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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Paper vs ArtWorkout

Paper 4.6★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner ArtWorkout
ArtWorkout 4.6★ · Free + IAP 60

ArtWorkout is the better choice for casual drawing and learning, despite its aggressive monetization, while Paper struggles with high prices and reliability issues.

Full reviews: Paper · ArtWorkout

Paper, once a beloved drawing and journaling app, is now criticized for its high subscription prices and frequent glitches. ArtWorkout, while also heavily monetized with ads and 'energy' systems, is generally seen as a fun and helpful tool for learning to draw, especially for younger users.

Head to head

Features tieR3R5R12R15
Paper Paper offers tools for sketching, drawing, and journaling, with users appreciating its simple design and cut tool for collages R36. However, many basic features like adding multiple photos, advanced art tools, text input, and adjusting pen size are locked behind a Pro subscription R3R5R12R15. Users also report missing features like copy and paste or layers .
ArtWorkout ArtWorkout provides guided drawing lessons and multiplayer options, which users find fun and helpful for improving drawing skills . However, essential tools like the eraser are locked behind a premium subscription . The app also lacks a stabilizer tool and brush size adjustments .
Ease of Use tieR8R21R28R36
Paper Paper is generally considered easy to use with a friendly interface and awesome colors and flawless tools R8R36. However, some users find the tutorial too long R21, and the free version is very limited, making it difficult to use without a subscription R28.
ArtWorkout ArtWorkout is described as fun and engaging, especially for learning to draw . However, the 'energy' system and frequent ads disrupt the user experience, forcing users to watch multiple ads or wait for hours to continue drawing R63R68R75. The multiplayer mode is also criticized for having bots instead of real players .
Reliability tieR2R33R37R39
Paper Paper users report significant reliability issues, including frequent glitches, crashing, and failure to auto-save R2R33R39. Many users have lost work due to these problems R37R39R53. Syncing is also problematic, often requiring re-downloads and internet connection, and pushing users towards Evernote R18R36R48R53.
ArtWorkout ArtWorkout users experience issues with the energy system not refilling as expected , and ads sometimes not granting energy . Some users report their work being deleted or not saving . The photo drawing feature was also removed and is not working for paying users R79.
Price/Value tieR1R7R10R16
Paper Paper is widely criticized for its exorbitant and increasing prices, with a yearly subscription now costing around $100 R1R10R19R22. Many users feel this price is unreasonable for the features offered, especially compared to its past pricing of $11-12 per year R1R10R19. The free version is severely limited, making the app almost unusable without a subscription R7R16R28.
ArtWorkout ArtWorkout is also heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization, with many features, including the eraser and most drawings, locked behind a subscription R64. The subscription price is around $50 annually . Free users are forced to watch 3 ads for one 'energy' point, which allows for a single drawing, and energy often takes hours to refill R63R64R68.
Support tieR13R53R61R79
Paper Users indicate that Paper has poor support, with claims of "zero engineers or designers on the Paper team" since being sold to Evernote R13. There are reports of issues not being resolved, such as iCloud storage problems leading to lost journals R53.
ArtWorkout ArtWorkout users report issues like energy not refilling and the photo drawing feature being removed without resolution or accommodation for paying users R79. Some users also mention problems with canceling free trials and not receiving refunds R61.
Pick Paper if

you prioritize a simple, elegant interface for digital journaling and sketching, and are willing to pay a premium price despite reported reliability issues R8R36.

Pick ArtWorkout if

you are looking for a fun, guided drawing experience, especially for beginners or younger users, and don't mind frequent ads or a subscription to bypass limitations .

Evidence note: Both apps have a strong negative skew in recent reviews due to aggressive monetization strategies and price increases, making it challenging to find positive feedback on value for money. The high lifetime ratings for both apps likely reflect a period before these changes.

Frequently asked

How much does Paper cost?
Paper's yearly subscription now costs around $100, a significant increase from its original price of about $11-12 per year R1R10R19R22.
Can I use ArtWorkout for free?
Yes, ArtWorkout has a free tier, but it is heavily restricted; you must watch three ads to earn one 'energy' point, which allows for a single drawing, and energy refills can take hours R63R64R68R75.
Does Paper have syncing issues?
Yes, many Paper users report significant syncing problems, with journals constantly needing to re-download, requiring an internet connection, and the app often nudges users towards the Evernote system R18R36R48R53.
Are there ads in ArtWorkout?
Yes, ArtWorkout has a lot of ads, with free users typically needing to watch three ads to get one 'energy' point for a single drawing, and ads often appear frequently between activities R63R64R68R75.

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. [R3] Paper 3/5 · US Good but could be better: The app overall is good, but my only thing is that most of the tools require pro or a subscription to certain parts. Most things I can’t use, like adding multiple photos to each page, using art tools, etc. Would be so much better if it didn’t all require pro.
  2. [R5] Paper 4/5 · US Amazing but not that great: I love this app so much but it doesn’t make it very fun when you have to get something that cost money just so you can add more photos. I could make something like a journal without it being money. 4 stars
  3. [R12] Paper 3/5 · US That’s crazy: You have to pay money just to have more than one picture on the paper. And they should add any update where you can actually type in this so I don’t always have to write everything. it gets a little irritating.😅
  4. [R15] Paper 3/5 · US Where’s the monthly subscription?: I love using this app for journaling but having to choose between $5 a week or $70 a year when I’ve only been given a week for free to explore all the functions and so on. Their journaling options are very limited when it comes to writing utensils as well. There’s only about 5 options to choose from and within those five options, there are set sizes to each pen.
  5. [R8] Paper 5/5 · US Friendly: Easy to use, colors are awesome , tools are flawless
  6. [R21] Paper 3/5 · US Great but a few things: Great and fun but the tutorial is to looooonnnggg and most things are for paper pro so yea great tho
  7. [R28] Paper 1/5 · US impossible to use: all the things you need cost money, and the icons get in the way and you can’t move them or anything! it’s very annoying and not worth it.
  8. [R36] Paper 3/5 · US Once Simple & Great: The app design is great. It is simple. And I LOVE skeuomorphic design. Since the first sellout from the original developer, though, we got things like pay-for-tools and sync, etc. But what is really killing the app is the sync feature. I am glad there is cloud backup, but journals constantly have to re-download, requiring a wait time and internet connection for what used to b
  9. [R2] Paper 5/5 · US I love this app: I love this app been using it for years!! But it’s so glitchy!! It used to not be so glitchy and I wish it had better features and more tools!
  10. [R33] Paper 3/5 · US It was good til it wasn’t: I LOVE this app for collage journals. I use the pro version on my iPad and it is so easy to use. In the past two years, the app crashes so much and often it takes multiple loads to sync all my notebooks. What happened? Please keep updating and fixing these issues. I’m happy to pay for this app, it just needs to be improved
  11. [R37] Paper 1/5 · US Awful: Spent hours working on something and switched to a different app and the app was just gone and all my stuff was deleted. I think it’s ridiculous to restore stuff you have to pay and the price is too high for me to even consider. Never using again was a waste of my time
  12. [R39] Paper 3/5 · US Good but glitches lots: This app is great for quick sketching and collecting photos, etc, but it glitches often and doesn't always auto save. I have lost a lot of work over the years due to the app glitching, which has been frustrating. It’s always a risk when I use this app for important projects but I still enjoy it enough to take that risk. Would be great to get the syncing and saving a little
  13. [R1] Paper 1/5 · US I used to love this app and decided to try it again: Originally in 2021 it was 11ish for a whole year of pro, which was reasonable bc most people will buy physical journals of the same price yearly. I was so disappointed to find out that the app is now 100 for the year. I don’t have that kind of money it’s honestly such a slap to the face as a consumer
  14. [R7] Paper 1/5 · US Cannot use without membership: Will not let me draw unless I purchase anything, requires a membership for some reason I am not sure if this is a user error or if you cannot do anything without a membership, which is insane because it is $100 a year
  15. [R10] Paper 1/5 · US Insane prices: The yearly price increase is crazy for this app. Especially in comparison to the yearly payment 3 years ago. Not much has changed in the app services to be charging this much.. I’ve been paying for this app for 5 years and I probably won’t keep paying for it anymore. I like the app but not convinced it’s worth the increased price.
  16. [R16] Paper 2/5 · US Kinda annoying but otherwise OK: I LOVE THIS! But its so annoying i can barely do anything without Pro. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO GET PRO.
  17. [R13] Paper 2/5 · US No one maintains it: This was one of the greatest apps for iPad. But since it was sold to Evernote they charge $100/year and have zero engineers or designers on the Paper team. A complete hustle.
  18. [R53] Paper 5/5 · US It used to be great…: I loved this app it was my go-to for notes and drawings ever since Fifty-three created it. But ever since the io26 update, this app is pretty useless in its iCloud storage, I’ve lost a ton of my journals with no recovery in sight. Luckily I export most of my drawings, but still.
  19. [R61] ArtWorkout 1/5 · US This app sucks: Sucks really bad I tired to cancel a free trial and it didn’t let me and now I can’t a get refund
  20. [R79] ArtWorkout 1/5 · US USED TO LOVE BUT…: They removed the photo drawing feature and it hasn’t worked since, the reason I pay for app. They refusing to resolve or accommodate & I’m a paying consumer. I have free apps that offered accommodations to THEIR MISTAKE…. save your money.
  21. [R19] Paper 1/5 · US evernote corporation should die: the audacity to buy this app and make it 99 dollars per year or 9.99 dollars per week which is 40 A MONTH is insane, especially when it was originally 12 a years with the original developers. istg cant have NOTHING NICE.
  22. [R22] Paper 1/5 · US Expensive: The price itself is just unreasonable when it wasn’t this cost a year ago. Don’t understand why it’s about $100 to even use it. Doesn’t make sense how adding pictures is a premium add on ??? It’s crazy and not worth buying it.
  23. [R63] ArtWorkout 3/5 · US Disappointed: I am really disappointed. The game is a wonderful game I must say and the creator must have wonderful talent to do something as wonderful as this. The problem is that when I open the app and did one lesson ,I loved it so much that I wanted to do another one but then I realized to do it I had get something called an energy point . So I found out how to get one I had to watch 3 adds no
  24. [R64] ArtWorkout 2/5 · US "pay to win" totally not worth it: the inly thing good about this app is that the drawings are cute. i dont want to have to PAY to draw something by myself, i dont want to PAY to get rid of ads, and i dont want to PAY for this app when there are others that are identical without the paywalls. the 'energy' requirements are stupid, when i come home from my day at my 5-5 i want to just sit down and d
  25. [R68] ArtWorkout 4/5 · US It's good but..: It's good but it's just that you haft to wait for a bit to get energy and idk if it's hours to wait and I hate to wait. Also, all of the drawings needs a free trial and I really want to draw but I always haft to wait. So I haft to use a other drawing app so I can draw. It's just not fair that you haft to pay when you just started. So If the owner of this app reading this, please j
  26. [R75] ArtWorkout 3/5 · US I LIKE IT BUT…..: I really love this app but I don’t like that there is three ads for 1 single energy and it is just annoying that after u finished it just says go to premium and it takes 3 hours to do another drawing Something to make it better is that 1 ad is one energy or do no ads and we can do more drawings a day
  27. [R18] Paper 3/5 · US Cloud, Flow, Syncing Needs a Major Revision: This app is ideal to capture ideas and bring your vision to life, however, syncing is so limited and nudges the EverNote system on you. That’s not a good look. Syncing should be streamline without downloading any other app.
  28. [R48] Paper 3/5 · US $10 a month so my ipad syncs w my phone?…🤡: We are in the big 25, there is no justified reason why I should have to pay for my devices to talk to each other. They suggest an app so you can “do notes on the go” but they don’t sync at all so essentially it’s an ad for a notes app with a notes app…

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