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

Paper vs Sketchbook®

Paper 4.6★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner Sketchbook®
Sketchbook® 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75

Sketchbook® is the better choice for artists seeking a feature-rich, free drawing app, while Paper is struggling with recent price increases and functionality limitations.

Full reviews: Paper · Sketchbook®

Sketchbook® offers a comprehensive set of free tools and a positive user experience for artists of all levels, despite some minor glitches. Paper, while appreciated for its simplicity, faces significant backlash over its recent drastic price increases and the locking of essential features behind expensive subscriptions.

Head to head

Features and Tools edge: Sketchbook®R3R5R8R12
Paper Paper is praised for its simple, easy-to-use interface and good basic tools like markers, paint brushes, and pencils R8. However, many users express frustration that advanced features, such as adding multiple photos, using certain art tools, adjusting pen sizes, or even basic text input, are locked behind a Pro subscription R3R5R12R15. Users also note the lack of features like layers and copy/paste .
Sketchbook® Sketchbook® is highly praised for its extensive array of free brushes and tools, suitable for both beginners and experienced artists R74. Users appreciate the ability to adjust brush sizes, blend, and opacity . It includes layers and customization options . Some users, however, wish for more advanced features like shapes , animation , Alpha Lock , or a blur/blending brush . There are also complaints about the fill bucket tool not working as expected and some brushes not working .
Ease of Use tieR7R8R21R28
Paper Paper is generally considered easy to use, with a friendly user interface R8R33R36. However, some users find the tutorial too long R21 and are annoyed by icons getting in the way R28. The lack of basic features in the free version makes it difficult to use for many R7R28.
Sketchbook® Sketchbook® is described as user-friendly and easy to use for both beginners and pros . However, some new users find it not beginner-friendly due to a lack of tutorials . There are also complaints about the interface, such as a persistent pop-up , difficulty changing brush size , and the canvas moving .
Reliability and Performance tieR2R18R33R36
Paper Paper users report significant issues with glitches and crashes, especially in recent years R2R33R39. Problems include lost work due to auto-save failures R37R39, syncing issues that require constant re-downloading and an internet connection R18R36, and iCloud storage problems leading to lost journals R53.
Sketchbook® Sketchbook® also has reliability concerns, with users reporting the app deleting half of their drawings , freezing and distorting work , and force-closing when trying to save or delete . Some users experience issues with color selection and brushes not working correctly . A major complaint is the lack of autosave on iPad, leading to lost hours of work R78R115.
Price and Value edge: Sketchbook®R1R3R4R5
Paper Paper faces overwhelming negative feedback regarding its pricing. Many long-term users are upset about a drastic increase in yearly subscription costs, from around $11-$12 to $70-$100 per year, and the introduction of weekly subscriptions ($5-$10 per week) R1R4. Users feel the app's services haven't changed enough to justify the price and that too many basic features are now paywalled R3R5R7. Some feel it's not worth the price compared to alternatives like Procreate .
Sketchbook® Sketchbook® is widely praised for being free and offering a vast array of brushes and features without requiring payment or ads R62R74. Many users appreciate that the premium features are optional and affordable ($3 for Pro) R92R95. Some older reviews mention that features used to be free but are now paid , though recent reviews emphasize the current free offerings.
Pick Paper if

You are looking for a simple, digital journaling or sketching app and are willing to pay a premium for its specific aesthetic and basic functionality, despite the high subscription cost and reported glitches R8.

Pick Sketchbook® if

You are an artist, beginner or experienced, looking for a powerful and feature-rich drawing app with a wide variety of free tools and brushes, and you appreciate a free app with optional, affordable premium upgrades R74R95.

Evidence note: Paper's reviews are heavily skewed by recent negative feedback regarding its pricing model and perceived decline in maintenance, contrasting with its higher lifetime rating. Sketchbook® has a larger volume of reviews, with a strong emphasis on its free offerings.

Frequently asked

Is Paper a free app?
Paper is technically a free app to download, but many essential features, such as adding multiple photos, using various art tools, and even basic drawing functionality, are locked behind a Pro subscription, which costs $70-$100 per year or $5-$10 per week R3R7R15R19.
Does Sketchbook® have a free version?
Yes, Sketchbook® offers a robust free version with a wide range of brushes and tools, allowing users to draw and create without ads or mandatory payments R62R74. There is an optional premium subscription for additional features, which some users find affordable at around $3 R92R95.
Do these apps have autosave?
Paper users report issues with auto-save, leading to lost work due to glitches and syncing problems R37R39. Sketchbook® users also complain about a lack of auto-save on iPad, resulting in lost hours of work R78R115.
Can I export my drawings from these apps?
Paper users mention issues with exporting, such as not being able to export PDFs R24 and having difficulty exporting work R53. Sketchbook® users also express a desire for easier export options, specifically to directly save drawings to photos R83R91.

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. [R8] Paper 5/5 · US Friendly: Easy to use, colors are awesome , tools are flawless
  4. [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.😅
  5. [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
  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. [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!
  9. [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.
  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. [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
  12. [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
  13. [R4] Paper 1/5 · US Greedy: I have paid and used this app for years with a single charge and years later they decided to charge monthly… greedy. If I knew I would be able to export years of work, I would have never stored my creations here
  14. [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.
  15. [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.
  16. [R62] Sketchbook® 5/5 · US Best app ever: If you're looking for a good app for drawing and writing i would recommend this app, it doesn't need you to watch an ad or anything like that to draw and if you want you can create an album and there are so many other stuffs that are so good! I can't recommend this app enough!
  17. [R74] Sketchbook® 5/5 · US Omg buy nowww: Sketchbook is literally amazing. First time. I tried it. It blew my mind of how many brushes there are for free. I mean, you don’t even have to pay for a certain amount of time and it’s just you can do whatever you want. There’s a lot of things that you can do, and you can make, however many, like untitled things you want. So amazing. You should totally buy it. Thank you for not mak
  18. [R92] Sketchbook® 5/5 · US I paid for the premium…: …but not cuz I needed any of the features, though they do add some handy stuff that I’m happy to have. I paid for it because they deserve the money. This is by far one of the best drawing experiences ever made, and it’s free. Couldn’t be happier to give them a few bucks.
  19. [R95] Sketchbook® 5/5 · US I love this app!!!: Though there is a payment for the pro it is tottaly worth it!! Only three dollars for a whole bunch more stuff!!! They have a lot of brushes and a whole site for help!! Super good!! Both beginners and experienced artist can really enjoy this app and I know I do!!!
  20. [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
  21. [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
  22. [R78] Sketchbook® 3/5 · US No autosave: I was all excited about this app. Excited about all the tools and possibilities. I jumped right in and started creating, spending hours working on my first project. When it was time to quit I closed the app and went on with my night. Only one problem. On iPad for some reason there is no auto save so all my hours of work are wasted. What creativity app these days does not auto save? Un
  23. [R115] Sketchbook® 1/5 · US NO: I HATE Ï HATE IT Ï HATE IT BECAUSE I WAS JUST DRAWING SOMETHING THAT WAS TAKING A LONG TIME LIKE WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT I GOT A PICTURE AND I COLORED MY FACE/ OTHER PARTS LIKE NECK AND SHIRT AND MY IPAD DIES WHEN I WASNT EVEN DONE AND I HAD ERASED THE FACE SO NOBODY SEES IT BUT ME AND THEN WHEN I GET INTO SKETCHBOOK I FIND THAT THE LITTLE UNDO ARROW IS LIGHT GREY SO IT WONT LET ME RETRIEV
  24. [R24] Paper 3/5 · US Can‘t export pdf: Hope can be fixed fast
  25. [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.
  26. [R83] Sketchbook® 4/5 · US Pretty good! But how do you save it to PHOTOS 🫪: I play Roblox so when I wanted to make a rig on a game called my movie (also a rig is like different pieces for the body so I can move in cool ways)so I turned it into a png and I tried to save it but idk how to and all the tutorials are from along time ago. Overall everything is good, except for that saving thing. Please add a save button in the ga
  27. [R91] Sketchbook® 1/5 · US Waahaaaaah: This app doesnt let me export to photos

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