When looking for an AR drawing app, Da Vinci Eye is often the first name that pops up. It has been around for years and is packed with professional features. However, a new contender, Drawello, is turning heads by offering a radically simpler, completely free experience.
If you are trying to decide which drawing projector app to download, here is the honest, comprehensive comparison you need.
Da Vinci Eye: The Professional's Tool
Da Vinci Eye is built for serious artists. It includes tools that go far beyond simple tracing.
- Advanced Breakdowns: It can separate your photo into layers by color value (lights, mediums, darks), which is incredible for classical oil painters.
- Strobe Mode: It flickers the image on and off so you can constantly compare your drawing to the reference without touching the screen.
The Downside: It is highly complex. The interface has a steep learning curve. Furthermore, to unlock the tools that actually make the app great, you are forced into expensive in-app purchases and subscriptions. For someone who just wants to trace a quick outline, Da Vinci Eye is severe overkill.
Drawello: The Simple, Free Alternative
Drawello takes the opposite approach. Instead of packing the app with a hundred confusing features, it perfects the one feature most people actually want: using your phone to trace a photo onto paper.
- Zero Learning Curve: You open the app, pick a photo, set your phone down, and start tracing. That's it.
- 100% Free: There are no paywalls, no subscriptions, and no hidden fees to import your own photos.
- Built-in Screen Lock: It includes the essential tools you need, like a lock button to prevent accidental movement and a smooth opacity slider.
Direct Feature Comparison
| Feature | Da Vinci Eye | Drawello |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid / Heavy IAP | 100% Free |
| Custom Photo Import | Yes | Yes |
| Ease of Use | Complex | Extremely Simple |
| Color Value Breakdown | Yes | No |
The Verdict
If you are a professional portrait artist or oil painter who needs to dissect reference photos into complex layers and you don't mind paying for premium software, Da Vinci Eye is an excellent tool.
However, if you are a hobbyist, a beginner, or someone who simply wants the easiest way to trace a picture from your phone onto paper without paying a weekly subscription, Drawello is the clear winner.
Try the Free Alternative Today
Join the Drawello waitlist and experience frictionless AR tracing.