StencilPro vs Tat Ink: Which Tattoo Stencil App Is Better? (2026)
An honest side-by-side of StencilPro and Tat Ink: 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. Tat Ink (tat.ink) is a browser-based AI tattoo design suite that includes a free tattoo-to-stencil converter.
At a glance
| StencilPro | Tat Ink | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web app, iPhone & iPad app, and a connector for ChatGPT, Claude and other assistants | Web |
| Free option | 2 free AI stencils on sign-up (no card), plus the free Lite tracer and free Armband tool in the app | Free monthly credits (8 as a guest, 25 signed in) |
| Paid plans | Starter $9.99/mo (50 stencils), Pro $14.99/mo (100), Studio $34.99/mo (300); annual plans and top-ups | Ink Pro $8.79/mo (300 credits), Pro+ $16.79 (900), Max $34.99 (2,500) |
| Cost per stencil | About $0.12–$0.20 per AI stencil | Credit-based; varies by tool |
| AI stencil options | Original (1 credit, Simple / Standard / Detailed) and Extra, a newer model for extra detail (2 credits) | Photo or artwork to black-and-white linework, plus AI tattoo generation |
| Free non-AI tracing | Yes: Lite, instant tracing with live darkness, detail and line-weight sliders | Not advertised |
| Design variations | Yes: Uniquify reworks a design at a uniqueness level from 1 to 10 | AI tattoo generator and image-to-tattoo tools |
| 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) | Not advertised |
| Use from ChatGPT or Claude | Yes, via the StencilPro MCP connector | Not advertised |
Tat Ink details are from its stencil converter and pricing pages, 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 Tat Ink is strong
- Generates new tattoo designs from text and turns photos into tattoo-style art.
- Virtual try-on and a tattoo font generator.
- Usable in the browser without signing in.
Where StencilPro is stronger
- Built for print-ready stencils: Original and Extra models, three detail levels, clean lines on white for thermal printers.
- An iPhone and iPad app with push notifications when a stencil is ready, as well as the web app.
- Free Lite tracing and a free Armband tool for wrap-around bands.
- Uniquify reworks an existing stencil into a new variation at a chosen uniqueness level.
- Canvas prints several designs and size copies on one A4 sheet.
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
Tat Ink's paid plans are $8.79, $16.79 and $34.99 a month for 300, 900 and 2,500 credits shared across all its AI tools. StencilPro's plans are $9.99, $14.99 and $34.99 a month for 50, 100 and 300 stencils.
See StencilPro pricing for current plans. Failed or blocked generations are refunded automatically.
Which should you choose?
Choose Tat Ink if you want to generate tattoo ideas or try designs on virtually, rather than prepare stencils for a session.
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 Tat Ink a stencil maker?
Tat Ink is mainly an AI tattoo design tool, and it includes a free tattoo-to-stencil converter. StencilPro is a dedicated stencil maker for tattoo artists, with stencil-specific tools like Lite, Uniquify, Armband and Canvas.
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.