Comparison

PaintLikePro vs PaintSteps

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

Head to head
About

PaintLikePro

Features
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Have you ever looked at a photograph and wished you could paint it on canvas, but felt overwhelmed by color mixing? Welcome to PaintLikePro, the first app designed to bridge the gap between your digital photos and real-world paints. This isn't just a photo filterβ€”it is a professional studio assistant that deconstructs your images and teaches you exactly how to paint them. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned artist, PaintLikePro removes the guesswork from color theory. Simply import a photo, and watch as the app transforms it into a paint by color style guide, complete with exact mixing recipes using standard artist pigments. WHY YOU NEED THIS For the first time, there is an easy way to bring digital images into the real world. Other apps keep you on the screen; PaintLikePro gets you to the easel. We don't just show you the colors; we tell you how to mix them. THE INNOVATIVE "PAINT KIT" Our standout feature is the printable Paint Kit. With a single tap, generate a high-resolution, 8.5" x 11" studio sheet that contains everything you need to start painting immediately: A pale underpainting guide with outlines. A precise shopping list of pigments required for your specific image. A visual mixing grid. Step-by-step mixing recipes (e.g., "Mix 80% White + 20% Cadmium Red"). FEATURES Smart Color Reduction: Simplify complex photos into manageable palettes ranging from 4 to 32 colors. Real-World Pigments: The engine is built on a 14-color artist palette, including standards like Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, and Alizarin Crimson. Precision Mixing Engine: Click on any color in your image to see the exact recipe. We calculate tints (adding White) and shades (adding Black) automatically. Dynamic Visualization: Toggle between the Original image, Outlines, Pale Mode (for underpainting), and Grayscale to understand values. Isolate Colors: Tap a swatch to darken everything else, showing you exactly where that specific color belongs on the canvas. Universal Export: Save your work as a digital reference or print the Paint Kit to take to your art studio. WHO IS THIS FOR? Students learning color theory who want practical application. Hobbyists who want to paint their pets, landscapes, or loved ones with accuracy. Professional artists looking to speed up their color study and underpainting process. Stop guessing and start painting. Download PaintLikePro today and turn your memories into masterpieces.

About

PaintSteps

Features
Read full description

Turn any photo into a practical, step-by-step painting guide. PaintSteps simplifies your reference into progressive color stages, helping you see what to paint first and what to add next. Choose your medium and painting order, then work through the image, palette, and mixing guidance at your own pace. CREATE FROM ANY PHOTO - Choose an image from your photo library - Crop and position it for your canvas - Adjust colors, steps, smoothing, and canvas ratio - Build dark-to-light, light-to-dark, or balanced PAINT WITH CLEAR GUIDANCE - Follow progressive painting steps - Use color numbers and an adjustable drawing grid - Pinch to zoom while guides stay aligned - Press and hold to compare with the original photo TRACE WITH LINE ART - Turn your painting into an outline drawing to transfer onto the canvas - Choose the level of detail, or let Auto pick a step that's easy to trace - Add a drawing grid and color numbers, then print it or share it as a PDF or PNG - With Pro, choose thin, medium, or bold lines MIX COLORS - View practical paint-mixing suggestions for every palette color - Choose from built-in paint sets - With Pro, use your own paints and palettes, calibrate tinting strength, and edit recipes SAVE AND EXPORT - Keep your painting projects in one library - Export complete PDF tutorials, including the line art page, or individual PNG step images with Pro The free version includes up to two saved paintings, tutorials with up to four steps, and line art. PaintSteps Pro unlocks unlimited paintings, up to eight steps, custom paints and palettes, recipe editing, export, and line art thickness. PaintSteps Pro is a one-time purchase. No subscription. Mixing results are estimates. Always test a small mix before painting.

Screenshots

PaintLikePro4 screens
PaintSteps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PaintLikePro at none against PaintSteps's 1. PaintLikePro also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). PaintSteps's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. PaintSteps sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PaintLikePro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PaintLikePro ships an update every 4 days, PaintSteps fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
PaintLikePro versus PaintSteps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaintLikeProPaintSteps
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days β€” betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.117.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size12 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJunaid KhanJuan Tarallo

In-app purchases

None

PaintLikePro

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PaintSteps

One-time1
  • PaintSteps Pro$4.99

Questions

Is PaintLikePro free?
PaintLikePro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PaintSteps free?
PaintSteps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PaintLikePro or PaintSteps have ads?
Neither PaintLikePro nor PaintSteps shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PaintLikePro or PaintSteps?
PaintLikePro ships an update every 4 days, and PaintSteps fortnightly. Most recently, PaintLikePro was updated on October 13, 2026 and PaintSteps on October 7, 2026.

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