Diamond Painting by Number

Review by eFreeware

Most art apps ask you to draw. Diamond Painting by Number does something narrower and, for a lot of people, easier: you place gems onto a canvas one at a time, following the numbers already printed on it, until a finished picture appears. The developer's own summary makes the pitch plainly, saying even novices can complete a diamond painting this way.

That single mechanic is the whole appeal, and it shapes who the app is for. If you like the idea of making something visual without deciding what any of it should look like, the number grid does the deciding for you. It is a free download in the Art & Design category, rated for Everyone, and it has been on Google Play since May 2022.

Built for beginners who want a finished picture

The promise here is completion rather than skill. You match a number to a spot and move on. The developer also claims the process improves your drawing ability, but I would treat that as marketing, since matching is closer to following a pattern than to drawing freehand.

Every gem has a designated home, so the barrier to the first picture is very low. For someone who has bounced off drawing apps, that structure is the point; for someone who wants to improvise, it will feel like a constraint.

The app also leans on the idea of winding down. The developer frames the activity as relaxing and fun, and placing one gem after another fits that, suiting a quiet half hour rather than chasing a score.

The pictures and styles on offer

Variety is the other half of the pitch. The app offers many pictures across different styles and themes, so it is not tied to a single subject, which matters because the enjoyment comes from what you are building.

The exact number of pictures is not given, so I would expect a rotating selection rather than a fixed library. The choice is meant to be broad enough that most people find something they want to work on.

The recent update brings performance improvements and some bug fixes. Nothing in them suggests a change to how the painting works, which is reasonable for an app whose core loop is already simple. It does indicate the developer is still tending to the app rather than leaving it as it launched.

What it costs and what comes with it

The download is free, and the app carries ads. There are also in-app purchases available. You can install and begin without paying, but the app is supported by advertising and offers optional spending inside it.

This is a free, ad-supported app with purchases on offer, not a one-time paid product. If advertising in an app bothers you on principle, that is the relevant detail here.

The app has passed five million installs and holds a 4.5 average across more than seventeen thousand ratings. That is a large, well-established base for a niche art app.

How it compares with other ways to make art on a phone

Full drawing and painting apps hand you brushes, layers and a blank canvas, rewarding practice but asking you to make every decision. Diamond Painting by Number sits at the opposite end: the decisions are made.

Real diamond painting kits arrive as a printed canvas, a set of gems and a tray, and they take up a table for as long as the project runs. What the app loses is the tactile part.

A third point of comparison is the broader family of coloring and pattern-following apps. They share the same appeal of a guided, low-stakes creative task. If you have enjoyed that style of activity before, this one will feel familiar; if you have found it repetitive, the diamond-by-number loop is unlikely to change your mind.

A calm pick for guided, low-pressure art

Diamond Painting by Number is a good fit if you want to make something visual without any pressure to be good at it. The number-matching system means you can start as a complete beginner and still reach a finished canvas, and the range of themes gives you a reason to come back for another one. It is free to install, with ads and in-app purchases present, so there is nothing to lose by trying the format.

It is less suited to anyone hoping to build real drawing skills or to work freehand. The developer's claim that the app improves your drawing ability is the sort of thing I would take with a grain of salt, since following a numbered pattern is a different activity from drawing. What the app does offer is a steady, quiet task with a visible result at the end, and for a lot of people that is exactly what they want from a phone-based hobby.

What's new in version 6.8.0

Thanks for your support! New content: Improve game performance Fixed some bugs. Hope you enjoy the new version!