage also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). AmberDraw's advantage is ratings volume (324 vs 98). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AmberDraw sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. PicoChat for iMessage asks for nothing beyond the download.

PicoChat for iMessage holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 324 and 98 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of AmberDraw's written reviews are positive against 79% of PicoChat for iMessage's.

AmberDraw ships an update every 2 weeks, PicoChat for iMessage daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AmberDraw | PicoChat for iMessage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (324 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amberdraw-animated-drawing/id6737855355/reviews) | **[4.5 (98 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picochat-for-imessage/id6741395468/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **324** | 98 |
| Positive reviews | 67.6% of reviews | **79.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 40 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mykyta Gaidukov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1778304706) | [Idrees Hassan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1374644873) |

## What reviewers say

### AmberDraw

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amberdraw-animated-drawing/id6737855355)

Create unique animated art with brushes that move as you draw. No keyframes or timelines needed, just pick a brush and let its built-in motion bring your strokes to life. Export your creations as video for social media or further editing.

**Highlights:** Animated brushes with unique motion, Full brush customization, Layer support, Custom canvas dimensions, Apple Pencil support, Video export

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |


### PicoChat for iMessage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picochat-for-imessage/id6741395468)

Relive the nostalgia of early 2000s handheld messaging with this retro drawing app for iMessage. Create tiny pixel art, use unique emoji, and share your creations with friends, even if they don't have the app installed. Features include undo, saving favorites, and customization options.

**Highlights:** Create tiny drawings in iMessage, Dozens of pixel emoji, Undo mistakes, Save favorite drawings, Customize name and color

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Perfection
- 👍 Super Cute!!
- 👍 Oh my lord
- 👍 YES!
- 👍 So much fun!

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Needs multiple size formats
- 🐛 No icon app cannot be found
- 🐛 A few bugs!
- 🐛 almost perfect
- 🐛 Why is there no icon for it on the homescreen or any way to delete? 🧐

**Reported bugs**

- Settings don't save
- Cursor turns into scribbles when writing too fast
- Rainbow pen lags the app and force closes messages
- Doesn't accommodate all screen sizes

**Requested features**

- Bigger keyboard size
- Dark Mode support
- Scaling fix for iPad
- Ability to transform photos into drawings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AmberDraw free?

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

### Is PicoChat for iMessage free?

PicoChat for iMessage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AmberDraw or PicoChat for iMessage?

PicoChat for iMessage is rated higher. AmberDraw averages 4.3 out of 5 from 324 ratings, while PicoChat for iMessage averages 4.5 from 98 ratings.

### Do AmberDraw or PicoChat for iMessage have ads?

Neither AmberDraw nor PicoChat for iMessage shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AmberDraw or PicoChat for iMessage?

AmberDraw ships an update every 2 weeks, and PicoChat for iMessage daily. Most recently, AmberDraw was updated on October 30, 2026 and PicoChat for iMessage on October 22, 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.*