The screenshot maker has a free trial; generating screens needs Lite ($60 a year) or Pro ($140 a year), or the $79 lifetime deal with your own API key.

What does bring-your-own-key mean?

You pay the model provider directly for every generation on top of the lifetime fee, and you set up the key yourself.

How is DraftScreens different from Appthetics?

Deeper editing (select any element), design-system ingestion, consistent multi-screen flows, a tap-through prototype, and failed generations never count.

Appthetics alternative: DraftScreens, the mobile-only AI app designer

AI mobile UI designer positioned as the design layer before vibe coding.

Facts checked August 2026. www.appthetics.com

Verdict

Appthetics proved the idea and shipped it thin. DraftScreens takes the same wedge further: a real visual editor, design systems, connected flows that stay consistent, a clickable prototype, Figma layers, and no failed generation ever charged.

DraftScreens and Appthetics, side by side

Feature	DraftScreens	Appthetics
Pricing	Free 3 designs a day. Pro $15/mo or $144/yr. Studio $49/mo with design systems and seats.	Lite $60/yr (240 credits), Pro $140/yr (600 credits), Lifetime $79 bring-your-own-key.
Free tier	3 designs a day, failed generations not counted	Screenshot maker trial; generation needs a plan
Mobile-native screens	Yes: every screen is a 390x844 phone screen in a real design language	Yes
Your design system	Yes, on Studio: palette, fonts, voice, rules and logo drive every generation	Limited
Figma	Yes: editable named layers, paste onto any canvas	Yes
Code and hand-off	HTML per screen, prompt pack for Cursor, Claude Code, Lovable and v0; Expo and SwiftUI hand-offs in progress	Code export and prompts for coding tools
Clickable prototype	Yes: tap-through links on every screen, QR to your phone, public share page	Share links
Visual editor	Yes: select any element, edit text, colour, spacing, layout, links, or ask the AI about it	AI visual editor with limited control
Failed generations	Never charged, refunded automatically	Credits consumed

Appthetics: strengths and gaps

What Appthetics does well

The same wedge as DraftScreens: mobile design before code
Figma export, prompt hand-offs, screenshot and icon tools
Cheap annual plans and a lifetime deal

Where it falls short

Limited fine-grained control, by its own admission
Limited design-system support, no team features
Bring-your-own-key pushes model costs and setup onto you
Three active subscriptions and site reliability issues at last check

What DraftScreens does differently

Mobile only, on purpose

Every screen is a 390x844 phone screen. The generator is prompted like a senior mobile designer, never like a web page builder.

One design language per project

A flow is planned first: palette, type, radius, spacing. Every screen and every edit is held to it, so screens do not drift.

Edit anything, or ask

Select any element and change text, colour, spacing, layout or its tap link; or select it and tell the AI what to change.

Your brand, every screen

Studio plans ingest a design system: palette roles, fonts, voice, rules and logo drive the planner and every screen.

A prototype, not a picture

Buttons, tabs and rows carry links. Preview in the studio or scan a QR and tap through on your phone.

Exports that survive the move

Editable Figma layers, HTML per screen, a prompt pack for Cursor, Claude Code, Lovable and v0. Failed generations are never charged.

When Appthetics is the better choice

Best for: Indie makers who want a cheap lifetime deal and bring their own model key.

Pick Appthetics if a $79 lifetime deal with your own API key matters more than editing depth and support.

Questions people ask

Is Appthetics free?: The screenshot maker has a free trial; generating screens needs Lite ($60 a year) or Pro ($140 a year), or the $79 lifetime deal with your own API key.
What does bring-your-own-key mean?: You pay the model provider directly for every generation on top of the lifetime fee, and you set up the key yourself.
How is DraftScreens different from Appthetics?: Deeper editing (select any element), design-system ingestion, consistent multi-screen flows, a tap-through prototype, and failed generations never count.