# Sketch vs Hippo

The clearest difference is rating: Hippo at 3.0 against Sketch's 1.6. Hippo also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 25%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 7 months). Sketch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hippo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Sketch asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hippo holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Sketch's written reviews are positive against 63% of Hippo's.

Sketch ships an update every 7 months, Hippo every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sketch | Hippo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketch-notes/id883802060/reviews) | **[3.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hippo-contact-notes/id1458330948/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **62.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Francesco Abbondo](https://appshunter.io/developer/882842549) | [Roel van der Kraan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1458330947) |

## What reviewers say

### Sketch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketch-notes/id883802060)

Create drawings and sketches directly on your device. Offers a wide range of colors, adjustable brush thickness, and transparency options for detailed artwork. Compatible across Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Minimalist interface, 16 million+ color selection, Adjustable brush thickness, Color transparency, Cross-device compatibility

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hippo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hippo-contact-notes/id1458330948)

This app helps you remember important details about your contacts. You can jot down notes, track events, and set reminders to stay connected and informed about people in your life. Your data is securely stored on your device.

**Highlights:** Contact notes, Event tracking, Custom reminders, Secure on-device storage, No contact access required, iCloud Drive backup

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hippo Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $13.99 | per year |
| Hippo Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sketch free?

Sketch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hippo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sketch or Hippo?

Hippo is rated higher. Sketch averages 1.6 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Hippo averages 3.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do Sketch or Hippo have ads?

Neither Sketch nor Hippo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sketch or Hippo?

Sketch ships an update every 7 months, and Hippo every 5 weeks. Most recently, Sketch was updated on October 12, 2026 and Hippo on September 27, 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.*