Photoshop
by Adobe
Photoshop on iPad and iPhone is Adobe's mobile image editor, free to download with premium tools and generative AI by subscription.
- Price
- Free; premium from $7.99/month
- Runs on
- iPadOS, iOS
- Rating
- ★ 4.5 on the App Store (94K ratings)
Tayasui Sketches
by Tayasui
Tayasui Sketches is a minimalist sketching and painting app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android with realistic brushes and a calm, hidden-away interface.
- Price
- Free; Pro $7.99 or premium subscription
- Runs on
- iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Android
- Rating
- ★ 4.5 on the App Store (54K ratings)
Feature comparison
| Feature | Photoshop |
Tayasui Sketches |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; premium from $7.99/month | Free; Pro $7.99 or premium subscription |
| Free version | Yes, core editing tools | Yes, basic tools |
| Subscription | Required for premium tools and PSD export | Optional premium subscription |
| Ad-free | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| No account needed | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes, same app | Yes, same app |
| Mac | Desktop Photoshop, separate plan | Yes, Apple silicon Macs |
| Android and Chromebook | Separate Android app, in beta | Separate Android app |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Painting and retouching brushes | 20+ realistic tools |
| Brush customization | Basic brush settings | Brush editor |
| Brush import | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Apple Pencil | Supported | Full Apple Pencil support |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Screentones | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Text and lettering | Text and fonts | Text tool |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Not advertised | Layers, exportable as PNG or PSD |
| Blend modes | Advanced blend modes (premium) | Not advertised |
| Masks | Layer masks | Not advertised |
| Adjustments and filters | Adjustment layers and targeted adjustments | Not advertised |
| Selection tools | Tap Select, Object Select, Magic Wand | Cutter tool |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Spot Healing and Remove Tool | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Perspective guides | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Not advertised | Shapes (iPad only) |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Custom patterns |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| 3D painting | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Timelapse | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Live collaboration | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Generative AI | Yes: Generative Fill, Generate Image, AI Assistant (credits) | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Native PSD (premium export) | Import and export layered PSD |
| Export formats | PSD, TIFF, JPG, PNG | PNG, layered PSD |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 (94K ratings) | 4.5 / 5 (54K ratings) |
| Last updated | August 25, 2026 | April 10, 2026 |
| Languages | 19 | 13 |
Price
Both are free to download, but they charge for different things.
Photoshop on iPad and iPhone is free to download with core editing tools. Premium tools such as the Remove Tool, Content Aware Fill, advanced blend modes and PSD export need a subscription, starting at $7.99 a month for Photoshop Mobile & Web on the US App Store.
Tayasui Sketches is free to download. Its Pro tools are unlocked with a $7.99 one-time Pro purchase or a premium subscription, both offered on the US App Store.
Platforms
Both run on iPad, iPhone, Android and Mac. Only Photoshop runs on Windows.
Photoshop: The same Photoshop app runs on iPad and iPhone. Adobe also has an Android version in beta, and desktop Photoshop for Mac and Windows is sold separately.
Tayasui Sketches is one app for iPhone and iPad that also runs on Apple silicon Macs, and there is a separate Android version. Cloud sync keeps drawings in step across your devices.
Brushes
Photoshop on mobile is built for photo editing and compositing first. It has brushes for painting and retouching, but its painting tools are far more limited than those in dedicated painting apps.
Sketches has more than 20 carefully tuned tools, including pens, felt pens, oil pastel, acrylic, airbrush and wet and dry watercolor brushes that react to pressure and angle like a real brush on paper. A brush editor lets you tweak them.
Layers and editing
Photoshop: Its strength is editing: layers, masks, adjustment layers, Tap Select and Object Select, the Spot Healing Brush, Content Aware Fill and native PSD files that open in desktop Photoshop.
Tayasui Sketches: Layers can be exported as separate transparent PNGs, and layered PSD files can be imported and exported. Editing tools are deliberately simple, with a cutter, smudge tool and fill tool rather than a full adjustment suite.
Drawing tools and extras
Photoshop leans on Adobe Firefly for generative tools such as Generative Fill and Generate Image, which use generative credits. It does not advertise painting aids such as symmetry or perspective guides, or animation.
Tayasui Sketches: The interface hides tools while you draw for a calm, minimal canvas. It adds a ruler, shapes on iPad, text, custom patterns and folders to organize your sketchbook.
Which should you choose?
Choose Photoshop if
- You mostly edit and composite photos rather than paint
- You need native PSD files that open in desktop Photoshop
- You need precise object selection, healing and retouching
- You want generative AI tools such as Generative Fill
Choose Tayasui Sketches if
- You want a calm, minimal interface for sketching
- You want realistic watercolor, pastel and acrylic tools
- You want cloud sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac
- You want to draw and paint with custom patterns
Frequently asked questions
Is Photoshop better than Tayasui Sketches?
Neither is better for everyone. Photoshop is the better pick if you mostly edit and composite photos rather than paint, or you need native PSD files that open in desktop Photoshop. Tayasui Sketches suits you better if you want a calm, minimal interface for sketching, or you want realistic watercolor, pastel and acrylic tools.
Is Photoshop free?
Partly. Photoshop on iPad and iPhone is free to download with core tools such as layers, selections and adjustments. Premium tools and PSD export need a subscription, from $7.99 a month on the US App Store.
Is Tayasui Sketches free?
Yes, Tayasui Sketches is free to download. Its Pro tools need a $7.99 one-time Pro purchase or a premium subscription.
Which works on iPhone, Photoshop or Tayasui Sketches?
Both. Photoshop and Tayasui Sketches each run on iPhone in the same app as on iPad.
Do Photoshop and Tayasui Sketches work on Android?
Photoshop has a separate Android app, currently in beta. Tayasui Sketches has an Android version.
Do Photoshop or Tayasui Sketches use generative AI?
Photoshop includes generative AI: Generative Fill, Generate Image and an AI Assistant, powered by Adobe Firefly and generative credits. Tayasui Sketches does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
- Adobe Photoshop on the App Store
- Photoshop Android beta announcement coverage
- Tayasui Sketches on the App Store
- Tayasui Sketches on ChromeOS and Android
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. Photoshop and Tayasui Sketches 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 Photoshop and Tayasui Sketches.