Sketchworthy Review

When I was younger and technology played a less important role in my life, I'd always take a notebook around with me. It was useful, both for writing down ideas and for giving me something to do in quiet moments. These days, my trusty iPhone handles all those things for me and, potentially, all the more so through apps like Sketchworthy.

The app is there to, basically, replace the notebook entirely. It allows users to create their own virtual notebooks, thereby giving them plenty of room to do with it how they please. Users can choose a color scheme for their virtual book, as well as buy new types of paper for the inside. The app comes bundled with four different kinds of use. It can be used simply to draw notes, use as a mapping resource, look up website addresses or add photographs to the book. It's a handy way of doing things, covering plenty of different purposes, although I'd have appreciated the ability to type in notes as well as draw. Further functionality comes from the ability to save notebooks as PDF files, as well as a selection of sharing features.

Sketchworthy is a little expensive, when not on sale (it's currently 50% off at $1.99), especially given the in-app purchases that are available. Users can purchase new templates for many, many different ideas. A mockup pack, for instance, is ideal for those drawing app template ideas, while a music pack allows users to compose music on the go (by drawing, of course). There's even a games pack, opening up the potential for hangman games and dots and boxes. It's a nice idea for expansion, but with each pack priced at either $0.99 or $1.99, Sketchworthy could turn quite expensive.

Sketchworthy also lacks one rather important feature for a modern app. While it's an Universal build, the notebooks themselves don't transfer between iPhone and iPad, a frustrating oversight for regular users. It might offer plenty of customization options, but this missing feature is going to be a deal breaker for many. An unfortunate conclusion to an otherwise varied note and sketch making app.