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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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The verdict on

Tayasui Sketches

30
User verdict / 100 High confidence In trouble

Tayasui Sketches, once a beloved and feature-rich drawing app, is now widely criticized by long-time users for its aggressive shift to a subscription model, paywalling previously free or one-time purchase features, and frequent crashes.

4.5★ lifetime (52,989) Free + in-app purchases since 2013 by SKETCHES SRL updated 3.0 mo ago recent negative 28% 120 reviews across 4 regions
Paywall/Subscription Stability & Performance Ease of Use/UI Tool Variety/Quality
5★459
4★150
3★115
2★70
1★206
recent reviews across 4 regions, vs the 4.5★ lifetime average

Tayasui Sketches is a drawing app that users once praised for its intuitive interface and robust free features. Recent updates have introduced a subscription model and paywalls for basic tools, leading to significant user frustration and a decline in its perceived value and stability.

What users like

  • Easy to use, simple UI, and good for beginnersR58R49R43R117
  • Offers good tools and brushes for creative expressionR36R62R66R29
  • Includes helpful tutorials for learningR49R42R112
  • Supports layers, which is a key feature for digital artR66

What users complain about

  • Many essential features, previously free or a one-time purchase, are now locked behind a subscription or paywallR4R6R8R1
  • Frequent app crashes and stability issues, especially on older devices or when using layersR2R21R31R34
  • Users who previously paid for the 'Pro' or 'full version' are now required to pay again via subscriptionR5R22R27R61
  • Limited functionality in the free version, often restricting users to a single drawing or basic toolsR1R13R52R55
  • High subscription costs ($50-$70/year or $3.99/week) are considered excessive compared to competitorsR28R103R185R92
  • App often requires an internet connection, even for offline use, contradicting previous purchasesR21R102
  • Some users report difficulty with basic features like zooming, canvas rotation, or brush consistencyR23R34R39R134
  • Ads are present and intrusive, even for basic drawing functionsR35R40R50

Latest update · v36.8

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

Bug fixing and stability improvements

Recurring themes

Paywall/Subscription negative
The most prominent complaint is the aggressive implementation of paywalls and a subscription model. Users are frustrated that features previously free or part of a one-time purchase, such as basic pens, layers, creating new artworks, or even offline use, are now locked behind a recurring payment. Many feel this is a 'cash grab' and a betrayal of long-time users.R1R2R4R5
Stability & Performance negative
Despite developer notes claiming 'bug fixing and stability improvements,' many recent reviews report frequent crashes, freezing, and lagging, especially when working with layers or on older devices. This contradicts the developer's claims and significantly impacts usability.R2R21R31R34
Ease of Use/UI positive
Many users, especially beginners, appreciate the app's simple, user-friendly interface and ease of use for sketching and daily art. The tutorials are also highlighted as a positive aspect.R43R49R58R112
Tool Variety/Quality mixed
While some users praise the variety and quality of brushes and tools for creative expression, a significant number express frustration over having to pay for most of them. Specific issues like brush changes during drawing or lack of marker options are also mentioned.R10R15R36R48

Who it's for

This app is for beginners or casual sketchers who prioritize a simple, easy-to-use interface and are willing to pay a subscription for full features R49R58. It is not for users seeking a truly free drawing app, those who previously purchased the 'Pro' version expecting lifetime access, or artists needing a stable, feature-rich app without recurring costs R2R5R23R61.

Evidence note: The recent reviews heavily skew negative, primarily due to the shift to a subscription model and paywalling of features. The positive reviews often praise aspects that were available in previous, more generous versions of the app, or are from users who are still finding value despite the changes.

Frequently asked

Is Tayasui Sketches truly free?
No, while the app is free to download, many essential features, including creating more than one drawing, accessing most brushes, using layers, and even rotating the canvas, are locked behind a weekly or yearly subscription R1R4R13R23.
What is the cost of Tayasui Sketches' premium features?
The premium features typically cost around $3.99 per week or $50-$70 per year, which many users consider expensive R28R103R185R92.
Does Tayasui Sketches have stability issues?
Yes, many recent reviews report frequent crashes, freezing, and lagging, especially when working with layers or on older devices, despite developer claims of stability improvements R2R21R31R34.
Can I use Tayasui Sketches offline?
Some users report that the app now requires an internet connection to work, even for features that were previously available offline or were part of a 'full version' purchase R21R102.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R58] 5/5 · US Excellent for daily and novice users in particular!: Though the features of this app will allow one to perform advanced tasks in digital art, I love that it is so simple and easy to use! Very user friendly! I have another, more advanced app, but I almost always go for this one because it is so much easier to use. Great for everyday things-I often use it for notes when I’m on the phone as much as I
  2. [R49] 5/5 · US I love it!: Really easy to use, as a beginner. I also love the tutorials!
  3. [R43] 5/5 · US 🌟Download now🌟: I love this app so much 🥰I don’t get why people say apps like adobe is better when sketches is so much simpler and easy to use ❤️I have made drawings for my grandmas funeral with this app.🕊️ I have been use it sketches for years and I love it so much.😻 If you have not downloaded this download it now I promise you will not be disappointed.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
  4. [R117] 3/5 · US Used to love it but….: Was a 5 went to 3 then to 1… now it’s 3 again. I’ve used this app since 2016 and it’s been my go to drawing companion but it’s been crashing all the time and some days it just won’t start. Recently I’ve had to uninstall and reinstall multiple times just to get it open. Edit: Okay phew… after it breaking after the constant updates I think it’s worth it again. It’ll never be 5
  5. [R36] 5/5 · US Cool game: I love all the tools and I think it’s really cool and I can make cool drawings for my family
  6. [R62] 5/5 · US I love sKetches!: I love how the palettes, markers, paint brushes, everything works! The sketching I do is amazing and I love how the items work and I love the app so much!
  7. [R66] 5/5 · US Such a great tool!: This is really a lovely app. Lots of great brushes, great pallet color picker…tons of great features. The layers are the real win for me. Having layers really opens up a ton of possibilities. A+
  8. [R29] 5/5 · US Awesome App for my Fashion Sketches: Tayasui is an app that is fundamental for my fashion sketches, I really love to create with the tools that Tayasui offers. Totally recommended.
  9. [R42] 5/5 · US So great! 😀😀😀😀: I love this app so much! But I do think it would be great if the lessons had some easier options for the drawing videos, for the beginners (me😅) if not possible, also fine! Thank you, and I love your app! ❤️ ✨
  10. [R112] 3/5 · US Good app but could use improvements: Crashes a lot on older devices, if you don’t want your stuff to look so traditional then the app probably isn’t for you. Everyone on sketches community posts traced drawings or stolen art. They an have AI ‘art’ generator now. Other than that, the clear UI, the easiness to sort drawings, and the tutorials are very good.
  11. [R4] 1/5 · US Why Pay Now?: I have had this app for many years at this point, using it for a wide variety of projects. There has always been the option to buy pro, but the free version at least provided a lot on its own. Then I go to use it today (July 6, 2026) after just using it the day before, and suddenly I now have to buy pro to access all the basic pens?! All I want is to use the ink pen (right in the mid
  12. [R6] 1/5 · US Terrible: Thank you for removing every feature that makes this app good and then putting it behind a subscription service.
  13. [R8] 1/5 · US Wish I’d not have to pay for a free app: So I have been wanting to draw battle beast from invincible, I went to redownload the app from my previous phone and guess what you got to pay 8 bucks to use this app. This made me very upset because it was the best drawing app for being free and having things other apps don’t. Why would you do this also why did you make it so you have to pay, there used to
  14. [R1] 1/5 · US Good and bad: Stupid part about this. Is that when you try to make a new artwork you have to pay and get a free trial just to get a new artwork and you have to pay .
  15. [R2] 2/5 · US You deserve better than this cash grab: To have a short story, this app is god awful, crashes constantly, constantly tries to get your money, and art programs from the 2000s has more features. To have a bit of a longer story, this app is the reason I’m an artist. It was the first art program I ever used and really lead me to fall in love with art. The app was very nice about how it got its incom
  16. [R21] 1/5 · US Used to be good: This app used to be awesome, now it costs more, constantly needs to connected to internet to work, and freezes and crashes nonstop. Update: purchased “full version” for my daughter for her birthday so she could use it offline, now they’re requiring a weekly “premium” membership for the same offline use. False advertising.
  17. [R31] 3/5 · US Potential: Everything cost money can’t do anything. Laggy.
  18. [R34] 4/5 · US It’s good.. BUT…..: The game crashes very easily. It’s a very unstable. And I am up-to-date with all of my updates. Oh and the Liquid Glass thing makes it hard for me to save my art, sometimes I just can’t save my art and I need to rejoin, but other then that this is a pretty good drawing app! But I wish you could resize the canvas
  19. [R5] 1/5 · US Subscription only?: I purchased to unlock the app several years ago, but now I have to pay a monthly or weekly subscription to ever use it again. This was the best drawing app, but now it’s unusable without forking over more money which I will NIT be doing to a money hungry dev.
  20. [R22] 1/5 · US Scam: I purchased this app back when it came out and now they’re charging monthly and requiring “premium” to use offline. I bought the “full version” for like $25+ years ago and apparently that deal is off now? What is a “premium” drawing subscription? What a joke.
  21. [R27] 1/5 · US I'm not paying again: well, this is getting annoying. If you pay for the app, is it ok for them to charge you again? welcome to the future, now even drawing apps are following this scheme of pay for play. I bought the previous version, and now what, you don’t count because we changed strategies, sowwy? this has become the sesspool of stupid AI icons, like we wouldn’t notice, and I knew this was co
  22. [R61] 1/5 · US Another one bites the dust: I have used this app for 8+ years. I specifically bought this app for its features AND the fact that you didn’t need a subscription to use all that the app had to offer. I bought the 1 time purchase for the premium. Today i logged in and i was restricted from brushes i have made and used for years. I use this app not only for art but for making invitations and gifts for
  23. [R13] 1/5 · US Terrible: I cant draw more than one drawing untill I delete the other
  24. [R52] 5/5 · US Uchhh: Don’t get me wrong this app is amazing, buttttt. You can only use one paper on the SketchBook. Have to pay for it and I find that really stupid. And you say for everything not only on the schedule one there’s a bunch of options but the drawing by step-by-step everything you have to pay. Other than that, it’s an amazing app. I just wish to get it for free. There was more freedom.
  25. [R55] 1/5 · US Pls do not get this app.: It literally makes you pay just do make more than one drawing. Not exactly what I want for a graphic novel I am trying to make.
  26. [R28] 3/5 · US Ok: It’s OK, but I think having to pay for it and subscribeTwo. It is crazy.
  27. [R103] 1/5 · US Way too expensive: I used this app for many years, but it’s way too expensive now. $70/yr or $3.99/wk is just way too much. Subscription and high price just pisses me off. Deserves one star for the absurd price. I’ll stick with Procreate and Sketches.
  28. [R185] 3/5 · US TO MUCH MONEY!!!!!!: So I downloaded this app thinking that it was gonna be fun, turns out it isn’t. I got in the app and showed me how to do things. Then it showed the whole trial thing which sure yeah whatever, then I start drawing. I see blue diamonds on certain brushes. I tap on them “oh no! It’s VIP I get sad and upset. Then I try to type in a certain font, it’s VIP!!! So now I’m super upset
  29. [R92] 2/5 · US Good app but at a HORRIBLE cost: Sketches is a very good app. The UI is very simple and easy to understand. The variety in brushes is good, and the color system is pretty well done. I would say overall the app is very good maybe a four out of five… THAT IS IF WE IGNORE THE PRICE. The fact that you have to pay 50$ a year just to have more then one drawing is insane. There is also the constant push
  30. [R102] 1/5 · US No longer free: First of all now, the app can’t be used off-line, it brings me up to pay for a subscription. Every time I try to make a new drawing, and when I opened one of my existing drawings half the brushes you have to pay for it now what on earth happened? This is the worst app ever it used to be the best. Do not download this.
  31. [R23] 1/5 · US You have to pay for ROTATING THE CANVAS: Honestly, this is the worst drawing app I have tried. You have to pay for BASIC features! I definitely do not recommend. If you are searching for a free drawing app, use ibis paint.
  32. [R39] 4/5 · US Good app!: This app is overall good, but I just don't like how you can't zoom in very far. But very good app!
  33. [R134] 3/5 · US it’s mid: The brush changes a lot when im doing my drawing everytime it makes a streak i don’t want it to make very bad for a artist maybe make an update about the pencil and eraser
  34. [R35] 3/5 · US Good but can be better: I love the game but I don’t like the ads that you have to deal with every day.
  35. [R40] 1/5 · US In app purchase: The drawing utensils are very limited because of how little amount of them you can use,and is very annoying when I try to draw without a ad.
  36. [R50] 1/5 · US Terrible and doesn’t work: It won’t stop bombarding you with ads for the Tayasui Suite, but it keeps crashing whenever I try to use it in my most recent drawing, and too many features that used to be free are now paywalled. It’s a greedy and nonfunctional app. If you’re an artist thinking of finding a digital drawing program, do NOT use this one.
  37. [R10] 4/5 · US Good: Tayasui sketches is pretty good but i wish there were more marker options
  38. [R15] 4/5 · US Good but could be better: The app is very satisfying for people like me that usually very bored and creative but it’s not very cheap . I can’t buy all this brushes and it is always asking me to pay it . That is ANNOYING!! But it is a really good sketch app
  39. [R48] 2/5 · US Not good: It is very glitchy and you have to pay for half the brushes also is very hard to follow the videos and is super annoying. DO NOT RECOMENT

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store