Art Set 4
by Lofopi
Art Set 4 is an iPad painting app focused on hyper-realistic traditional media, with free core tools and a one-time Pro upgrade.
- Price
- Free; Unlock All $12.99 one-time
- Runs on
- iPadOS
- Rating
- ★ 4.6 on the App Store (29K ratings)
iArtbook
by Alexander Kondrashov
iArtbook is a painting and animation app for iPad, iPhone and Mac with unlimited layers, wet brushes and a lesson mode for learning by copying.
- Price
- Free; Pro $12.99 one-time ($7.99 iPhone only)
- Runs on
- iPadOS, iOS, macOS
- Rating
- ★ 3.8 on the App Store (12K ratings)
Key differences
Only iArtbook has
- iPhone: Yes, same app
- Mac: Yes, Apple silicon Macs
Feature comparison
| Feature | Art Set 4 |
iArtbook |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; Unlock All $12.99 one-time | Free; Pro $12.99 one-time ($7.99 iPhone only) |
| Free version | Yes, core realistic tools | Yes |
| Subscription | None | None |
| Ad-free | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| No account needed | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | No, iPad only | Yes, same app |
| Mac | No, iPad only | Yes, Apple silicon Macs |
| Android and Chromebook | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Core tools free; 200 advanced brushes in Pro | Pro brushes plus 1,000+ textures |
| Brush customization | Size, opacity, flow, grain, loading, dynamics | 50+ settings per brush |
| Brush import | Not advertised | Import and export brushes |
| Apple Pencil | Deeply integrated | Pressure, tilt, azimuth |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Screentones | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Text and lettering | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Not advertised | Unlimited |
| Blend modes | Pro | Yes |
| Masks | Layer masks and alpha lock (Pro) | Masks |
| Adjustments and filters | Hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, blur (Pro) | Not advertised |
| Selection tools | Quick masking for local adjustments | Selection tool |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Pro | Not advertised |
| Perspective guides | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Shape primitives (Pro) | Not advertised |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Metallic colors | Not advertised |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Not advertised | Unlimited frames, multiple animation layers |
| 3D painting | Raised 3D paint texture, not 3D models | Not advertised |
| Timelapse | Yes | On by default |
| Live collaboration | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Generative AI | None advertised | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Export | Not advertised |
| Export formats | PSD and images | PNG, MP4, HEVC, GIF, APNG |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 (29K ratings) | 3.8 / 5 (12K ratings) |
| Last updated | November 16, 2023 | January 7, 2026 |
| Languages | 1 | 39 |
Price
Both are free to download, but they charge for different things.
Art Set 4 is free to download with its core realistic tools. A single $12.99 Unlock All purchase adds 200 advanced brushes, layer features, symmetry and adjustments, with no subscription.
iArtbook is free to download, and Pro is a one-time upgrade: $12.99 on iPad, or $7.99 for iPhone only, with no subscription.
Platforms
Both run on iPad. Only iArtbook runs on iPhone and Mac.
Art Set 4: On the App Store, Art Set 4 is available for iPad and Apple Vision Pro only, not iPhone or Mac, and the app was last updated in November 2023.
iArtbook is one app for iPhone and iPad that also runs on Apple silicon Macs.
Brushes
Art Set 4 is all about realistic traditional media: oil paint, fluid watercolor that flows as you paint, oil pastel, pencil, marker, wax crayon and 3D paint you can etch back into. The canvas tracks where paint is wet or dry, and Pro adds 200 more brushes.
iArtbook brushes can be dry, glossy or wet, with three kinds of wet paint, more than 50 settings per brush, and a library of over 1,000 textures to build your own. Calligraphy smoothing keeps lines clean even when you draw with a finger.
Layers and editing
Art Set 4: Pro unlocks layer masks, blend modes, alpha lock and transforms, plus localized adjustments for hue, saturation, brightness, contrast and blur through quick masking.
iArtbook: Layers are unlimited, with blend modes, masks and lossless transforms. Two color pickers, a color mixer and palette import and export round out the color tools.
Drawing tools and extras
Art Set 4: Drawing aids are simple: flood fill, symmetry and shape primitives in Pro, Slow Draw for smooth lines, and textured papers and canvases. It records a timelapse and exports layered PSD files.
iArtbook does frame-by-frame animation with unlimited frames and multiple animation layers, exporting to MP4, HEVC, GIF and APNG. Its lesson mode lets you copy any painting or sketch side by side to learn, and timelapse recording is on by default.
Which should you choose?
Choose Art Set 4 if
- You want hyper-realistic oils, watercolors and pastels
- You want 3D paint you can etch back into
- You paint on Apple Vision Pro as well as iPad
- You want Slow Draw for smooth, calligraphic lines
Choose iArtbook if
- You want animation with unlimited frames
- You want to learn by copying artwork in a side-by-side lesson mode
- You want unlimited layers
- You want to build your own brushes from over 1,000 textures
Frequently asked questions
Is Art Set 4 better than iArtbook?
Neither is better for everyone. Art Set 4 is the better pick if you want hyper-realistic oils, watercolors and pastels, or you want 3D paint you can etch back into. iArtbook suits you better if you want animation with unlimited frames, or you want to learn by copying artwork in a side-by-side lesson mode.
Is Art Set 4 free?
Yes, Art Set 4 is free to download with its core realistic tools. A one-time $12.99 Unlock All purchase adds 200 advanced brushes and the professional features, with no subscription.
Is iArtbook free?
Yes, iArtbook is free to download. Pro is a one-time upgrade, $12.99 on iPad or $7.99 for iPhone only, with no subscription.
Which works on iPhone, Art Set 4 or iArtbook?
Art Set 4 is not available on iPhone. iArtbook runs on iPhone in the same app as on iPad.
Do Art Set 4 and iArtbook work on Android?
Art Set 4 does not list an Android version. iArtbook does not list an Android version.
Do Art Set 4 or iArtbook use generative AI?
Art Set 4 does not advertise any generative AI features. iArtbook does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
Facts checked on October 2, 2026. Prices are from the US App Store, and features from each app's listing and official site. Apps change often, so check the App Store for current prices and features. Art Set 4 and iArtbook are trademarks of their respective owners. App icons come from each app's App Store listing and belong to their owners. Paintrix Studio is not affiliated with the makers of Art Set 4 and iArtbook.