Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Paper vs Simply Draw

Paper 4.6★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Simply Draw
Simply Draw 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70

Simply Draw offers a more engaging experience for beginners, but Paper provides more advanced features for committed users.

Full reviews: Paper · Simply Draw

While both apps have free versions with limitations, Simply Draw is praised for its fun, guided drawing tutorials, making it suitable for children and beginners. Paper, on the other hand, has a loyal user base but faces criticism for its high subscription costs and limited free features.

Head to head

features edge: Simply DrawR3R5R63R75
Paper Paper users appreciate its variety of tools but criticize the high cost for premium features, with many feeling limited by the free version R3R5.
Simply Draw Simply Draw users enjoy the guided drawing lessons, especially for beginners, but many express frustration over the need to pay for additional content after the initial free drawing R63R75.
ease of use edge: Simply DrawR2R39R65R89
Paper Paper is described as easy to use but has been reported to glitch often, which can hinder the user experience R2R39.
Simply Draw Simply Draw is noted for its user-friendly interface, especially for children, making it easy to start drawing R65R89.
reliability edge: Simply DrawR33R39R63R75
Paper Users of Paper have reported issues with app stability and syncing, leading to frustrations over lost work R33R39.
Simply Draw Simply Draw users generally find the app reliable for its intended purpose, though some mention the frustrations of hidden costs R63R75.
price/value tieR1R10R64R75
Paper Paper's subscription model at $100 per year is seen as excessive, especially compared to its previous pricing R1R10.
Simply Draw Simply Draw's pricing is also criticized, with users feeling misled about its free offerings, but it offers a lower entry point for beginners R64R75.
support edge: Simply DrawR13R19R84R91
Paper Paper users feel neglected by the lack of updates and support since being acquired by Evernote R13R19.
Simply Draw Simply Draw users have not reported significant issues with support, but many express a desire for clearer communication about costs R84R91.
Pick Paper if

you are looking for a more feature-rich app and are willing to pay for premium tools.

Pick Simply Draw if

you want an engaging, beginner-friendly drawing app for kids or casual users.

Evidence note: Both apps have free tiers, but Paper's high subscription cost may skew its reviews more negatively compared to Simply Draw, which also faces criticism for hidden costs.

Frequently asked

What is the cost of Paper and Simply Draw?
Paper costs $100 per year for full access, while Simply Draw offers a free trial but requires payment after the first drawing, often around $15 per month.

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. [R63] Simply Draw 3/5 · US Idk: It cost money and I like it, but it cost money and I literally like who would do that and it says it was for free but nope, it cost money
  4. [R75] Simply Draw 3/5 · US Do not download ⚠️: They get you all exited because they complement you and other things and then if you want to do another drawing…… BOOM you get hit with the free trial screen. And once the free trial is done they want you to pay 200 dollars a year for a “ premium” experience. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
  5. [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!
  6. [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
  7. [R65] Simply Draw 5/5 · US Extremely well guided: It’s a great app for kids who have no interest in drawing amazingly well organized . Made big drawings so simple
  8. [R89] Simply Draw 5/5 · US Love it❤️❤️❤️: This is the best drawing app I could ever see in my life. This is the best. I love it. You guys should download it. It’s the best.
  9. [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
  10. [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
  11. [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.
  12. [R64] Simply Draw 1/5 · US >:(: It said that it would be free, but once you’re done with the intro you have to pay so it is a lie don’t get it (trust)
  13. [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.
  14. [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.
  15. [R84] Simply Draw 3/5 · US good but a bit of a scam 𓆉: hi! simply draw has been amazing, well, what i got of it. it says free, right? well at least the intro is free but immediately after the intro, it makes you pay. thanks for the game, but next time just say that you have to pay. theres no use in lying. or at least thats what i think thats what this is.
  16. [R91] Simply Draw 2/5 · US How dare u: I had completed the fish stages and now I have to either use the free trial or buy a subscription like how stupid !!!!!!!!!!!

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