Strip Designer

Strip Designer

app

9+, 2009, Photo & Video, Graphics & Design

WISE
90%

WISE Score

4.9

App Store

Turn your photos into full-blown comic books—no ads, no IAPs, just pure creative chaos (the good kind).

Screenwise Verdict

Strip Designer is that rare unicorn: a paid app that actually delivers on its promise without nickel-and-diming you afterward. It's a legitimate creative tool that teaches storytelling, visual composition, and narrative structure while letting kids make something they're genuinely proud of.

The learning curve is real—this isn't a tap-and-go app. Younger kids will need a parent or teacher to walk them through the interface, but that's also where the magic happens: you're sitting together, problem-solving, iterating, and building something from scratch. It's the digital equivalent of a well-stocked craft drawer.

The only real downside is platform lock-in (iOS/macOS only) and the fact that it's from 2009—the design feels a bit dated, though it's been updated through 2022. Still, if you've got an iPad-wielding kid who loves stories, superheroes, or just making stuff, this is a no-brainer $2.99 investment.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9–14, though younger kids (7–8) can use it with adult guidance. The creative possibilities scale with age—third-graders might make simple photo strips, while middle schoolers can craft layered, multi-page narratives. Teens may enjoy it for passion projects or school assignments, but it's not a "cool" app by high school standards.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
88

Strip Designer is a purely creative tool with no social features, no user-generated content exposure, and no ads. The app's tone is entirely neutral—kids create what they want with their own photos and drawings. The experience is calm, focused, and collaborative (great for parent-child projects or classroom storytelling). No chaotic pacing, no manipulative design, just a blank canvas for comic creation.

Imaginative
92

This is fundamentally a creativity engine. Kids can build entire comic narratives from scratch using 100+ templates, custom layouts, photo filters, drawing tools, 3D warped text, and a massive sticker library. The app invites open-ended exploration—whether retelling a family vacation, inventing superhero sagas, or illustrating school projects. The PDF export feature turns digital play into tangible artifacts kids can share and keep.

Safe
95

No ads. No in-app purchases. No social features. No user-generated content. One-time purchase ($2.99) with everything unlocked. The only safety consideration is manual sharing—kids can export PDFs or save to the camera roll, so parents should monitor where those files end up if a child has access to email or social media. Otherwise, this is a textbook example of a safe, contained creative app.

Enriching
86

Strip Designer builds visual literacy, narrative structure, and sequencing skills. Kids learn to compose stories panel-by-panel, choose fonts and colors for emotional tone, and use visual metaphors (stickers, filters). It's been explicitly recommended by educators for cross-curricular projects (history timelines, science processes, personal narratives). The learning curve is real—younger kids will need guidance—but that's also where the enrichment happens: problem-solving, planning, and iterating on a creative vision.

Parent Info

Why It Might Be Great

  • Zero monetization nonsense: One-time $2.99 purchase unlocks everything forever. No surprise charges, no premium stickers, no "watch an ad to unlock."
  • Actual creative depth: 100+ templates, custom layouts, photo filters, drawing tools, 3D text warping, and a sticker library that rivals a superhero's arsenal.
  • Educational street cred: Recommended by teachers for storytelling, sequencing, visual literacy, and cross-curricular projects (history comics, science processes, personal narratives).
  • Tangible output: Export multi-page PDFs or save to the camera roll—kids can print, email, or share their comics like real publications.
  • iCloud sync: Start a comic on iPad, finish it on Mac. Seamless for families with multiple Apple devices.

What to Watch For

  • Onboarding needed: The interface is packed with options. Kids under 9 (or even 10) may feel lost without a quick tutorial or adult walkthrough.
  • Sharing is manual: Once a PDF is exported, it's up to you to monitor where it goes. If your kid has email or social media access, you'll want to keep tabs.
  • Apple-only: No Android, no web version. If you're not in the iOS ecosystem, this app doesn't exist for you.

Conversation Starters

  • ""What story are you telling in your comic? Is it real or made-up?""
  • ""Why did you pick that font or sticker? What feeling were you going for?""
  • ""If you could add one more panel to this page, what would happen next?""
  • ""Want to make a comic together about our last vacation? You pick the photos, I'll write the dialogue.""

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