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)
Photoshop
by Adobe
Photoshop on iPad and iPhone is Adobe's mobile image editor, free to download with premium tools and generative AI by subscription.
- Price
- Free; premium from $7.99/month
- Runs on
- iPadOS, iOS
- Rating
- ★ 4.5 on the App Store (94K ratings)
Feature comparison
| Feature | Adobe Fresco |
Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; optional Photoshop bundle $7.99/month | Free; premium from $7.99/month |
| Free version | Yes, fully free | Yes, core editing tools |
| Subscription | Optional, bundles Photoshop on iPad | Required for premium tools and PSD export |
| Ad-free | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| No account needed | Adobe account needed to export | Not advertised |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes, same app | Yes, same app |
| Mac | No (Windows version available) | Desktop Photoshop, separate plan |
| Android and Chromebook | No | Separate Android app, in beta |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Thousands | Painting and retouching brushes |
| Brush customization | Brush settings, raster, vector and Live Brushes | Basic brush settings |
| Brush import | Photoshop brushes | Not advertised |
| Apple Pencil | Supported, including Apple Pencil Pro | Supported |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Screentones | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Text and lettering | Adobe Fonts | Text and fonts |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Unlimited | Not advertised |
| Blend modes | Yes | Advanced blend modes (premium) |
| Masks | Layer masks and clipping | Layer masks |
| Adjustments and filters | Adjustment layers: brightness, hue/saturation, color balance | Adjustment layers and targeted adjustments |
| Selection tools | Lasso, magic wand and more | Tap Select, Object Select, Magic Wand |
| Liquify and distortion | Liquify | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Not advertised | Spot Healing and Remove Tool |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Rotational and reflective | Not advertised |
| Perspective guides | Perspective grids, including from a photo | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Snap to Shape | Not advertised |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Frame-by-frame and motion paths | Not advertised |
| 3D painting | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Timelapse | Yes | Not advertised |
| Live collaboration | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Generative AI | None; Content Credentials can mark art as AI-free | Yes: Generative Fill, Generate Image, AI Assistant (credits) |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Export, plus direct Photoshop integration | Native PSD (premium export) |
| Export formats | PSD, PNG, JPG, PDF, GIF, MP4 | PSD, TIFF, JPG, PNG |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 (62K ratings) | 4.5 / 5 (94K ratings) |
| Last updated | September 29, 2026 | August 25, 2026 |
| Languages | 18 | 19 |
Price
Adobe Fresco is free with every tool included, while Photoshop needs a subscription for full use.
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.
Photoshop on iPad and iPhone is free to download with core editing tools. Premium tools such as the Remove Tool, Content Aware Fill, advanced blend modes and PSD export need a subscription, starting at $7.99 a month for Photoshop Mobile & Web on the US App Store.
Platforms
Both run on iPad, iPhone and Windows. Only Photoshop runs on Android and Mac.
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.
Photoshop: The same Photoshop app runs on iPad and iPhone. Adobe also has an Android version in beta, and desktop Photoshop for Mac and Windows is sold separately.
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.
Photoshop on mobile is built for photo editing and compositing first. It has brushes for painting and retouching, but its painting tools are far more limited than those in dedicated painting apps.
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.
Photoshop: Its strength is editing: layers, masks, adjustment layers, Tap Select and Object Select, the Spot Healing Brush, Content Aware Fill and native PSD files that open in desktop Photoshop.
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.
Photoshop leans on Adobe Firefly for generative tools such as Generative Fill and Generate Image, which use generative credits. It does not advertise painting aids such as symmetry or perspective guides, or animation.
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 want simple frame-by-frame animation
Choose Photoshop if
- You mostly edit and composite photos rather than paint
- You need native PSD files that open in desktop Photoshop
- You need precise object selection, healing and retouching
- You want generative AI tools such as Generative Fill
Frequently asked questions
Is Adobe Fresco better than Photoshop?
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. Photoshop suits you better if you mostly edit and composite photos rather than paint, or you need native PSD files that open in desktop Photoshop.
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 Photoshop free?
Partly. Photoshop on iPad and iPhone is free to download with core tools such as layers, selections and adjustments. Premium tools and PSD export need a subscription, from $7.99 a month on the US App Store.
Which works on iPhone, Adobe Fresco or Photoshop?
Both. Adobe Fresco and Photoshop each run on iPhone in the same app as on iPad.
Do Adobe Fresco and Photoshop work on Android?
Adobe Fresco is not available on Android. Photoshop has a separate Android app, currently in beta.
Do Adobe Fresco or Photoshop use generative AI?
Adobe Fresco does not include generative AI tools, and its Content Credentials feature can mark artwork as made without generative AI. Photoshop includes generative AI: Generative Fill, Generate Image and an AI Assistant, powered by Adobe Firefly and generative credits.
Sources
- Adobe Fresco on the App Store
- Adobe Fresco: get started
- Adobe Fresco system requirements
- Adobe Photoshop on the App Store
- Photoshop Android beta announcement coverage
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 Photoshop 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 Photoshop.