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

Tayasui Sketches vs Sketchbook®

Tayasui Sketches 4.5★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner Sketchbook®
Sketchbook® 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75

Sketchbook is the better choice for most users due to its more stable free offering, wider range of free tools, and better overall reliability, despite some users experiencing glitches.

Full reviews: Tayasui Sketches · Sketchbook®

Tayasui Sketches has faced significant backlash for recent changes to its pricing model, moving essential features behind subscriptions and paywalls, which has alienated many long-time users. Sketchbook, while not without its own glitches and feature requests, generally offers a more robust free experience with a wider array of tools and better stability.

Head to head

Features & Tools edge: Sketchbook®R1R7R11R13
Tayasui Sketches Tayasui Sketches offers a good range of tools for sketching and drawing, with users appreciating its clear UI and ease of sorting drawings R21R35. However, many essential tools like basic pens, more marker options, and even the ability to create new artworks or rotate the canvas are now locked behind a paywall or subscription R1R7R11R13. Some users also note a lack of advanced features for professional artists R21.
Sketchbook® Sketchbook is praised for its diverse toolkit, wide range of free brushes, and customization options for size, blend, and opacity R74. It allows users to create multiple drawings without payment R74. However, some users desire more advanced features like shape tools, alpha lock, liquify, blur/blending brushes, the ability to create custom brushes, or animation on mobile . The fill bucket tool is also a common point of frustration .
Ease of Use & UI tieR6R21R35R60
Tayasui Sketches Tayasui Sketches generally has an easy-to-navigate menu and clear UI R21R35. However, some users find it laggy R6 and recent updates have made navigation more cumbersome, requiring users to click through folders one at a time R60.
Sketchbook® Sketchbook is often described as user-friendly and organized, with features that are easy to use for beginners . However, some users find it not beginner-friendly due to a lack of tutorials and difficulty understanding how to use certain tools or navigate the interface . Issues like a persistent pop-up or difficulty saving to photos also hinder ease of use .
Reliability & Performance edge: Sketchbook®R4R12R21R24
Tayasui Sketches Tayasui Sketches is frequently reported to crash constantly, especially on older devices R4R21R24R28. Users have experienced freezing, inability to save art, and the app not starting, sometimes requiring reinstallation R24R28. There are also concerns about the app deleting or not saving work R12.
Sketchbook® Sketchbook users also report issues with crashing, freezing, and work being deleted or distorted . Some experience brushes not working or color picker issues . However, many users have found it to be a very reliable app over many years .
Price & Value edge: Sketchbook®R1R3R4R7
Tayasui Sketches Tayasui Sketches has seen a significant negative shift in its pricing model. Many users who previously purchased the 'full version' or 'pro' are now being forced into monthly or weekly subscriptions for features that were once free or a one-time purchase R1R3R4R7. This has led to accusations of being a 'cash grab' and 'scam' R4. The app is seen as expensive and annoying due to constant prompts to pay .
Sketchbook® Sketchbook is widely praised for offering a robust free experience with many brushes and tools R62R74R98R107. Many users appreciate that it doesn't require ads or payment for basic drawing functions R62R74R98. While there is a premium option, some users pay for it simply because they feel the developers deserve the money for providing such a good free app . The pro version is considered affordable and worth it for additional features . However, some users have been confused by free trials leading to unexpected charges or believe that features that were once free are now paid .
Pick Tayasui Sketches if

You are a long-time user who has managed to avoid the recent paywall changes, or you specifically prefer its traditional art feel and clear UI and are willing to pay for its full features R21R35.

Pick Sketchbook® if

You are a beginner or experienced artist looking for a robust, free drawing app with a wide range of brushes and tools, or you are willing to pay a reasonable one-time fee for additional features R74R98.

Evidence note: Recent reviews for Tayasui Sketches are heavily skewed negative due to significant changes in its pricing model, which has alienated many long-time users who feel betrayed by the sudden shift to subscriptions for previously owned or free features. This makes direct comparison on 'free vs paid' challenging as Tayasui Sketches is perceived as a 'free app with paid features' that has become 'paid-only' for many essential functions, whereas Sketchbook maintains a strong free tier.

Frequently asked

Is Tayasui Sketches truly free?
No, while advertised as free, many basic and essential features in Tayasui Sketches, such as creating new artworks, accessing basic pens, or rotating the canvas, are now locked behind a paywall or subscription R1R7R15R34.
Does Sketchbook have a good free version?
Yes, Sketchbook is widely praised for its robust free version, offering a diverse toolkit, many brushes, and the ability to create multiple drawings without ads or payment R62R74R98R107.
Which app is more stable?
Sketchbook generally appears more stable, with many users reporting long-term reliability , although some do experience crashes and glitches . Tayasui Sketches is frequently reported to crash constantly and be unstable, especially on older devices R4R21R24R28.
Can I use an Apple Pencil with these apps?
Yes, both apps are compatible with Apple Pencil, with Sketchbook users specifically highlighting a great experience when using it for drawing and coloring R56R110.

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] Tayasui Sketches 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. [R7] Tayasui Sketches 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. [R11] Tayasui Sketches 4/5 · US Good: Tayasui sketches is pretty good but i wish there were more marker options
  4. [R13] Tayasui Sketches 1/5 · US Terrible: Thank you for removing every feature that makes this app good and then putting it behind a subscription service.
  5. [R6] Tayasui Sketches 3/5 · US Potential: Everything cost money can’t do anything. Laggy.
  6. [R21] Tayasui Sketches 3/5 · US Good app but could use improvements: Crashes a lot on older devices, if you don’t want your stuff to look so traditional then the app probably isn’t for you. Everyone on sketches community posts traced drawings or stolen art. They an have AI ‘art’ generator now. Other than that, the clear UI, the easiness to sort drawings, and the tutorials are very good.
  7. [R35] Tayasui Sketches 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!
  8. [R60] Tayasui Sketches 3/5 · GB Good, but Annoying upgrades: This programme is on the whole really good, but recent upgrades are annoying (you now have to click through all folders one at a time whereas previously you could quickly scroll through). It often glitches requiring you to close it down and restart. Overall it is easy to use for general sketching.
  9. [R4] Tayasui Sketches 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
  10. [R12] Tayasui Sketches 3/5 · US Trust Issues: This is a good app. That being said, make sure you keep copies of every layer. Just in case they change the paywall again. It’s good to be back. Don’t scare me like that again, please. Thanks for keeping all my stuff.
  11. [R24] Tayasui Sketches 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
  12. [R3] Tayasui Sketches 3/5 · US Ok: It’s OK, but I think having to pay for it and subscribeTwo. It is crazy.
  13. [R15] Tayasui Sketches 3/5 · US It’s okay: It’s okay because it needs to be purchased to draw more than one drawing😕
  14. [R34] Tayasui Sketches 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.
  15. [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!
  16. [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
  17. [R98] Sketchbook® 5/5 · US Best app ever!: As a beginning artist I recommend this app to anyone who wants to learn how to draw! It is free and has NO ads! I LOVE this app and use it daily. Thank you so much devs! I love this and you don’t need a membership to play!
  18. [R107] Sketchbook® 5/5 · US Best drawing stuff ever: 10 year old me wanting to find a digital app to color in when bored and I found sketchbook and unlike other drawing apps when you do not have premium you can do fun actual stuff instead of ONE thing it annoys me a lot when they do that but it is super fun and you can make whatever you want so if you want a good drawing get sketchbook 🫪😃😇✌️
  19. [R28] Tayasui Sketches 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.
  20. [R56] Tayasui Sketches 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
  21. [R110] Sketchbook® 5/5 · US ITS SO GOOD WITH APPLE PENCIL: I use my Apple Pencil to draw and color and it’s so cool and the pencil helps it draw better and the app is so fun I RATE IT 5 STARS :D

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