Comparison

Artist's Back to Basic vs Calligraphy Crush Magazine

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

Head to head
About

Artist's Back to Basic

Features
Read full description

Artist's Back to Basic is the perfect magazine for the aspiring and accomplished artist alike. Provides insights on, as well as step-by-step demonstrations from, Australian and international artists. Featuring the latest in news, reviews and products from the art world as well as exhibition previews and reviews. Artist's Back to Basic is sure to stimulate your artistic sense. Please visit http://www.magzter.com/privacy-policy for our Privacy Policy and http://www.magzter.com/terms-and-conditions for our Terms & Conditions

About

Calligraphy Crush Magazine

This app offers inspiration and in-depth guidance for calligraphy and hand-lettering enthusiasts. Explore tutorials, artist interviews, and process articles to elevate your lettering art for personal enjoyment or professional use.

Highlights
  • Expert calligraphy tutorials
  • Hand-lettering process articles
  • Interviews with renowned artists
  • Focus on modern and traditional calligraphy
  • Inspiration for journaling and stationery design
Features
Read full description

Calligraphy Crush inspires creatives to dive into the nitty-gritty details of calligraphy and refine their lettering into amazing art for sharing, fun, and profit! Our contributors are renowned calligraphers and hand-lettering artists who share their expertise in tutorials, behind-the-scenes, process articles, and in-depth interviews. You'll discover valuable Aha! moments in each issue! We envision a world that appreciates calligraphy both as an art form and meditative process worthy of study and enjoyment. Calligraphy Crush is dedicated to the artistry of modern calligraphy, traditional calligraphy, hand lettering, watercolor illustration, journaling, stationery, and all things enhanced with beautiful writing. Calligraphy Crush purchase options: - One Year Subscription: US $47.99 (automatically renewed until canceled) - Single Issue: US $14.99 (non-subscription) - Payment for all purchases will be charged to your iTunes account at the confirmation of your purchase. SUBSCRIBERS’ AUTOMATIC-RENEWAL FEATURE: Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal 24-hours prior to the end of the current period (another year for annual subscribers, another month for monthly subscribers) unless you change your subscription preferences in your account settings.  You can manage your subscriptions through your Account settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Please go to https://calligraphycrush.com/privacy-policy/ and https://calligraphycrush.com/terms-and-conditions/ for more information.

Screenshots

Artist's Back to Basic4 screens
Calligraphy Crush Magazine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Calligraphy Crush Magazine at every 3 months against Artist's Back to Basic's every 64 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Artist's Back to Basic sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 3 months and Calligraphy Crush Magazine sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Artist's Back to Basic ships an update every 64 months, Calligraphy Crush Magazine every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Artist's Back to Basic versus Calligraphy Crush Magazine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArtist's Back to BasicCalligraphy Crush Magazine
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.2 (63 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—70.5% of reviews
Number of ratings—63 — better
Update frequencyEvery 64 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Subscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB24 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMagzter Inc.PenDance Calligraphy & Engraving, LLC

Bugs and requests

Artist's Back to Basic

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Calligraphy Crush Magazine

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App crashes instantly
  • App crashes on open
  • App does not open
  • App keeps asking to buy again
  • App won't open even after update
Show 4 more
  • App crashes when trying to open
  • App crashes every single time
  • App needs updating: Crashing
  • App doesn't load, says it needs internet

Requested features

5 requests
  • Make the app work properly
  • Allow reading online
  • Improve app navigation
  • Faster app response times
  • Better customer support response

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Artist's Back to Basic

Subscriptions3
  • Artist's Back to Basic$4.993 Months
  • Artist's Back to Basic$7.996 Months
  • Artist's Back to Basic$14.991 Year
One-time6
  • Artist's Back to Basic2 variants$4.99
  • Artist's Back to Basic - Issue 5 No 2$4.99
  • Artist's Back to Basic - Issue 5 No 1$4.99
Show 3 more
  • Artist's Back to Basic - Issue 5 No 4$4.99
  • Artist's Back to Basic – Issue 6 No 2$4.99
  • Artist's Back to Basic – Issue 6 No 4$4.99
10 purchases

Calligraphy Crush Magazine

One-time10
  • Calligraphy Crush Sample OneFree
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 01$14.99
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 02$14.99
Show 7 more
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 03$14.99
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 07$14.99
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 08$14.99
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 12$14.99
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 13$14.99
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 21$14.99
  • Calligraphy Crush Issue 22$14.99

Questions

Is Artist's Back to Basic free?
Artist's Back to Basic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Calligraphy Crush Magazine free?
Calligraphy Crush Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Artist's Back to Basic or Calligraphy Crush Magazine have ads?
Neither Artist's Back to Basic nor Calligraphy Crush Magazine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Artist's Back to Basic or Calligraphy Crush Magazine?
Artist's Back to Basic ships an update every 64 months, and Calligraphy Crush Magazine every 3 months. Most recently, Artist's Back to Basic was updated on November 6, 2026 and Calligraphy Crush Magazine on November 2, 2026.

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