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)
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 Photoshop has
- iPhone: Yes, same app
Feature comparison
| Feature | Photoshop |
Art Set 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; premium from $7.99/month | Free; Unlock All $12.99 one-time |
| Free version | Yes, core editing tools | Yes, core realistic tools |
| Subscription | Required for premium tools and PSD export | None |
| Ad-free | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| No account needed | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes, same app | No, iPad only |
| Mac | Desktop Photoshop, separate plan | No, iPad only |
| Android and Chromebook | Separate Android app, in beta | Not advertised |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Painting and retouching brushes | Core tools free; 200 advanced brushes in Pro |
| Brush customization | Basic brush settings | Size, opacity, flow, grain, loading, dynamics |
| Brush import | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Apple Pencil | Supported | Deeply integrated |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Screentones | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Text and lettering | Text and fonts | Not advertised |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Blend modes | Advanced blend modes (premium) | Pro |
| Masks | Layer masks | Layer masks and alpha lock (Pro) |
| Adjustments and filters | Adjustment layers and targeted adjustments | Hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, blur (Pro) |
| Selection tools | Tap Select, Object Select, Magic Wand | Quick masking for local adjustments |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Spot Healing and Remove Tool | 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 | Not advertised | Yes |
| Live collaboration | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Generative AI | Yes: Generative Fill, Generate Image, AI Assistant (credits) | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Native PSD (premium export) | Export |
| Export formats | PSD, TIFF, JPG, PNG | PSD and images |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 (94K ratings) | 4.6 / 5 (29K ratings) |
| Last updated | August 25, 2026 | November 16, 2023 |
| Languages | 19 | 1 |
Price
Both are free to download, but they charge for different things.
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.
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 Photoshop runs on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 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
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 Photoshop better than Art Set 4?
Neither is better for everyone. Photoshop is the better pick if you mostly edit and composite photos rather than paint, or you need native PSD files that open in desktop Photoshop. 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 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.
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, Photoshop or Art Set 4?
Photoshop runs on iPhone in the same app as on iPad. Art Set 4 is not available on iPhone.
Do Photoshop and Art Set 4 work on Android?
Photoshop has a separate Android app, currently in beta. Art Set 4 does not list an Android version.
Do Photoshop or Art Set 4 use generative AI?
Photoshop includes generative AI: Generative Fill, Generate Image and an AI Assistant, powered by Adobe Firefly and generative credits. Art Set 4 does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
- Adobe Photoshop on the App Store
- Photoshop Android beta announcement coverage
- 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. Photoshop 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 Photoshop and Art Set 4.