Genie Strings vs Atelier
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Atelier
This tool helps artists draw and paint with accuracy by providing reference analysis and construction aids. It offers features like head construction overlays, proportion measurement, and color analysis to support traditional and digital art workflows.
- Loomis head construction overlay
- Measurement and proportion tools
- Color and value analysis
- Grid system for scaling
- Canvas presets
- Layer visibility control
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Draw With Accuracy. Learn With Structure. Atelier: Art Grid is a professional reference and construction tool for artists who want to draw or paint with accuracy and confidence. Designed for traditional and digital artists alike, Atelier helps you analyze proportions, understand head structure, and transfer reference images to paper or canvas using proven academic methods. The app focuses on clarity, precision, and minimal distraction, giving you exactly what you need while you draw, and nothing you don’t. CORE WORKFLOWS Loomis Head Construction * Overlay a structured Loomis head directly onto your reference * Adjust orientation, scale, and alignment to match the subject * Ideal for learning head rotation, proportion, and placement Measurement & Proportion Tools * Place multiple measurement lines on your reference * Check distances, angles, and relative proportions * Toggle measurements on and off as you work Color & Value Analysis * Sample colors directly from your reference * Analyze value relationships to support accurate rendering * Useful for painters and realistic drawing workflows * Color mixing guide. STUDIO FEATURES * Grid System: Precise grid overlays for scaling and transfer * Canvas Presets: Match common paper and canvas formats * Layer Visibility Control: Show only the tools you need * High-Resolution Zoom: Maintain position while inspecting detail * Clean Drawing Mode: Designed for long, focused sessions BUILT FOR ARTISTS * No ads * No social features * No clutter Atelier is intentionally narrow in scope, built for artists who care about fundamentals, structure, and craft. Whether you are studying portrait drawing, refining your proportions, or preparing a reference for a finished work, Atelier supports the way artists actually work.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Atelier at 100% against Genie Strings's 33%. Atelier also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). 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
Both are free to download. Genie Strings sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Atelier asks for nothing beyond the download.
Atelier holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Atelier has 15 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Genie Strings's written reviews are positive against 100% of Atelier's.
Genie Strings ships an update every 2 months, Atelier every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Genie Strings | Atelier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 4.7 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arunesh Dwivedi | Reuven Levitt |
Customer experience
Genie Strings
Atelier
In-app purchases
Genie Strings
- Monochrome String Portrait Template$9.99
- Greyscale String Portrait Template$24.99
- Color String Portrait Template$49.99
Atelier
No in-app purchases









