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)
Sketchbook
by Sketchbook, Inc.
Sketchbook is a free sketching and drawing app for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows with a one-time $2.99 Premium Bundle.
- Price
- Free; Premium Bundle $2.99 one-time
- Runs on
- iOS, iPadOS, Android, macOS, Windows
- Rating
- ★ 4.8 on the App Store (221K ratings)
Feature comparison
| Feature | Photoshop |
Sketchbook |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; premium from $7.99/month | Free; Premium Bundle $2.99 one-time |
| 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, separate desktop version |
| Android and Chromebook | Separate Android app, in beta | Yes |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Painting and retouching brushes | Pencils, markers, airbrushes, smear and more |
| Brush customization | Basic brush settings | Highly customizable; custom brushes in Premium |
| Brush import | Not advertised | Premium Bundle |
| Apple Pencil | Supported | Supported |
| 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) | Full set |
| Masks | Layer masks | Clipping and layer masks in Premium |
| Adjustments and filters | Adjustment layers and targeted adjustments | Blur, sharpen, brightness/contrast, greyscale, invert (Premium) |
| Selection tools | Tap Select, Object Select, Magic Wand | Selection tools |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Spot Healing and Remove Tool | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Not advertised | Yes |
| Perspective guides | Not advertised | Perspective guides |
| Shape correction | Not advertised | Predictive Stroke |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Gradient fill |
| Paintable materials | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| 3D painting | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| 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 | PNG, JPG, PSD, PDF (Premium) |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 (94K ratings) | 4.8 / 5 (221K ratings) |
| Last updated | August 25, 2026 | June 1, 2026 |
| Languages | 19 | 10 |
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.
Sketchbook is free, and a one-time $2.99 Premium Bundle unlocks extras such as custom brushes, clipping masks, layer grouping, extra adjustments and PDF export. There is no subscription.
Platforms
Both run on iPad, 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.
Sketchbook is one app for iPhone and iPad, with separate versions for Android, Mac and Windows.
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.
Sketchbook has a full set of pencils, markers, airbrushes and smear brushes that feel like their physical versions, and every brush is highly customizable. Creating, importing and exporting custom brushes is part of the Premium Bundle.
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.
Sketchbook: Layers come with a full set of blend modes. The Premium Bundle adds clipping masks, layer masks, layer groups, and adjustments such as blur, sharpen and brightness/contrast.
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.
Sketchbook is built for sketching and precision, with guides, rulers, symmetry, perspective guides and Predictive Stroke for clean lines and shapes. Its clean interface stays out of the way so the canvas gets the screen.
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 Sketchbook if
- You mostly sketch and want a clean, distraction-free interface
- You want a nearly free app with a $2.99 one-time upgrade
- You want perspective guides, rulers and Predictive Stroke
- You also draw on Android
Frequently asked questions
Is Photoshop better than Sketchbook?
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. Sketchbook suits you better if you mostly sketch and want a clean, distraction-free interface, or you want a nearly free app with a $2.99 one-time upgrade.
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 Sketchbook free?
Yes. Sketchbook is free, and a one-time $2.99 Premium Bundle unlocks extras such as custom brushes, clipping masks, layer groups and PDF export. There is no subscription.
Which works on iPhone, Photoshop or Sketchbook?
Both. Photoshop and Sketchbook each run on iPhone in the same app as on iPad.
Do Photoshop and Sketchbook work on Android?
Photoshop has a separate Android app, currently in beta. Sketchbook has an Android version.
Do Photoshop or Sketchbook use generative AI?
Photoshop includes generative AI: Generative Fill, Generate Image and an AI Assistant, powered by Adobe Firefly and generative credits. Sketchbook does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
- Adobe Photoshop on the App Store
- Photoshop Android beta announcement coverage
- Sketchbook 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 Sketchbook 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 Sketchbook.