StencilPro vs Ghostline: Which Tattoo Stencil App Is Better? (2026)
An honest side-by-side of StencilPro and Ghostline: what each does, what it costs, and which one fits your work.
The short answer
StencilPro is an AI tattoo stencil maker for tattoo artists that runs on the web and on iPhone and iPad. Ghostline is an iPhone and iPad stencil app with line-based and value-based stencil modes and multi-page print scaling.
At a glance
| StencilPro | Ghostline | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web app, iPhone & iPad app, and a connector for ChatGPT, Claude and other assistants | iPhone & iPad |
| Free option | 2 free AI stencils on sign-up (no card), plus the free Lite tracer and free Armband tool in the app | 7-day free trial |
| Paid plans | Starter $9.99/mo (50 stencils), Pro $14.99/mo (100), Studio $34.99/mo (300); annual plans and top-ups | $5.99/mo or $59.99/yr |
| Cost per stencil | About $0.12–$0.20 per AI stencil | Unlimited stencils for the flat price |
| AI stencil options | Original (1 credit, Simple / Standard / Detailed) and Extra, a newer model for extra detail (2 credits) | Line-based and value-based (3D) stencil modes, line weights and contour-shading markers |
| Free non-AI tracing | Yes: Lite, instant tracing with live darkness, detail and line-weight sliders | No free tier after the trial |
| Design variations | Yes: Uniquify reworks a design at a uniqueness level from 1 to 10 | Not advertised |
| Armband / wrap-around bending | Yes: free Armband tool bends a band design so it wraps the arm evenly | Not advertised |
| Print sheet & sizing | Canvas: A4 sheet with up to 15 designs, size copies, crop, rotate, text, layers, print (subscribers) | Print at any size with multi-page print scaling |
| Use from ChatGPT or Claude | Yes, via the StencilPro MCP connector | Not advertised |
Ghostline details are from its App Store listing, checked October 2026. “Not advertised” means we couldn't find the feature on their site or listing. Prices change, so check theirs before you buy.
Where Ghostline is strong
- Flat $5.99/month for unlimited stencils, which is cheaper than any StencilPro plan if you make hundreds of stencils a month.
- Value-based (3D) stencils with contour-shading markers for realism work.
- Multi-page print scaling for large pieces such as back pieces and sleeves.
- Extra reference tools: subject cut-out, upscaling and a stencil overlay to check against the original.
Where StencilPro is stronger
- Works in any browser as well as on iPhone and iPad, so you can make stencils on a studio computer.
- A free tier that doesn't expire: the Lite tracer and Armband tool cost nothing, and new accounts get 2 free AI stencils.
- Two AI models (Original and Extra) plus three detail levels, so you can match the stencil to the piece.
- Uniquify turns flash or a client's reference into a fresh variation, so you aren't copying another artist's work line for line.
- The Armband tool bends a band design so it wraps the arm without distorting.
- Canvas lays out up to 15 designs on one A4 sheet with size copies, so you can print several sizes in one go.
StencilPro gives you one tool for each step of stencil prep. Lite traces clean sketches for free. Original and Extra use AI to rebuild photos and complex artwork into clean, straightened lines on white. Uniquify makes a fresh version of a design. Armband bends bands to wrap the arm. Canvas lays everything out on an A4 sheet ready to print.
Pricing compared
Ghostline charges a flat $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year after a 7-day trial. StencilPro charges per stencil through monthly credits: $9.99 for 50, $14.99 for 100 or $34.99 for 300, with free tools on top. If you make fewer than about 100 AI stencils a month, StencilPro's free Lite tracer often covers the simple jobs, so many artists only spend credits on complex designs.
See StencilPro pricing for current plans. Failed or blocked generations are refunded automatically.
Which should you choose?
Choose Ghostline if you work only on an iPad, print large multi-page pieces, and make enough stencils that unlimited use at $5.99/month is the deciding factor.
Choose StencilPro if you want the most stencils for your money, a free tier that keeps working, and artist tools for variations, armbands and print sheets, on the web and on your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ghostline free?
Ghostline is free to download with a 7-day free trial, then costs $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year according to its App Store listing. StencilPro has a permanent free tier: the Lite tracer and Armband tool are free, and new accounts get 2 free AI stencils.
Does Ghostline work on a computer?
Ghostline is listed as an iPhone and iPad app. StencilPro works in any web browser, including on Windows and Mac computers, as well as in its iPhone and iPad app.
Which is better for armband tattoos, Ghostline or StencilPro?
StencilPro has a free Armband tool that bends a band design so it wraps the arm evenly when transferred. Ghostline doesn't advertise an equivalent feature.
Try StencilPro free
Upload a photo, sketch or flash and get a print-ready stencil in seconds. New accounts get 2 free AI stencils, and the Lite tracer and Armband tool in the app are free to use.