ibis Paint X vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against ibis Paint X's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

ibis Paint X
This App
Procreate
Contender
Core Identity
Developeribis inc.Visual Blasters LLCMediBang inc.Adobe Inc.CELSYS,Inc.Savage Interactive Pty LtdTopHatch, Inc.Sketchbook, IncSean BrakefieldLeonardo Interactive Pty Ltd
CategoryGraphics & DesignGraphics & DesignGraphics & DesignGraphics & DesignGraphics & DesignGraphics & DesignGraphics & DesignGraphics & DesignGraphics & DesignGraphics & Design
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, Android
Store Metrics
Rating4.7 / 54.6 / 54.6 / 54.7 / 54.4 / 54.4 / 54.7 / 54.8 / 54.1 / 54.8 / 5
Ratings Count279,596243,42931,68959,3461,46049,15526,054220,20010,0769,119
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFree$12.99FreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateAug 1, 2011Mar 4, 2017Jul 15, 2015Sep 24, 2019Dec 4, 2019Mar 16, 2011Oct 6, 2012Oct 9, 2014Aug 26, 2016Aug 3, 2023
Last UpdatedApr 12, 2026Apr 29, 2026Apr 15, 2026Jun 26, 2026Mar 30, 2026Mar 29, 2026Apr 15, 2026Jun 1, 2026Jan 22, 2026Apr 15, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentpositivepositive-mixed---positivemixed-
Score85/10075/100-65/100---75/10045/100-
Praises
  • Beginner-friendly drawing tools and intuitive interface design facilitate rapid skill development for new artists
  • Simple animation mechanics allow beginners to create frame-by-frame projects without complex technical barriers
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  • Professional-grade brush engine
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  • Extensive library of free brushes and tools supports creative expression for digital art beginners
  • Ad-free experience provides a clean and focused environment for long-form drawing sessions
  • Extensive brush library and tool variety provide professional-grade creative capabilities for digital artists
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Complaints
  • Lack of cloud-based account synchronization prevents progress recovery after app reinstallation or device changes
  • Aggressive monetization and paywalls for essential features frustrate users who previously accessed tools for free
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  • UI clutter and navigation friction
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  • Gallery and save management issues cause permanent loss of user artwork after exiting
  • Frequent application crashes during canvas interaction lead to significant loss of unsaved creative progress
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Requests
  • Cloud-based account system to enable cross-device progress synchronization and data recovery
  • Expanded layer capacity and improved rotation tools would better support complex animation projects
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  • Social sharing and community features
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  • Animation features requested to expand the utility of the app for motion-based artwork
  • Cloud-based project synchronization across multiple devices would enable seamless transitions between phone and tablet
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Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Social-sharing recording feature drives organic acquisition velocity
  • 47,000-brush library creates a high-value asset barrier
  • Freemium model sustains high install volume across 500M+ downloads
  • Editors' Choice badge sustains organic install velocity
  • Community-driven challenges drive viral content sharing
  • Intuitive frame-by-frame timeline lowers barrier to entry
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  • Superior brush physics engine enables professional-grade output
  • Creative Cloud integration creates high switching costs
  • System-level Apple Pencil Pro compatibility
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  • Ad-free interface sustains long-form creative sessions
  • Brush engine mimics physical media for natural feel
  • High-fidelity output supports professional use cases
  • Cross-platform parity across Android and iOS expands addressable market [Market Segment]
  • One-time payment model functions as a cost-effective barrier against subscription-fatigued artists [Pricing Strategy]
  • Customizable interface minimizes canvas clutter for professional workflows [UI/UX]
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Weaknesses
  • Lack of account-based cloud sync causes permanent data loss
  • System-level gesture interference disrupts brush strokes on Android
  • Aggressive premium-gating of custom brush exports limits power users
  • Performance regressions in the latest update disrupt workflow
  • Subscription-only gating for audio and layers triggers churn
  • Lack of undo-layer-deletion safety net risks project loss
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  • 1.2★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates platform parity issues
  • High-friction UI for casual users
  • Lack of native social-sharing community features
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  • Gallery data-loss bugs trigger churn
  • No cloud-save functionality
  • 0.7-star Android-iOS rating gap
  • Frequent application crashes during canvas interaction [Version Stability]
  • Lack of cloud-save functionality hinders multi-device workflows [Feature Gap]
  • Limited layer capacity in free tier restricts project complexity [Monetization]
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Pricingfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumpaidfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemium
MomentumActiveActiveIntenseActiveIntenseIntenseIntenseMaintenanceMaintenanceIntense
Update Cadence5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~31d avg5 versions, ~7d avg5 versions5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~9d avg5 versions5 versions5 versions4 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~46d avg5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~31d avg5 versions

Compare ibis Paint X head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ibis Paint X, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0