Comparison

DrawGrid vs Genie Strings

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

Head to head
About

DrawGrid

Features
Read full description

DrawGrid is an intuitive and elegant app tailored for artists who utilize the traditional grid method to achieve precise and proportional drawings. By seamlessly overlaying customizable grids onto your reference images, DrawGrid simplifies the initial stages of your creative process, allowing you to focus on the art itself. Key Features: Versatile Grid Styles: Choose from three distinct grid styles - Crossline, Square, and Rectangle - to best suit your artistic needs. Customizable Grids: Adjust the number of rows and columns, line thickness, and color to tailor the grid to your specific project requirements. Image Filter: Apply a mono filter to your reference images, enhancing contrast and simplifying complex visuals for easier replication. By automating the grid creation process and offering these enhanced features, DrawGrid eliminates the tedious task of manual grid drawing, enabling you to embark on your artistic journey with ease and confidence. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner exploring the grid method, DrawGrid is your reliable companion for creating artworks with accurate proportions and meticulous detail.

About

Genie Strings

Effortlessly transform any photo into a beautiful string art masterpiece with AI-powered guidance. Choose from multiple portrait modes and board shapes, with precise nail-by-nail instructions and printable guides for your craft projects.

Highlights
  • AI-powered string art generation
  • Multiple portrait modes (Monochrome, Greyscale, Color)
  • Smart image editing tools (brightness, contrast, background removal)
  • Support for Circle, Square, and Rectangle board shapes
  • Printable, to-scale nail layout PDFs
  • Step-by-step thread instructions
  • Local and iCloud template saving
Features
Read full description

Transform any photo into stunning string art with AI enabled app Genie Strings — the most complete string portrait generator available. Whether you are creating a gift, a wall piece, or a craft project, Genie Strings calculates every thread path for you and delivers a precise nail-by-nail guide ready to follow. Three Portrait Modes Choose from Monochrome (single black thread), Greyscale (black and white for richer tones), or Color (up to 8 thread colours from the CMYK and RGB palette). Every mode produces a professional result from any photo. Smart Image Editor Prepare your photo before rendering with built-in brightness, contrast, sharpness, and saturation controls. Remove the background in one tap using on-device machine learning, then set a custom background colour with the HSV colour wheel. Pinch and drag to position your image precisely within the board frame before generating. Three Board Shapes Circle, Square, and Rectangle boards are all supported. Enter your board dimensions and nail spacing in centimetres and the app calculates the exact nail count automatically. Portrait and landscape orientations are both available for rectangle boards. Advanced Monochrome Controls Four precision controls give you complete creative command: Darkness sets overall portrait depth, Person Focus concentrates thread on dark areas, Shadow Richness layers depth into hair and shadows, and Fine Detail captures subtle mid-tones. The app analyses your photo and suggests starting values automatically. Nail Layout PDF Every purchase includes a to-scale nail layout PDF showing your board shape with every nail numbered and positioned exactly. Print at Actual Size and use it directly as your drilling or pinning guide — no measuring required. Step-by-Step Thread Instructions Your nail sequence is exported as a text file with clear colour-change instructions. Use it alongside the Genie Reader companion app to have your instructions read aloud while you string, keeping your hands free throughout the process. My Templates Every exported template and nail layout PDF is saved locally and in iCloud, accessible from My Templates at any time for resharing or reprinting.

Screenshots

DrawGrid4 screens
Genie Strings4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DrawGrid at none against Genie Strings's 3. DrawGrid also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (17 vs 26.0). 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. Genie Strings sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. DrawGrid asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DrawGrid ships an update weekly, Genie Strings every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and August 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
DrawGrid versus Genie Strings: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrawGridGenie Strings
PriceFreeFree
Rating—1.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer久波 郭Arunesh Dwivedi

In-app purchases

None

DrawGrid

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Genie Strings

One-time3
  • Monochrome String Portrait Template$9.99
  • Greyscale String Portrait Template$24.99
  • Color String Portrait Template$49.99

Questions

Is DrawGrid free?
DrawGrid is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Genie Strings free?
Genie Strings is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DrawGrid or Genie Strings have ads?
Neither DrawGrid nor Genie Strings shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DrawGrid or Genie Strings?
DrawGrid ships an update weekly, and Genie Strings every 2 months. Most recently, DrawGrid was updated on September 13, 2026 and Genie Strings on August 12, 2026.

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