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)
Tayasui Sketches
by Tayasui
Tayasui Sketches is a minimalist sketching and painting app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android with realistic brushes and a calm, hidden-away interface.
- Price
- Free; Pro $7.99 or premium subscription
- Runs on
- iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Android
- Rating
- ★ 4.5 on the App Store (54K ratings)
Key differences
Only Tayasui Sketches has
- iPhone: Yes, same app
- Mac: Yes, Apple silicon Macs
Feature comparison
| Feature | Art Set 4 |
Tayasui Sketches |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; Unlock All $12.99 one-time | Free; Pro $7.99 or premium subscription |
| Free version | Yes, core realistic tools | Yes, basic tools |
| Subscription | None | Optional premium subscription |
| Ad-free | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| No account needed | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | No, iPad only | Yes, same app |
| Mac | No, iPad only | Yes, Apple silicon Macs |
| Android and Chromebook | Not advertised | Separate Android app |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Core tools free; 200 advanced brushes in Pro | 20+ realistic tools |
| Brush customization | Size, opacity, flow, grain, loading, dynamics | Brush editor |
| Brush import | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Apple Pencil | Deeply integrated | Full Apple Pencil support |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Screentones | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Text and lettering | Not advertised | Text tool |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Not advertised | Layers, exportable as PNG or PSD |
| Blend modes | Pro | Not advertised |
| Masks | Layer masks and alpha lock (Pro) | Not advertised |
| Adjustments and filters | Hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, blur (Pro) | Not advertised |
| Selection tools | Quick masking for local adjustments | Cutter tool |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Pro | Not advertised |
| Perspective guides | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Shape primitives (Pro) | Shapes (iPad only) |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Metallic colors | Not advertised |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Custom patterns |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| 3D painting | Raised 3D paint texture, not 3D models | Not advertised |
| Timelapse | Yes | Not advertised |
| Live collaboration | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Generative AI | None advertised | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Export | Import and export layered PSD |
| Export formats | PSD and images | PNG, layered PSD |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 (29K ratings) | 4.5 / 5 (54K ratings) |
| Last updated | November 16, 2023 | April 10, 2026 |
| Languages | 1 | 13 |
Price
Both are free to download, but they charge for different things.
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.
Tayasui Sketches is free to download. Its Pro tools are unlocked with a $7.99 one-time Pro purchase or a premium subscription, both offered on the US App Store.
Platforms
Both run on iPad. Only Tayasui Sketches runs on iPhone, Mac and Android.
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.
Tayasui Sketches is one app for iPhone and iPad that also runs on Apple silicon Macs, and there is a separate Android version. Cloud sync keeps drawings in step across your devices.
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.
Sketches has more than 20 carefully tuned tools, including pens, felt pens, oil pastel, acrylic, airbrush and wet and dry watercolor brushes that react to pressure and angle like a real brush on paper. A brush editor lets you tweak them.
Layers and editing
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.
Tayasui Sketches: Layers can be exported as separate transparent PNGs, and layered PSD files can be imported and exported. Editing tools are deliberately simple, with a cutter, smudge tool and fill tool rather than a full adjustment suite.
Drawing tools and extras
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.
Tayasui Sketches: The interface hides tools while you draw for a calm, minimal canvas. It adds a ruler, shapes on iPad, text, custom patterns and folders to organize your sketchbook.
Which should you choose?
Choose Art Set 4 if
- You want watercolor that flows and paint that stays wet on the canvas
- 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
Choose Tayasui Sketches if
- You want a calm, minimal interface for sketching
- You want cloud sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac
- You want to draw and paint with custom patterns
- You want the same app on iPhone and iPad
Frequently asked questions
Is Art Set 4 better than Tayasui Sketches?
Neither is better for everyone. Art Set 4 is the better pick if you want watercolor that flows and paint that stays wet on the canvas, or you prefer a one-time upgrade to a subscription. Tayasui Sketches suits you better if you want a calm, minimal interface for sketching, or you want cloud sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac.
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.
Is Tayasui Sketches free?
Yes, Tayasui Sketches is free to download. Its Pro tools need a $7.99 one-time Pro purchase or a premium subscription.
Which works on iPhone, Art Set 4 or Tayasui Sketches?
Art Set 4 is not available on iPhone. Tayasui Sketches runs on iPhone in the same app as on iPad.
Do Art Set 4 and Tayasui Sketches work on Android?
Art Set 4 does not list an Android version. Tayasui Sketches has an Android version.
Do Art Set 4 or Tayasui Sketches use generative AI?
Art Set 4 does not advertise any generative AI features. Tayasui Sketches does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
- Art Set 4 on the App Store
- Tayasui Sketches on the App Store
- Tayasui Sketches on ChromeOS and Android
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. Art Set 4 and Tayasui Sketches 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 Art Set 4 and Tayasui Sketches.