Adobe Fresco
by Adobe
Adobe Fresco is a free drawing and painting app for iPad, iPhone and Windows with raster, vector and Live Brushes.
- Price
- Free; optional Photoshop bundle $7.99/month
- Runs on
- iPadOS, iOS, Windows
- Rating
- ★ 4.7 on the App Store (62K ratings)
Art Set 4
by Lofopi
Art Set 4 is an iPad painting app focused on hyper-realistic traditional media, with free core tools and a one-time Pro upgrade.
- Price
- Free; Unlock All $12.99 one-time
- Runs on
- iPadOS
- Rating
- ★ 4.6 on the App Store (29K ratings)
Key differences
Only Adobe Fresco has
- iPhone: Yes, same app
Feature comparison
| Feature | Adobe Fresco |
Art Set 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; optional Photoshop bundle $7.99/month | Free; Unlock All $12.99 one-time |
| Free version | Yes, fully free | Yes, core realistic tools |
| Subscription | Optional, bundles Photoshop on iPad | None |
| Ad-free | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| No account needed | Adobe account needed to export | Not advertised |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes, same app | No, iPad only |
| Mac | No (Windows version available) | No, iPad only |
| Android and Chromebook | No | Not advertised |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Thousands | Core tools free; 200 advanced brushes in Pro |
| Brush customization | Brush settings, raster, vector and Live Brushes | Size, opacity, flow, grain, loading, dynamics |
| Brush import | Photoshop brushes | Not advertised |
| Apple Pencil | Supported, including Apple Pencil Pro | Deeply integrated |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Screentones | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Text and lettering | Adobe Fonts | Not advertised |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Unlimited | Not advertised |
| Blend modes | Yes | Pro |
| Masks | Layer masks and clipping | Layer masks and alpha lock (Pro) |
| Adjustments and filters | Adjustment layers: brightness, hue/saturation, color balance | Hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, blur (Pro) |
| Selection tools | Lasso, magic wand and more | Quick masking for local adjustments |
| Liquify and distortion | Liquify | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Rotational and reflective | Pro |
| Perspective guides | Perspective grids, including from a photo | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Snap to Shape | Shape primitives (Pro) |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Not advertised | Metallic colors |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Frame-by-frame and motion paths | Not advertised |
| 3D painting | Not advertised | Raised 3D paint texture, not 3D models |
| Timelapse | Yes | Yes |
| Live collaboration | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Generative AI | None; Content Credentials can mark art as AI-free | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Export, plus direct Photoshop integration | Export |
| Export formats | PSD, PNG, JPG, PDF, GIF, MP4 | PSD and images |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 (62K ratings) | 4.6 / 5 (29K ratings) |
| Last updated | September 29, 2026 | November 16, 2023 |
| Languages | 18 | 1 |
Price
Adobe Fresco is free with every tool included, while Art Set 4 is free to download with paid upgrades.
Adobe Fresco is free, with thousands of brushes, unlimited layers and animation tools included. An optional subscription bundles it with Photoshop on iPad for $7.99 a month on the US App Store.
Art Set 4 is free to download with its core realistic tools. A single $12.99 Unlock All purchase adds 200 advanced brushes, layer features, symmetry and adjustments, with no subscription.
Platforms
Both run on iPad. Only Adobe Fresco runs on iPhone and Windows.
Fresco is one app for iPad and iPhone, and there is also a Windows version. Adobe's system requirements list no Mac or Android version. You can start drawing without signing in, but exporting and cloud saving need an Adobe account.
Art Set 4: On the App Store, Art Set 4 is available for iPad and Apple Vision Pro only, not iPhone or Mac, and the app was last updated in November 2023.
Brushes
Fresco includes thousands of free brushes: blendable raster brushes, vector brushes that stay sharp at any size, and Live Brushes that simulate watercolor and oil paint. It also imports Photoshop brushes.
Art Set 4 is all about realistic traditional media: oil paint, fluid watercolor that flows as you paint, oil pastel, pencil, marker, wax crayon and 3D paint you can etch back into. The canvas tracks where paint is wet or dry, and Pro adds 200 more brushes.
Layers and editing
Adobe Fresco: Layers are unlimited, with masks, clipping and Photoshop-style adjustment layers for brightness, hue/saturation and color balance. Liquify, free transform and a magic wand are included, and documents open directly in Photoshop and Illustrator.
Art Set 4: Pro unlocks layer masks, blend modes, alpha lock and transforms, plus localized adjustments for hue, saturation, brightness, contrast and blur through quick masking.
Drawing tools and extras
Adobe Fresco: Drawing aids include Snap to Shape, rotational and reflective symmetry, rulers, and perspective grids you can build from a photo. Fresco also has frame-by-frame animation with motion paths, GIF and MP4 export, Adobe Fonts for text, and timelapse export.
Art Set 4: Drawing aids are simple: flood fill, symmetry and shape primitives in Pro, Slow Draw for smooth lines, and textured papers and canvases. It records a timelapse and exports layered PSD files.
Which should you choose?
Choose Adobe Fresco if
- You want Live Brushes that blend like real watercolor and oil paint
- You want a completely free professional app
- You want vector brushes that stay sharp at any size
- You already use Photoshop or Illustrator
Choose Art Set 4 if
- You want hyper-realistic oils, watercolors and pastels
- You prefer a one-time upgrade to a subscription
- You want 3D paint you can etch back into
- You want Slow Draw for smooth, calligraphic lines
Frequently asked questions
Is Adobe Fresco better than Art Set 4?
Neither is better for everyone. Adobe Fresco is the better pick if you want Live Brushes that blend like real watercolor and oil paint, or you want a completely free professional app. Art Set 4 suits you better if you want hyper-realistic oils, watercolors and pastels, or you prefer a one-time upgrade to a subscription.
Is Adobe Fresco free?
Yes. Adobe Fresco is free, with thousands of brushes, unlimited layers and animation included. You need a free Adobe account to export and save to the cloud, and an optional bundle with Photoshop on iPad costs $7.99 a month.
Is Art Set 4 free?
Yes, Art Set 4 is free to download with its core realistic tools. A one-time $12.99 Unlock All purchase adds 200 advanced brushes and the professional features, with no subscription.
Which works on iPhone, Adobe Fresco or Art Set 4?
Adobe Fresco runs on iPhone in the same app as on iPad. Art Set 4 is not available on iPhone.
Do Adobe Fresco and Art Set 4 work on Android?
Adobe Fresco is not available on Android. Art Set 4 does not list an Android version.
Do Adobe Fresco or Art Set 4 use generative AI?
Adobe Fresco does not include generative AI tools, and its Content Credentials feature can mark artwork as made without generative AI. Art Set 4 does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
- Adobe Fresco on the App Store
- Adobe Fresco: get started
- Adobe Fresco system requirements
- Art Set 4 on the App Store
Facts checked on October 2, 2026. Prices are from the US App Store, and features from each app's listing and official site. Apps change often, so check the App Store for current prices and features. Adobe Fresco and Art Set 4 are trademarks of their respective owners. App icons come from each app's App Store listing and belong to their owners. Paintrix Studio is not affiliated with the makers of Adobe Fresco and Art Set 4.