# ColorMinis vs Paint Codex

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Paint Codex at 100% against ColorMinis's 46%. Paint Codex also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9). ColorMinis's advantage is ratings volume (76 vs 8) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ColorMinis sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Paint Codex sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Paint Codex holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ColorMinis has 76 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of ColorMinis's written reviews are positive against 100% of Paint Codex's.

ColorMinis ships an update every 8 days, Paint Codex fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ColorMinis | Paint Codex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colorminis-3d-painting-studio/id1159773222/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paint-codex/id6752630177/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **76** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 45.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 358 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FRANCOIS GILBERT](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894286564) | [Mitch Zavala](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840294021) |

## What reviewers say

### ColorMinis

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colorminis-3d-painting-studio/id1159773222)

A 3D painting studio for miniatures, characters, and scenes. Offers a variety of brushes and a unique tri-color stroke for detailed coloring. Users can paint entire models or individual parts, with options for importing personal models and AI generation.

**Highlights:** 3D model painting, Variety of brushes, Tri-color stroke technology, Model and part painting scope, Import personal models, AI texture generation

**Features:** Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ColorMinis Premium Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| ColorMinis Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Intro AI Model | $0.99 | one-time |
| Manga Doll | $1.99 | one-time |
| DESIGNER MODE | $1.99 | one-time |
| DressDoll Fairy | $1.99 | one-time |
| AI Model | $1.99 | one-time |
| DressDoll Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bundle_Artist1 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Pro Feature Unlock | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Impressive 3D models and coloring options
- 🎨 Variety of characters and designs
- 🎨 Relaxing and creative experience
- 🎨 Detailed and high-quality graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Excessive paywalls and subscription requirements
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and loading issues
- 🔒 Limited free content, most models locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable performance

**Reported bugs**

- Constant crashing when trying to color models
- Inability to load or access certain models
- Purchased content and progress not saving properly
- Slow and inconsistent loading times

**Requested features**

- More free character models and designs
- Ability to save and export colored designs
- Improved performance and stability
- More customization options for characters
- Ability to create and upload custom 3D models


### Paint Codex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paint-codex/id6752630177)

This app helps miniature and model painters document their creative process. Organize projects, record every step with custom phases, and build a personal gallery of your work. Export your progress to share with clients or the community.

**Highlights:** Create custom paint doctrines, Record painting steps and phases, Capture progress via camera/gallery, Export projects as .paintcodex files, Offline-first design for privacy, Personal gallery for completed work

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paint Codex Premium (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Paint Codex Premium (Annual) | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ColorMinis free?

ColorMinis is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Paint Codex free?

Paint Codex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ColorMinis or Paint Codex?

Paint Codex is rated higher. ColorMinis averages 3.9 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while Paint Codex averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do ColorMinis or Paint Codex have ads?

Neither ColorMinis nor Paint Codex shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ColorMinis or Paint Codex?

ColorMinis ships an update every 8 days, and Paint Codex fortnightly. Most recently, ColorMinis was updated on November 6, 2026 and Paint Codex on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*