# Spectro by Variable — Precise Color Measurement

> Precise color measurement and communication tool for professionals. (iPhone/iPad app by Variable Technologies LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectro-by-variable/id1399186748 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Variable Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/569541572)
- Category: Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 117 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.4 · 84 MB
- Languages: British English, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, French (France), German (Germany), Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean and 10 more
- Released: 2018-11-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-16
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectro-by-variable/id1399186748/reviews.md

## What is Spectro by Variable?

Now Available: Spectro by Variable + Pantone® Color Subscription by Variable.
Users are now able to access more than 16,500 Pantone colors directly through the Spectro by Variable app when they subscribe to a Pantone Color Subscription within.
 
Created with frictionless color communication in mind, the Spectro by Variable app connects to the Spectro 1 and Spectro 1 Pro devices, allowing color professionals to achieve professional-grade color matches and view deep color data anytime, anywhere. 
 
About the Spectro 1 and Spectro 1 Pro Devices:

Spectro 1 is a compact, affordable color measurement tool for accurately measuring and communicating color at the professional and industrial level.
Using patented technology, the Spectro units are true spectrophotometers that deliver accuracy and repeatability comparable to expensive benchtop spectrophotometers—for a fraction of the price.
 
Features:
 
Scan, match, and compare colors
View spectral curves for scanned colors
Achieve exact matches with spectral curve and LAB values
Have access to dozens of brands like Behr, Benjamin Moore, Dulux, PPG, Sherwin-Williams in the palm of your hand
View matches under four different light sources including A, F2, D50, and D65 (Incandescent, fluorescent, horizon, and noon daylight)
Include 2 & 10 degree observations
Store scans and scan data 
Export scan history, inspection history, and saved colors
Save and export spectral curve data in 10 nm increments between 400-700 nm
Create and store standards through the Saved Colors features
Supports multiple dE formulas

And much more!

## Key features

- Scan, match, and compare colors
- View spectral curves and LAB values
- Access extensive brand color libraries
- Analyze colors under multiple light sources
- Store and export scan data
- Create and store color standards

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $15.99 | per month |
| Annual | $149.99 | per year |
| Annual | $99.99 | per year |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Quality Control Module | $75.00 | per month |


## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectro-by-variable/id1399186748/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Good not great

*2024-03-29*

I haven’t used it too many times but the times I have it’s close but not close enough for me. When I use it on known paint colors it does list the correct color as a possible match but not first choice match. User error?

### 5/5 — Coating development

*2023-12-04*

Using it to measure the density of black coatings. So far it’s working beautifully and giving us good measurable data.

### 3/5 — iPhone app - great, with one caveat. iPad app - meh.

*2022-08-23, version 11.3.2*

Update 8-23-22:
App worked this morning but this afternoon informed me of a required 30mb download. After downloading, the app just crashes on launch. 

The same required download was done on my samsung galaxy s22 ultra and the app runs with no issues there. 

I don’t know what the deal is, since the update history on the appstore page gasnt been updated in almost a year.

It’s definitely broken for now.

The app is for all intents and purposes identical on iPad and iPhone. It works very well, but some effort to adapt the iPad app to landscape would be greatly appreciated. It’d be a 5 star rating with a proper IPad landscape mode and addition/correction of the issues noted below. The main caveat - lab plot scaling: The Lab plot when comparing colors is scaled weird. It doesn’t show the whole lab plot, but instead a ‘scaled down to best fit in viewing area’ sort of version. As most color-familiar people already know: L channel range is 0 to 100 a channel range is 128 to -128 b channel range is 128 to -128 some sources use 127 to -128 for a and b channels, i.e., adobe photoshop & Wikipedia I believe this is down to computational reasons rather than the mathematical model. Often the scaled extent of the lab plot display will exceed these values, especially the L channel: For instance, scanning the included white calibration tile as the “standard” (vs any other color) results in the top end of the L channel display being well above 100; in my testing it scales the display up to 158 at the top end. Seems like it’d be better to just show a standard lab plot and place the scanned standard and sample on the plot, rather than scaling the plot to some sort of “best fit”, or at least give the user a little radio button/check box to switch from scaled to non-scaled view.

### 2/5 — Crash happy, needs landscape on iPad

*2022-01-13*

Every time I tap a color chit to view details on the paint color, the app crashes for both iPhone and iPad.  The iPad app needs to be landscape aware.

### 3/5 — Not all of Benjamin Moore colors are in the app! Classics, Williamsburg, Affinity and Color stories

*2019-03-07*

I’ve not been able to reach anyone to discuss the reasons for not having these colors in the app. When leaving a message the voice recording says there are no humans available so you have to leave a message. I’ve had no call back yet. But so far the unit has work very well so far. If it had all of Benjamin Moore’s colors in the app this product would be sweet. So far it is out performing my 5000.00 Photospectrometer.

### 5/5 — Great!

*2018-11-14*

I received my Spectro early - unbelievable for the price. App is very well done.

## Frequently asked questions about Spectro by Variable

### What is Spectro's primary function?

Spectro is designed for precise color measurement and communication. It connects to Spectro 1 and Spectro 1 Pro devices to help color professionals achieve accurate color matches and view detailed color data.

### How accurate is Spectro?

Spectro utilizes patented technology to deliver accuracy and repeatability comparable to expensive benchtop spectrophotometers, offering professional-grade color matches.

### What color libraries are available in Spectro?

Spectro provides access to dozens of brands like Behr, Benjamin Moore, Dulux, PPG, and Sherwin-Williams. With a Pantone® Color Subscription, users can access over 16,500 Pantone colors.

### Can I use Spectro offline?

While the app connects to physical devices for scanning, the stored scan data and color libraries can be accessed and managed offline. However, new scans require device connectivity.

### What are the subscription options for Spectro?

Spectro offers various subscription plans, including monthly and annual options for general use, as well as a Quality Control Module with a free trial. Prices range from $9.99/month to $149.99/year.

### What devices is Spectro compatible with?

Spectro is available for iPhone and iPad. It is designed to work with the Spectro 1 and Spectro 1 Pro hardware devices for accurate color measurement.

### How often is Spectro updated?

The latest version, 14.3.24, was last updated on March 12, 2026, indicating a consistent update schedule to improve functionality and compatibility.

### What is the age rating for Spectro?

Spectro has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including younger individuals learning about color.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 14.8.25 — 2026-08-11

Minor bug fixes

### 14.8.17 — 2026-07-28

This release updates our Quality Control offering

### 14.7.6 — 2026-06-08

Fixes an issue that caused compare history to malfunction

### 14.6.15 — 2026-04-28

Misc bug fixes and improvements

### 14.6.12 — 2026-04-24

Fixes a bug where product listings failed to update when switching packages

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## More apps by Variable Technologies LLC

- [N+Chroma](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-plus-chroma/id585828268)
- [myNODE](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mynode/id651594736)
- [Chroma Match](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chroma-match/id681881176)
- [N+Motion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-plus-motion/id689068119)
- [NODE+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/node-plus/id921404379)
- [Color Muse](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/color-muse/id995252259)

All apps by Variable Technologies LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/569541572

## Related topics

[vivaldi color lab](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/vivaldi-color-lab)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-16.*