Report updated Jun 19, 2026
PencilPic - Pencil filters
For casual mobile users seeking quick, artistic photo editing tools to transform images into drawings or paintings.
PencilPic - Pencil filters is a struggling photo & video app that is completely free. With a 5.0/5 rating from 2 reviews, it struggles with user retention.
What is PencilPic - Pencil filters?
PencilPic is a photo editing app for iOS that applies artistic pencil and oil painting filters to user images.
Users hire PencilPic for quick, stylized photo transformations that standard editors lack, but the ad-heavy experience forces them to seek alternatives once the initial novelty fades.
Current Momentum
v2.2 · 31mo ago
Zombie- Added photo scaling and rotation tools.
- Last major update released Sep 2023.
Active Nemesis
My Sketch - Pencil Sketches
By Miinu
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸
Photo & VideoNo ranking data
Rating Pulse 🇺🇸
Recent User Mood
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
What Are The Key Features?
Applies artistic drawing effects to photos selected from the gallery or captured via camera
Slider-based control to modify the intensity or value of applied artistic filters
Tools to adjust, move, and rotate images within frames to isolate specific subjects
How much does it cost?
- Free access to all filters and features
The app operates as a free utility with no visible subscription or IAP gates, relying on user acquisition and potential ad-based monetization.
Who Built It?
Mireia Lluch Ortola
Providing simple, utility-focused photo editing and prank tools for casual mobile users. Streamlining creative expression through accessible, single-purpose applications.
Portfolio
13
Apps
What other apps does Mireia Lluch Ortola make?
Acertijos para mentes listas
Cut and paste my face in photo
Thug Life photo stickers
Happy birthday photos frames
Love calculator compatibility
Stun gun simulator for jokes
Explore the full Mireia Lluch Ortola report
Portfolio breakdown, audience, momentum, and every app published by Mireia Lluch Ortola.
What do users think recently?
Low confidence · 1 reviews analyzed
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a upset sentiment. but report aggressive advertising tactics disrupt the core photo editing experience for users and lack of original functionality as the app relies on basic open source code.
Limited review volume (1 reviews). Sentiment analysis will deepen as more data lands.
View the full user-sentiment analysis
Mood gauge, ratings & review-volume history, every praise / complaint / request, and sentiment over time.
What is the competitive landscape for PencilPic - Pencil filters?
How's The Photo & Video Market?
Market outlook for this category
Available very soon
The rivals identified
Nemeses(1)
This app is the direct market leader in the specific pencil-sketch niche, commanding a massive user base that dwarfs other specialized competitors.
Differentiators
- Maintains a singular focus on pencil-sketch conversion rather than broad-spectrum AI photo editing
- Established brand authority in the sketch-filter niche prevents casual users from seeking alternatives
- Long-term market presence creates a high barrier to entry for new niche-specific competitors
Head to head
The target app must emphasize its unique, non-replicable filter library to differentiate from the nemesis's commoditized sketch effects.
Contenders(2)
A powerful, feature-rich editor that captures the same audience looking for high-quality artistic filters.
Differentiators
- Includes advanced AI-driven retouching tools that go beyond simple pencil-style filters
- Maintains a professional-grade feature set that attracts power users looking for more control
Aggressive release cadence and broad AI-art capabilities make it a primary threat for users seeking stylized photo transformations.
Differentiators
- Integrates video-to-art processing which expands the utility beyond static image editing
- High-frequency feature updates keep the app relevant in the fast-moving AI art space
Same space(2)
A highly versatile editor with a massive global footprint and frequent feature updates.
Differentiators
- Offers an extensive suite of beauty and artistic filters that cater to social media trends
- High release velocity ensures the app remains at the forefront of viral photo-editing features
Adobe's massive ecosystem presence makes it a default choice for users seeking reliable, professional-grade photo editing tools.
Differentiators
- Leverages the industry-standard Adobe brand to provide a sense of professional reliability
- Cross-platform integration with desktop workflows provides a sticky experience for creative professionals
New entrants(1)
Rapidly growing with a high release cadence, signaling a pivot toward AI-generated video content.
Differentiators
- Focuses on generative AI video creation rather than just applying static filters to images
- Aggressive update schedule suggests rapid experimentation with new AI model integrations
Compare PencilPic - Pencil filters against every rival
All rivals in one side-by-side table — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel — plus a head-to-head page for each.
The outtake for PencilPic - Pencil filters
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Proprietary pencil and oil painting filter library
- Slider-based manual adjustment provides granular control
Critical Frictions
- Aggressive ad frequency disrupts the editing workflow
- Reliance on generic open source code implementations
Growth Levers
- Introduce non-intrusive premium tier to remove ads
- Integrate AI-driven style transfer to compete with modern editors
Market Threats
- High-fidelity AI editors like Toonapp capturing market share
- Established brand authority of My Sketch nemesis
What are the next best moves?
Cut ad frequency during editing because it is the #1 complaint theme → improve retention
User sentiment analysis identifies aggressive ads as the primary driver of negative feedback.
Trade-off: Reduce short-term ad revenue to prioritize long-term user retention.
Ship a premium ad-free subscription tier because current monetization is the top churn risk → increase LTV
The current free-only model forces an ad-heavy experience that alienates users.
Trade-off: Pause new filter development to focus on billing infrastructure.
A counter-intuitive read
The app's lack of original code is actually a defensive asset, as it allows for a zero-cost maintenance model that can be pivoted to a subscription-only utility without further R&D.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- AI-driven retouching tools (available in EPIK but missing here)
- Video-to-art processing (available in Toonapp but missing here)
Key Takeaways
PencilPic offers a unique artistic filter set but fails to retain users due to an ad-heavy experience, so the PM must prioritize an ad-free subscription tier to convert the casual user base into long-term customers.
Where Is It Heading?
Declining
The artistic-filter market is consolidating around high-fidelity AI tools that offer superior results with less friction. PencilPic remains exposed due to its reliance on legacy, ad-heavy mechanics, so the app will likely continue to lose market share unless it pivots to a premium, ad-free model.
Aggressive ad frequency in the latest version creates a negative feedback loop, which accelerates user churn and suppresses long-term rating growth.
The lack of original functionality and reliance on generic code prevents the app from competing with modern AI-art tools, leading to market irrelevance.