MediBang Paint
by MediBang
MediBang Paint is a free, ad-supported painting and comic app for iPad, iPhone, Android and desktop with cloud sync and shared canvases.
- Price
- Free with ads; Premium plans from $2.99
- Runs on
- iPadOS, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
- Rating
- ★ 4.6 on the App Store (33K 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 MediBang Paint has
- Mac: Yes, desktop version
Feature comparison
| Feature | MediBang Paint |
Art Set 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free with ads; Premium plans from $2.99 | Free; Unlock All $12.99 one-time |
| Free version | Yes, ad-supported | Yes, core realistic tools |
| Subscription | Optional MediBang Premium | None |
| Ad-free | No, ads unless removed for $7.99 | Not advertised |
| No account needed | Account needed for cloud features | Not advertised |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Separate app, MediBang Paint for iPhone | No, iPad only |
| Mac | Yes, desktop version | No, iPad only |
| Android and Chromebook | Yes | Not advertised |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | 180 (700 more with Premium) | Core tools free; 200 advanced brushes in Pro |
| Brush customization | Adjustable; make your own | Size, opacity, flow, grain, loading, dynamics |
| Brush import | Cloud brushes | Not advertised |
| Apple Pencil | Supported | Deeply integrated |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Comic panel tools | Not advertised |
| Screentones | 1,000 screentones | Not advertised |
| Text and lettering | 60 fonts | Not advertised |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Blend modes | Yes | Pro |
| Masks | Not advertised | Layer masks and alpha lock (Pro) |
| Adjustments and filters | Filters (extra Filter Pack available) | Hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, blur (Pro) |
| Selection tools | Not advertised | Quick masking for local adjustments |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Not advertised | Pro |
| Perspective guides | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Not advertised | Shape primitives (Pro) |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Not advertised | Metallic colors |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| 3D painting | Not advertised | Raised 3D paint texture, not 3D models |
| Timelapse | Yes | Yes |
| Live collaboration | Group Project shared canvases | Not advertised |
| Generative AI | None advertised | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Not advertised | Export |
| Export formats | Images, with cloud saving | PSD and images |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 (33K ratings) | 4.6 / 5 (29K ratings) |
| Last updated | September 11, 2026 | November 16, 2023 |
| Languages | 16 | 1 |
Price
Both are free to download, but they charge for different things.
MediBang Paint is free with ads. MediBang Premium plans, from $2.99 on the US App Store, add 700 more brushes, and ads can be removed with a separate $7.99 add-on.
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 MediBang Paint runs on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows.
MediBang Paint has an iPad app, a separate iPhone app, and versions for Android, Mac and Windows. Its cloud feature, which needs a MediBang account, lets you move a drawing between devices.
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
MediBang Paint includes 180 adjustable brushes, and Premium plans add 700 more. You can also make your own 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.
Comics and manga
MediBang Paint was built with comics in mind, with 1,000 screentones, 60 fonts for lettering, easy comic panels and shared canvases for team projects.
Art Set 4 is a traditional-media painting app and does not advertise comic page or screentone tools.
Layers and editing
MediBang Paint: It covers the essentials with layers, blend modes and filters, and keeps the interface simple and lightweight, so it stays fast without needing much storage.
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
MediBang Paint: Group Project lets you and your friends draw on the same canvas, cloud saving keeps drawings in step between devices, and MediBang Paint records a timelapse of your work.
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 MediBang Paint if
- You make comics on a budget and want screentones and panels for free
- You want to draw on a shared canvas with friends or a team
- You want to switch between an iPad and a desktop computer
- You also draw on Android
Choose Art Set 4 if
- You want hyper-realistic oils, watercolors and pastels
- 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
Frequently asked questions
Is MediBang Paint better than Art Set 4?
Neither is better for everyone. MediBang Paint is the better pick if you make comics on a budget and want screentones and panels for free, or you want to draw on a shared canvas with friends or a team. Art Set 4 suits you better if you want hyper-realistic oils, watercolors and pastels, or you want watercolor that flows and paint that stays wet on the canvas.
Is MediBang Paint free?
Yes, MediBang Paint is free with ads. Premium plans from $2.99 add 700 more brushes, and a $7.99 add-on removes ads.
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, MediBang Paint or Art Set 4?
MediBang Paint has a separate iPhone app, MediBang Paint for iPhone. Art Set 4 is not available on iPhone.
Do MediBang Paint and Art Set 4 work on Android?
MediBang Paint has an Android version. Art Set 4 does not list an Android version.
Can two people draw together in MediBang Paint or Art Set 4?
Yes, MediBang Paint does (Group Project shared canvases). Art Set 4 does not advertise live collaboration.
Do MediBang Paint or Art Set 4 use generative AI?
MediBang Paint does not advertise any generative AI features. Art Set 4 does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
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. MediBang Paint 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 MediBang Paint and Art Set 4.