# Calligraphy Handbook vs Colored Caramel

The clearest difference is ads: Calligraphy Handbook at none against Colored Caramel's shown. Calligraphy Handbook also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.1). Colored Caramel's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Calligraphy Handbook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Colored Caramel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Calligraphy Handbook ships an update every 4 months, Colored Caramel every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calligraphy Handbook | Colored Caramel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (518 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligraphy-handbook/id830584075/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **518** | — |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 257 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Etienne Nguyen Tan Hon](https://appshunter.io/developer/417852567) | [Photographycourse](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559567079) |

## What reviewers say

### Calligraphy Handbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligraphy-handbook/id830584075)

This app is a digital tool for learning and practicing calligraphy. It offers various pens, colors, and effects for both beginners and experienced artists. Users can also challenge friends or test their skills with a calligraphy game.

**Highlights:** Digital pens and papers for learning, Unique pen and color effects, Calligraphy game for skill evaluation, 11 calligraphic pens and 1 pointed pen, 19 calligraphic hands in various styles, Layer management for artistic creation, Export creations to camera roll or email

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Features | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning calligraphy
- 💡 Variety of font styles and color options
- 👍 Calming and meditative experience
- 👍 Great for beginners and intermediate users
- 👍 Useful for practicing without supplies

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Misleading about free features
- 🔒 Lack of palm rejection and input issues
- 👎 Overly strict grading system
- 👎 Limited free features, need to pay for full access

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when switching between uppercase and lowercase letters
- Undo feature causes freezing and loss of progress
- Inconsistent performance and lag when using Apple Pencil
- Restoration of in-app purchases not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add more font styles, especially Gothic and modern
- Implement better palm rejection and input handling
- Allow users to favorite/save preferred font styles
- Add the ability to practice full words and sentences
- Improve export and sharing options


### Colored Caramel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colored-caramel/id6761190195)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Colored Caramel Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Colored Caramel Pro Yearly | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Calligraphy Handbook free?

Calligraphy Handbook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Colored Caramel free?

Colored Caramel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Calligraphy Handbook or Colored Caramel have ads?

Colored Caramel shows ads; Calligraphy Handbook does not.

### Which is updated more often, Calligraphy Handbook or Colored Caramel?

Calligraphy Handbook ships an update every 4 months, and Colored Caramel every 4 days. Most recently, Calligraphy Handbook was updated on October 14, 2026 and Colored Caramel on October 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*