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)
iArtbook
by Alexander Kondrashov
iArtbook is a painting and animation app for iPad, iPhone and Mac with unlimited layers, wet brushes and a lesson mode for learning by copying.
- Price
- Free; Pro $12.99 one-time ($7.99 iPhone only)
- Runs on
- iPadOS, iOS, macOS
- Rating
- ★ 3.8 on the App Store (12K ratings)
Feature comparison
| Feature | Photoshop |
iArtbook |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; premium from $7.99/month | Free; Pro $12.99 one-time ($7.99 iPhone only) |
| Free version | Yes, core editing tools | Yes |
| 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 | Yes, same app |
| Mac | Desktop Photoshop, separate plan | Yes, Apple silicon Macs |
| Android and Chromebook | Separate Android app, in beta | Not advertised |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Painting and retouching brushes | Pro brushes plus 1,000+ textures |
| Brush customization | Basic brush settings | 50+ settings per brush |
| Brush import | Not advertised | Import and export brushes |
| Apple Pencil | Supported | Pressure, tilt, azimuth |
| 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 | Unlimited |
| Blend modes | Advanced blend modes (premium) | Yes |
| Masks | Layer masks | Masks |
| Adjustments and filters | Adjustment layers and targeted adjustments | Not advertised |
| Selection tools | Tap Select, Object Select, Magic Wand | Selection tool |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Spot Healing and Remove Tool | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Perspective guides | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Not advertised | Unlimited frames, multiple animation layers |
| 3D painting | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Timelapse | Not advertised | On by default |
| 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) | Not advertised |
| Export formats | PSD, TIFF, JPG, PNG | PNG, MP4, HEVC, GIF, APNG |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 (94K ratings) | 3.8 / 5 (12K ratings) |
| Last updated | August 25, 2026 | January 7, 2026 |
| Languages | 19 | 39 |
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.
iArtbook is free to download, and Pro is a one-time upgrade: $12.99 on iPad, or $7.99 for iPhone only, with no subscription.
Platforms
Both run on iPad, iPhone and Mac. Only Photoshop runs on Android 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.
iArtbook is one app for iPhone and iPad that also runs on Apple silicon Macs.
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.
iArtbook brushes can be dry, glossy or wet, with three kinds of wet paint, more than 50 settings per brush, and a library of over 1,000 textures to build your own. Calligraphy smoothing keeps lines clean even when you draw with a finger.
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.
iArtbook: Layers are unlimited, with blend modes, masks and lossless transforms. Two color pickers, a color mixer and palette import and export round out the color tools.
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.
iArtbook does frame-by-frame animation with unlimited frames and multiple animation layers, exporting to MP4, HEVC, GIF and APNG. Its lesson mode lets you copy any painting or sketch side by side to learn, and timelapse recording is on by default.
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 iArtbook if
- You want animation with unlimited frames
- You want to learn by copying artwork in a side-by-side lesson mode
- You want wet, glossy brushes with several smudge styles
- You want unlimited layers
Frequently asked questions
Is Photoshop better than iArtbook?
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. iArtbook suits you better if you want animation with unlimited frames, or you want to learn by copying artwork in a side-by-side lesson mode.
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 iArtbook free?
Yes, iArtbook is free to download. Pro is a one-time upgrade, $12.99 on iPad or $7.99 for iPhone only, with no subscription.
Which works on iPhone, Photoshop or iArtbook?
Both. Photoshop and iArtbook each run on iPhone in the same app as on iPad.
Do Photoshop and iArtbook work on Android?
Photoshop has a separate Android app, currently in beta. iArtbook does not list an Android version.
Do Photoshop or iArtbook use generative AI?
Photoshop includes generative AI: Generative Fill, Generate Image and an AI Assistant, powered by Adobe Firefly and generative credits. iArtbook does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
- Adobe Photoshop on the App Store
- Photoshop Android beta announcement coverage
- iArtbook 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 iArtbook 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 iArtbook.