# RoughAnimator vs ArtDen

The clearest difference is price: ArtDen at Free against RoughAnimator's $7.99. RoughAnimator's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (3K vs 12). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

ArtDen is free to download; RoughAnimator costs $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

RoughAnimator holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RoughAnimator has 3K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of RoughAnimator's written reviews are positive against 75% of ArtDen's.

RoughAnimator ships an update fortnightly, ArtDen every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RoughAnimator | ArtDen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $7.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.6 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roughanimator-animation-app/id954718244/reviews)** | [4.2 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artden/id1659234106/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#31** | — |
| Size | 31 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 14.0.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Jacob KAFKA](https://appshunter.io/developer/954718243) | [Brianna Norwood](https://appshunter.io/developer/1659234108) |

## What reviewers say

### RoughAnimator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roughanimator-animation-app/id954718244)

**Currently charting:** #31 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

Create traditional hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animations on your iPad. This app offers professional-grade tools like unlimited layers, onion skinning, and audio import, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced animators. Export your work in various formats or import it into professional animation software.

**Highlights:** Timeline with unlimited layers, Onion skinning, Audio and video import, Custom brushes, Apple Pencil support, Export to video, GIF, image sequence, Import to professional software

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth animation
- 💡 Useful features like camera and audio
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 👍 Great for beginners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes when importing video/audio
- 🐛 Laggy performance with larger projects
- 🐛 Pixelated/blurry drawings when playing animation
- 🐛 Onion skin not working
- 🐛 Brush issues like splotchy lines

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when importing audio
- Onion skin not working
- Pixelated drawings when playing animation
- Laggy performance with larger projects

**Requested features**

- Add transparency support for exports
- Implement a text tool
- Provide more brush options and customization
- Add a ruler/shape tool
- Improve audio handling (record, import, sync)


### ArtDen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artden/id1659234106)

This app connects artists with art enthusiasts, serving as a marketplace for digital art commissions. Artists can showcase their work and find clients, while buyers can discover new talent and commission unique pieces. It fosters a community for creators and art lovers to connect.

**Highlights:** Showcase digital art, Commission custom art, Discover new artists, Connect with buyers, Art community forum, Discord integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RoughAnimator free?

RoughAnimator costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ArtDen free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RoughAnimator or ArtDen?

RoughAnimator is rated higher. RoughAnimator averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while ArtDen averages 4.2 from 12 ratings.

### Do RoughAnimator or ArtDen have ads?

Neither RoughAnimator nor ArtDen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RoughAnimator or ArtDen?

RoughAnimator ships an update fortnightly, and ArtDen every 4 weeks. Most recently, RoughAnimator was updated on October 29, 2026 and ArtDen on October 24, 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.*