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

Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw vs Simply Draw

Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 4.4★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner Simply Draw
Simply Draw 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65

Simply Draw is the better choice for those willing to pay for drawing lessons, offering a more focused and effective learning experience, while Drawing Desk is largely criticized for its aggressive paywall and limited free content.

Full reviews: Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw · Simply Draw

Both Drawing Desk and Simply Draw are drawing instruction apps that face significant criticism for their aggressive paywalls, despite being advertised as free. Simply Draw, however, appears to offer a more structured and effective learning experience for those who do subscribe, while Drawing Desk's paid content is less consistently praised.

Head to head

Features & Content edge: Simply DrawR3R9R12R14
Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw Drawing Desk offers various drawing categories, including anime, but most content requires a premium subscription R3R12. Some users appreciate the step-by-step guidance and features for improving drawing skills R14R53R35. However, many find the free content extremely limited, often just a few daily lessons or a single drawing R9R42.
Simply Draw Simply Draw provides structured drawing lessons, with many users praising its effectiveness in teaching them to draw, even making them feel like artists R77R89R95. The app is noted for having 'millions of drawings' for subscribers and no ads . However, the free content is severely restricted, typically to just one introductory drawing like a fish R70.
Ease of Use & Learning Experience edge: Simply DrawR16R35R45R53
Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw Users find Drawing Desk's step-by-step instructions helpful for learning to draw R53R35. Some enjoy the fun and relaxing aspect of the app R45. However, there are complaints about glitches, such as parts of drawings being deleted or the app moving to the next step prematurely R16R57.
Simply Draw Simply Draw is praised for its clear teaching methods, helping users sketch, shape, and detail their drawings effectively R89. Many users report significant improvement in their drawing skills after using the app R77R95. The introductory lessons are often described as impressive and engaging R72.
Reliability & Performance edge: Simply DrawR16R42R57R109
Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw Some users report glitches, such as the check button being glitchy or the app deleting parts of drawings and moving on prematurely R16R42R57.
Simply Draw While not extensively mentioned, one user found the 'teacher's voice is annoying' R109. There are no significant complaints about technical glitches or performance issues in the provided reviews.
Price & Value tieR1R4R7R9
Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw Drawing Desk is heavily criticized for its aggressive paywall, with nearly all content requiring a 'Pro' subscription or payment R1R4R7R31. Users feel misled by ads suggesting the app is free . The cost is perceived as too high, especially for children who want to draw R9.
Simply Draw Simply Draw also faces strong criticism for its paywall, with users feeling deceived by ads claiming it's free . After a single free drawing (usually a fish), users must pay for further lessons R70. Subscription prices are mentioned as around $15-20 a month, or $9.99 for 12 months R66R72R90.
Support & Communication tieR24R36R44R68
Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw Some users directly appeal to developers to make content free or address issues R24R36R44. There is no specific feedback on developer responsiveness or dedicated support channels.
Simply Draw Users also appeal to developers regarding the payment model R68. There is no specific feedback on developer responsiveness or dedicated support channels.
Pick Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw if

You are looking for a drawing app with a wide variety of categories, including anime, and are willing to pay for a subscription to access most content, despite potential glitches R3R14R45.

Pick Simply Draw if

You prioritize a structured and effective learning experience that genuinely helps improve drawing skills, and you are prepared to pay a subscription fee after a very limited free trial R77R89R95.

Evidence note: Both apps suffer from a significant free-vs-paid asymmetry. Many negative reviews for both apps stem from user frustration with misleading 'free' advertising and immediate paywalls. Simply Draw's higher lifetime rating and more positive comments from paying users suggest a better core product once the paywall is overcome, compared to Drawing Desk.

Frequently asked

Is Drawing Desk truly free to use?
No, Drawing Desk is not truly free; while it is advertised as such, nearly all content, including most drawing lessons and features, requires a paid 'Pro' subscription or in-app purchase, with only very limited free daily lessons or a single drawing available R1R4R7R31.
How much does Simply Draw cost?
Simply Draw typically offers a very limited free trial (often just one drawing like a fish), after which a subscription is required, with prices mentioned around $15-20 per month or $9.99 for 12 months R66R70R72R90.
Which app is better for learning how to draw?
Simply Draw appears to be better for learning how to draw, as many users, once they pay for the subscription, report significant improvement in their skills and appreciate its structured teaching methods R77R89R95.

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] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 3/5 · US Little drawings: There are too little drawings and for the others you need to buy premium which some people don’t want to buy. Furthermore many categories which include how to draw anime for example needs premium, so you aren’t learning anything.
  2. [R9] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 3/5 · US 🚫💲🤑💰⭐️⭐️⭐️3️⃣: This game is so fun! But it makes you pay for it. What if kids just want to play their game and parents just don’t have any money to spare. The only way I can play this game is if I play the daily lessons. But, I don’t like the daily lessons sometimes. So, thats why I am writing this to tell you about my experience. Thanks! 😊
  3. [R12] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 3/5 · US Cool: I think they shouldn’t have everything as a upgrade for you to only be able to use unless you pay the plan.
  4. [R14] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 5/5 · US Lucinda: I love the features that they have and how it really helps with drawing skills
  5. [R16] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 1/5 · US BAD GAME🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬🤬🤬🤬 funde: This game has to many gliches and I’m mad
  6. [R35] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 5/5 · US It is so good like it’s learning how me to draw: A five star
  7. [R45] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 3/5 · US .: It’s fun and relaxing, and I can do anything that I want now for my own colors and I can like find anime that I like like Demon slayer
  8. [R53] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 5/5 · US Love it: I love this game I love the way it shows you step by step on how to draw something u really want to draw but I love it a lot keep it going!!
  9. [R42] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 3/5 · US To the creators of Drawing Desk…: First of all, it cost money, and I searched up free drawing games and this shows up. There is one free drawing per day, but I don’t think that’s enough. And the check button is super glitchy. But I think it would be a great app if it was free it also helped me with art.
  10. [R57] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 3/5 · GB Please fix the app!: I absolutely loved this app, I always thought that I couldn’t draw but have learnt a lot just from using the app but since the update, it keeps deleting parts that I’ve already finished and moves on to the next step and I’m left stuck. This means I now part do drawings and end up quitting part way/most of the way through as it keeps deleting things and I get fed up. I now use
  11. [R109] Simply Draw 2/5 · US Two stars…: This app is good for new artists, though you do have to pay money for a subscription to get more than ONE lesson. So,overall the app is relatively good. (PS has ads, needs WiFi and in my opinion the teachers voice is annoying.) Two stars.
  12. [R1] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 1/5 · US U HAVE TO GET PRO: I try to pick a picture but every single picture has to have pro…WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OLD DRAWING DESK
  13. [R4] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 1/5 · US 1 stars you know why?: So here’s the thing I’ve seen a lot of drawing apps and they have been fake! Fake I tell u and I feel like finally something that is normal so I look and I say “here it comes just one sec” and zero dollars then I click the button and it says for me to subscribe to them I’m like well here I hope you guys can understand me
  14. [R7] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 1/5 · US Not a fan: I don’t really like this app because I have to pay to even do anything! Not cool.
  15. [R24] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 3/5 · US Dev pls read this: I want to play this but it cost money if it didn’t cost money 5/5 pls make it not cost money okay? I don’t see a ad option either so please make it free🙏 I’m begging you
  16. [R36] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 3/5 · US Few problems developer please respond: I don’t like how the game is very demanding with the free trial it doesn’t really have an x if you don’t want to do the free trial which I don’t like. Other than that the game pretty ok.
  17. [R44] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 5/5 · US DEVELOPER PLEASE READ!!!!!!!🙏🙏🙏: I really want to play this game but I’m not allowed too buy it and I really want to play it so that is all I want to say
  18. [R68] Simply Draw 5/5 · US AWSOME EXEPT ONE THING…..: I love this game but I can’t figure out how to get AI feedback and I know you guys are trying to make money, but could you make me feel a little bit lower? I really wanna drop my parents won’t let me keep doing that because of the subscription is so big but other than that I really love this game. It’s really fun and it really helped me prove how to draw. Certainly recom
  19. [R31] Drawing Desk:Learn How to Draw 1/5 · US HUGE PAYWALL DONT BUY IF U WANT A FREE APP: You can’t even use the app without paying. Nothing is free. If you are ok with paying get this app but otherwise DONT DO IT!
  20. [R66] Simply Draw 3/5 · US YOU HAVE TO PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!: So much fun this app thought me so much. It dose lie you have to pat like 20$ a month
  21. [R70] Simply Draw 1/5 · US I hate this app: The reason I hate this app is because that you only get to draw a fish and when you are done you have to pay for the app that’s why I hate this app
  22. [R72] Simply Draw 3/5 · US SOOO good but one problem: When i downloaded this game it asked me a bunch of questions, then it taught me how to draw a fish. I was sooo impressed in what I had drawn. But, next it wanted me to draw a panda, when I clicked on the panda it told me that I had to pay like $15 a month!!! But I had 7 days free trial. But, Im not gonna pay for a drawing app!!!!!!😠
  23. [R90] Simply Draw 3/5 · GB I don’t like that there’s a payment.: I don’t know why, but there are payments…9.99 for 12 moths, and 14 and something was for 1 month. My mum or me wouldn’t pay for simply draw. We would if it costed 10 pence but no way they are gonna do that. But at least I drew a good fish and it was a kind artist. He still had cool tricks up his sleeve. So still enjoy and be grateful for what you have! 👨🏻‍🎨🐠🐟
  24. [R77] Simply Draw 5/5 · US IM AN ARTIST NOW!: I’ve never thought I was good at art until I got this app!!!!!!!!
  25. [R89] Simply Draw 5/5 · US It’s AMAZING!!!!!!!!!: I love this app so much because it helps you learn how to draw kinda like a professional. The way it teaches you how to sketch, shape, and detail your drawing helps me to learn more about the process and what it takes to make your art better I highly recommend this app for anyone interested in drawing and creating things.
  26. [R95] Simply Draw 5/5 · US Simply Draw: After downloading this app I can now draw better than before!

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