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)
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 Sketchbook has
- iPhone: Yes, same app
- Mac: Yes, separate desktop version
Feature comparison
| Feature | Sketchbook |
Art Set 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; Premium Bundle $2.99 one-time | Free; Unlock All $12.99 one-time |
| Free version | Yes | Yes, core realistic tools |
| Subscription | None | 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 | Yes, separate desktop version | No, iPad only |
| Android and Chromebook | Yes | Not advertised |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Pencils, markers, airbrushes, smear and more | Core tools free; 200 advanced brushes in Pro |
| Brush customization | Highly customizable; custom brushes in Premium | Size, opacity, flow, grain, loading, dynamics |
| Brush import | Premium Bundle | 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 | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Blend modes | Full set | Pro |
| Masks | Clipping and layer masks in Premium | Layer masks and alpha lock (Pro) |
| Adjustments and filters | Blur, sharpen, brightness/contrast, greyscale, invert (Premium) | Hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, blur (Pro) |
| Selection tools | Selection tools | Quick masking for local adjustments |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Yes | Pro |
| Perspective guides | Perspective guides | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Predictive Stroke | Shape primitives (Pro) |
| Gradients | Gradient fill | 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 | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Generative AI | None advertised | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Export | Export |
| Export formats | PNG, JPG, PSD, PDF (Premium) | PSD and images |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 (221K ratings) | 4.6 / 5 (29K ratings) |
| Last updated | June 1, 2026 | November 16, 2023 |
| Languages | 10 | 1 |
Price
Both are free to download, but they charge for different things.
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.
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 Sketchbook runs on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows.
Sketchbook is one app for iPhone and iPad, with separate versions for Android, Mac and Windows.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 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 want versions for Windows and Mac too
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 want 3D paint you can etch back into
- You paint on Apple Vision Pro as well as iPad
Frequently asked questions
Is Sketchbook better than Art Set 4?
Neither is better for everyone. Sketchbook is the better pick 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. 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 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.
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, Sketchbook or Art Set 4?
Sketchbook runs on iPhone in the same app as on iPad. Art Set 4 is not available on iPhone.
Do Sketchbook and Art Set 4 work on Android?
Sketchbook has an Android version. Art Set 4 does not list an Android version.
Do Sketchbook or Art Set 4 use generative AI?
Sketchbook 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. Sketchbook 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 Sketchbook and Art Set 4.