Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + vs Artistic String
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pencil Sketch Photo Editor +
Transform your photos into stunning pencil and ink sketches with live camera previews. Easily adjust effects and share your artistic creations directly to social media platforms.
- Ink and Pencil effects
- Live camera preview
- Adjustable effects
- In-app camera
- Social media sharing
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Turn everyday moments into beautiful sketches. Give your photos a hand-drawn look with Pencil Sketch. Choose between Pen and Pencil styles, then adjust the intensity to create the look you love. Try both styles on the built-in demo image for free. Experiment with the effects and save your demo results without a watermark. Upgrade to Pro when you’re ready to create sketches from your own photos or use the live camera. TRY IT FOR FREE • Explore Pen and Pencil styles using the included demo image. • Adjust the intensity—each style remembers its own setting. • Save your edited demo image without a watermark. CREATE MORE WITH PRO • Edit your own photos (Pro Required) Choose a picture from your photo library and turn it into a sketch. • Preview sketches with the live camera (Pro Required) See the effect as you frame your shot, switch between front and rear cameras, and capture the result. • Make each sketch your own (Pro Required) Choose Pen for a bold ink look or Pencil for softer shading, then fine-tune the intensity. • Save your creations (Pro Required) Save watermark-free results to your photo library. For best results, start with a clear, well-lit photo. Download Pencil Sketch and discover your favorite look. Terms Of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Artistic String
Design intricate string art with monochrome and multicolor drawing modes. This app offers a unique way to create visual art using virtual threads. Explore your creativity with a simple yet powerful interface.
- String art creation
- Monochrome drawing mode
- Multicolor drawing mode
- Unique thread art designs
- Intuitive interface
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Create and guide painting with string art, with the best quality, unique monochrome and multicolor drawing mode. Term of service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + at 4.5 against Artistic String's 1.0. Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + also leads on review sentiment (25% vs 0%) and ratings volume (15K vs 1). Artistic String's advantage is iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Artistic String sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + has 15K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Pencil Sketch Photo Editor +'s written reviews are positive against 0% of Artistic String's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + | Artistic String |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (15K ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.4% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 12.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tue Nguyen Minh | Kiem Pham Dinh |
Customer experience
Pencil Sketch Photo Editor +
Artistic String
Bugs and requests
Pencil Sketch Photo Editor +
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to save sketches
- Restoration of purchases not working
- Crashes and errors
Requested features
3 requests- HD sketch feature
- Apple Pencil support
- More editing options
Artistic String
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Pencil Sketch Photo Editor +
- Pencil Sketch Pro Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
- Pencil Sketch Pro Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Pencil Sketch Pro Yearly$9.991 Year
- Pro Features$14.99
Artistic String
- Monthly$4.991 Month
- Yearly$44.991 Year
Questions
Is Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + free?
Is Artistic String free?
Which has better reviews, Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + or Artistic String?
Do Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + or Artistic String have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pencil Sketch Photo Editor + or Artistic String?
Other comparisons
