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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Is it worth paying for

Tayasui Sketches

30
Value score / 100 Worth paying? No Skip it

Tayasui Sketches is no longer worth paying for due to recent changes that put basic features behind a paywall and force subscriptions on previous one-time purchasers, despite its past reputation as a good drawing app.

Free + in-app purchases seen up to $69.99 4.5★ lifetime (52,989) since 2013

Tayasui Sketches, once a beloved drawing app, has significantly declined in value due to its aggressive monetization strategy, which now requires payment for basic tools and forces subscriptions on users who previously made one-time purchases R4R5R6. Many users report constant crashes, lag, and an overwhelming number of paywalls, making the app practically unusable in its free version and frustrating for paid users R2R21R31.

Free vs paid

The free version of Tayasui Sketches is severely limited, with users unable to create new artworks without a trial or payment, access basic pens like the ink pen, or use more than one drawing at a time R1R4R13. Many essential features, such as layers, rotating the canvas, and a wide variety of brushes (including markers and normal pens), are now locked behind a premium subscription R6R23. Previously, the app offered a reasonable one-time purchase for more layers and features, but this has been replaced by weekly or yearly subscriptions ranging up to $69.99 per year or $3.99 per week, even for users who already bought the 'full version' R2R5R22R53.

Value complaints

  • Many basic features, including creating new artwork, using specific pens, layers, and canvas rotation, are locked behind a paywall or subscription.R1R4R6R13
  • Users who previously made a one-time purchase for the app or its 'pro' features are now being forced to pay for a subscription to access them again.R5R22R64R74
  • The subscription prices are considered excessively high, with options like $69.99 per year or $3.99 per week.R53R135
  • The app constantly tries to get users to pay, making the free experience annoying and limited.R2R15R31R40
  • The app is advertised as free but is not, leading to user frustration.R17R26R87
  • Some users report that the app now requires an internet connection to work, even after purchasing the 'full version' for offline use, and crashes frequently.R21R52

Where it delivers

  • The app is considered easy to use, with a clear UI and good tutorials, making it suitable for beginners.R24R37R49R60
  • Users appreciate the drawing tools and the overall creative outlet the app provides.R10R11R16R20
  • Some users have a long history with the app and found it to be their first art program, leading them to love art.R2R4R43R67
Worth paying if

The paid tier is not worth it for most users due to the high price and the fact that many previously free or one-time purchase features are now subscription-based R5R22R53.

Skip / stay free if

You should skip paying for Tayasui Sketches if you are looking for a free drawing app, as basic features are paywalled R1R23R26. You should also skip if you previously purchased the app, as your one-time purchase is no longer honored, and you will be forced into a subscription for features you already owned R5R22R64R74. Artists who need a stable, feature-rich app without constant crashes and paywalls should also look elsewhere R2R21.

Evidence note: The evidence is heavily skewed towards negative experiences regarding monetization changes, with many positive reviews being older or expressing love for the app despite the paywalls.

Frequently asked

Is Tayasui Sketches truly free to use?
No, Tayasui Sketches is not truly free; while it can be downloaded for free, many basic features, such as creating new drawings, using essential pens, layers, and canvas rotation, are locked behind a premium subscription R1R4R6R23.
What are the subscription costs for Tayasui Sketches?
Based on user reviews, the subscription costs for Tayasui Sketches can be as high as $69.99 per year or $3.99 per week R53R135.
Does Tayasui Sketches honor past one-time purchases?
No, Tayasui Sketches does not honor past one-time purchases; many users who bought the 'pro' or 'full version' years ago now report being forced to pay for a weekly or monthly subscription to access features they already owned R5R22R64R74.
Are there performance issues with Tayasui Sketches?
Yes, several users report performance issues with Tayasui Sketches, including constant crashes, lag, freezing, and unresponsiveness, particularly on older devices or after updates R2R21R31R32.

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. [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 .
  2. [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
  3. [R6] 1/5 · US Terrible: Thank you for removing every feature that makes this app good and then putting it behind a subscription service.
  4. [R13] 1/5 · US Terrible: I cant draw more than one drawing untill I delete the other
  5. [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.
  6. [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.
  7. [R64] 1/5 · US Expecting payment again: I purchase the pro version of this app years ago which was promised as a one time payment for access. Now, the app won’t let me use any premium features without signing up for a weekly subscription. I either want access to the app that I paid for or I want my original purchase price refunded.
  8. [R74] 3/5 · US Love the app but…: I love the app. I’m been drawing with for a long time. I purchased the pro version a while back but now is asking for a subscription. I really don’t like how everything is a subscription now and when I purchased the pro is supposed to be for ever.
  9. [R53] 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.
  10. [R135] 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
  11. [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
  12. [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
  13. [R31] 3/5 · US Potential: Everything cost money can’t do anything. Laggy.
  14. [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.
  15. [R17] 5/5 · US I hate this: This app sucks everything that’s fun and easy too draw with costs money which it says is free in the video it’s a scam wouldn’t recommend it
  16. [R26] 1/5 · US You LIAR!!!!🤥: The ad said it was free! This app is not free!
  17. [R87] 1/5 · US Bad: Yo have to pay just for a drawing app
  18. [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.
  19. [R52] 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.
  20. [R24] 5/5 · US Fantastic Journey Into Creativity: Sketches is a great creative outlet with an easy to navigate menu bringing your visions to life. Give it a go and let your spirit lead the way!
  21. [R37] 5/5 · US Great app!: If you don’t have any paper to draw on I recommend any drawing of this app art workout any other drawing app but I mostly recommend this one if you have an Apple Pencil or something to draw with not a pencil though or a pen lol
  22. [R49] 5/5 · US I love it!: Really easy to use, as a beginner. I also love the tutorials!
  23. [R60] 5/5 · US This so fun lol: I lov3 this game it’s let’s u draw and it’s let’s u draw ur own this Thai so fun it’s let’s u has a tatorial
  24. [R10] 4/5 · US Good: Tayasui sketches is pretty good but i wish there were more marker options
  25. [R11] 5/5 · US Best: My fam loves the flowers I draw on… Sketches!
  26. [R16] 5/5 · US I love it!: It’s fun
  27. [R20] 5/5 · US Thanks: Like it
  28. [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.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
  29. [R67] 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
  30. [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.
  31. [R32] 2/5 · US Ummmmm……: I love the app but just 0ne thing..: I changed the size to 0x0 pixels and wen i opened it it crashed so please fix this

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