Kami Grid vs Grid Maker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Kami Grid
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The 500-year-old technique, finally done right DΓΌrer used a grid. So did Alberti, Vermeer, and every atelier student who ever squinted through a cardboard viewfinder taped with thread. Kami Grid puts that tool on your phone, and then pushes it far past what a piece of plastic could ever do. One app replaces the whole kit: camera, composition control, image correction, and a fully adjustable grid overlay. Built for atelier students, BFA and MFA candidates, portfolio builders, commission painters, illustrators, and anyone who wants their proportions right before they commit charcoal to paper. The interface was designed like an art tool, not a utility app. Everything is one gesture away. Nothing gets between you and the subject. Free Precise image control. Zoom, rotate, and nudge your reference pixel by pixel. Fine-tune the angle until the composition sits exactly where you want it. Brightness and contrast. Crush the midtones to reveal the shadow shapes underneath. See value structure instead of detail. Import your own photos. Bring in DSLR shots, phone photos, or reference images and drop a grid straight over them. Export. Save with or without borders. Print it, share it, send it to your tablet. Full-screen mode. Double-tap. Every control disappears and it's just you and the subject. Pro Plan β $0.99/month Complete grid customization. Set position and density freely. A single center cross for gesture work, a fine mesh for a detailed cast drawing, anything in between. Professional color control. Beyond brightness: saturation, highlights, and color temperature. Dial in a reference you can actually paint from. Every format you work at. Standard US pad and paper sizes (9Γ12, 11Γ14, 16Γ20, 18Γ24, 22Γ30, 24Γ36), standard canvas ratios, A-series, square, and custom dimensions. Your grid always matches your surface. Unlimited saved images. Less than a dollar a month. Cheaper than one stick of vine charcoal, and it lasts considerably longer. How artists use it Charcoal and graphite drawing Fold your paper in half, then in half again, and mark the creases lightly. Connect them to lay in a grid that matches the app. Shoot the setup in Kami Grid. Adjust the framing and push the contrast until the value structure reads clearly. Pick your paper format and drop the matching grid over the photo with one tap. Turn off auto-lock, go full screen, and draw with the finished composition sitting right next to you. Gesture and life drawing Set the grid to a simple center cross. Rule the same cross in your sketchbook and use it as your plumb line. The time you normally burn on blocking in disappears, and you spend it on the drawing instead. Still life and color studies Switch to color, raise the contrast, and the color planes separate visually. Combine with saturation and temperature adjustments and you have a working reference for painting, not just a photo. Oil painting from reference Import the photo you want to work from. Choose your canvas ratio and grid spacing, then correct the color and contrast to the key you're painting in. Export and print it as large as you need. Work with it beside the easel. Murals and large-format work Grid the reference, grid the wall, scale up with confidence. The math is already done. Get your proportions right the first time Download Kami Grid and stop redrawing the same head three times. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Grid Maker
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Draw from photos with better proportions. Grid Maker adds an adjustable drawing grid to your reference so you can transfer shapes to paper, one square at a time. From a portrait sketch to a painting on canvas, break a complex image into smaller, easier-to-study sections. Keep your reference beside you while you draw. DRAWING TOOLS β’ Import your own image from Photos or Files, or capture a reference with the camera. β’ Adjust rows, columns, line color, thickness and opacity. Add and manage grid overlays. β’ Zoom into a cell, subdivide it for details and mark finished cells. Labels such as A1 help you keep your place. β’ Add freehand annotations, sample colors and use composition guides. β’ Save unlimited projects and share your reference as a PNG, with or without the grid. GO FURTHER WITH GRID MAKER PRO β’ Canvas Match: set paper or canvas dimensions and cell size to prepare a reference in the proportions you need. β’ Value Study: simplify light and dark areas before planning your shading. β’ WIP Compare: overlay a photo of your drawing on the reference to spot differences. β’ Perspective Correction: adjust an angled reference photo. β’ Projector Mode: display a full-screen grid on black, with an optional faint reference image. β’ Keep unlimited projects and export labeled PDFs for sharing or printing. YOUR FIRST DRAWING 1. Import a photo and choose a grid. 2. Draw a matching grid lightly on your paper. 3. Copy the shapes in each square, then refine the details. Image editing happens on your device. You can begin without creating an app account. Access to the drawing tools requires an in-app purchase. Available plans and prices are shown before purchase. Eligible users can start a 3-day free trial on the subscription shown in the app. After the trial, the subscription renews automatically at the displayed price unless cancelled. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings. Choose a photo and start your next drawing. Privacy Policy: https://app.notion.com/p/Privacy-Policy-for-Grid-Maker-Drawing-Reference-3e41e95b550680699ff9d4db53953ca0?source=copy_link Support & FAQ: https://app.notion.com/p/Grid-Maker-Drawing-Reference-Support-FAQ-3e41e95b5506809eba7bc559bde64a77?source=copy_link Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Grid Maker at none against Kami Grid's shown. Kami Grid's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 days) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17). On price, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Kami Grid sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and Grid Maker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Kami Grid ships an update every 3 days, Grid Maker every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kami Grid | Grid Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days β better | Every 11 days |
| Ads | Yes | No β better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod β better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 β better | 17 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GALLERYG.LLC | Redouan Afoulous |
In-app purchases
Kami Grid
- η₯γγ©γ³14 Days trial$0.991 Month
Grid Maker
- Grid Maker Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
- Grid Maker Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
- Grid Maker Pro Lifetime$39.99








