ibis Paint X

Why I Downloaded ibis Paint X

I saw this app sitting at the top of the graphics & design charts in the App Store for what felt like forever. The rating was 4.4 stars, and the screenshots showed artwork that looked way too good to come out of a phone app. I’m not a professional artist—I just wanted something to doodle on during my bus commute and maybe sketch a few ideas for a birthday card I’m making for my cousin Lisa. But here’s the thing: I’ve been burned before by apps that look free but then bury all the good brushes behind a subscription. So I went in with my guard up. I downloaded it on a Tuesday night, sitting on my couch, ready to test every single free feature before I even thought about spending a dime.

Standout Features

Let’s start with the brushes. The app claims over 300 brushes, and honestly, I can’t say I tested every single one, but I probably tried a good 40 or 50 in the free version. The dip pen and the felt tip pen feel surprisingly natural on my iPhone 15 Pro screen. The stabilizer feature actually works—I drew a wobbly line on purpose, and it smoothed it out without making it look like a robot did it. That alone impressed me. The layer support is also solid. You can add multiple layers, adjust opacity, and use basic blending modes without paying a cent. I tested this by sketching a rough landscape with the sky on one layer and the ground on another, and it felt like using a real art program. The time-lapse recording is neat, too. I recorded myself drawing a terrible cat, and it made the whole thing look like magic. But here’s the reality check: some of the coolest filters and the more advanced blending modes are locked behind the paid subscription. So while the free version gives you a real taste, you’ll hit a wall pretty fast if you want to do anything serious.

Daily Use Experience

I used ibis Paint X almost every day for two weeks, mostly in the evenings after work. The app runs smoothly on my iPhone 15 Pro—no crashes, no lag even when I had four layers going. The canvas sizes are fine for phone sketching, but I wish you could pick a custom size without being pushed to the paid plan. The interface is a bit cluttered at first. There are icons everywhere, and I spent my first afternoon tapping random buttons just to figure out what they did. The undo button is easy to find, thank goodness, because I used it a lot. One real-feeling moment: Last Saturday, I was at a coffee shop trying to draw a mug from life. I used the ruler tool to get the straight edge right, and it worked perfectly. But then I tried to add a shadow using a special brush, and a pop-up told me I needed the “Premium” version. That killed my momentum a little. Still, for casual doodling, the free version gets the job done. I wouldn’t call it a replacement for a full drawing tablet, but it’s way better than I expected from a phone app.

Cost Breakdown

Okay, let’s talk money because that’s my main concern. The app is free to download, and you can actually do a lot without paying. The free version gives you access to over 100 brushes, basic layer tools, and the stabilizer. But here’s the catch: every time you try to use a “special” brush or a high-end filter, you get a prompt to sign up for the premium subscription. It’s not aggressive enough to ruin the experience, but it’s definitely there. The subscription costs $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year. There’s also an option to buy the premium version outright for a one-time payment, but that price changes depending on promotions. For me, $8 a month feels too high for a drawing app I only use as a hobby. I’d rather spend that money on actual art supplies. If you’re a serious digital artist, it might be worth it. But for a casual user like me, the free version is enough. I just wish the app was more upfront about what’s locked. It feels a bit like a tease.

Support Experience

I never needed to contact support. The app worked fine without bugs or glitches. I can only judge by the App Store reviews, which are mostly positive but have a few complaints about subscription billing confusion. Some users say they accidentally got charged after a free trial ended. That’s a red flag for me. I made sure to check my subscription settings in my Apple ID right after downloading. I also read a review from someone named “ArtByMike” who said support took a week to respond about a refund issue. That’s not great. But since I didn’t run into any problems, I can’t say for sure if their support team is good or bad. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

Privacy Verdict

The app asks for access to your photo library and camera, which makes sense for importing images to draw over. I gave it photo library access but denied camera access, and it worked fine without it. The privacy policy says they collect usage data and device info, which is pretty standard for free apps. They also mention sharing data with “third-party service providers,” which is vague enough to make me a little uneasy. I didn’t see any banner ads, which is a plus. The app makes its money through subscriptions, not selling your data—at least that’s what they claim. I’d say it’s about average in terms of privacy. Not a nightmare, but not a saint either. I’d recommend checking the permissions after installing and turning off anything unnecessary.