Comparison

Model Colors vs HelpMate

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Model Colors

This app helps hobbyists manage their paint collections for models. Track colors you own, colors you need, and easily share lists. Find similar colors and organize them into custom lists for different projects.

Highlights
  • Track owned and needed paint colors
  • Browse over 40,000 colors from various brands
  • Share color lists via email and messaging
  • Set favorite colors for quick access
  • Find similar colors using standards or calculations
  • Create custom color lists for projects
Features
Read full description

Model Colors is an application for helping you keep track of your hobby model colors and projects. Have you ever ended up buying the wrong colors because you didn’t remember the exact code of the color you needed or forgot to get that pesky Dunkelgelb that you needed to finish that glorious tank you’re working on? If so, then Model Colors helps you keep track of the colors that you own and the colors that you need to buy. The application contains lists of all colors from a set of brands and you can browse these lists and mark the ones you already own and the ones you need to buy. Currently the app has over 50000 colors included from most big and many small manufacturers. The lists of your own colors and colors that you need to buy can be easily shared via mail, iMessage etc. If you mainly use some particular color types or individual colors you can set them as favorites and easily access them from the main menu. You can check for colors that are similar to a certain color either via color standards like FS, RAL, RLM etc, or via industry standard CIE deltaE 2000 calculations. Various colors can also be grouped together for quick access into custom color lists. You can keep the colors you normally use for US airplanes in one list and colors you use for fantasy miniatures in another, making them easy to find. Some of the included brands: Abteilung 502, Agama, AKAN, AK Interactive, Alclad II, Ammo, Andrea, AOK Silveroaks, Apple Barrell, Arcus Hobby Colors, Army Painter, Badger, Bits of War, Coat D'Arms, Colour Forge, Craft Smart, Createx, Creature Caster, Daler-Rowney, Darkstar Miniatures, Duncan Rhodes Painting Academy, Dwarven Forge, E7, Fantasy Flight Games, Faskolor, Fire Scale Modeler, Flames of War, Flory Models, ForgeWorld, Gaia, Gamescraft, Games Workshop, Golden, Gravity Colors, Green Stuff World, Hannants, Hataka, Heller, Hobby Mio, Huge Miniatures, Humbrol, ICM, Instar, Italeri, Jo Sonja's, Jumpwind, Kimera Models, Lefranc Bourgeois, LifeColor, Liquitex, Meng, Microscale, MIG Productions, Minuteman Scale Models, Mission Models, Modellers World, Modo, Monkey Modelling Paints, Monument Hobbies, Mr. Hobby, MR Paint, Nocturna Models, Paasche, Pacific88, Pactra, Pledge, Prince August, Privateer Press, ProScale Paints, Rackham, Reaper, Rembrandt, Revell, Rust-Oleum, Scale75, Scale Colors, Scale Modellers Supply, Sovereign Hobbies, Splash Paints, Tamiya, Testors, Titans Hobby, Tru-Color, True Earth, TT Combat, Turbo Dork, Ultimate Modelling Products, Vallejo, Vantage Modelling Solutions, Warcolours, Wargames Foundry, Warlord Games, Wilder, Winsor & Newton. You can also add the models that you are working on or plan to build in the future. For each model you can register the colors that are required and make sure that you don't forget to buy any essential colors. Each model can have a photos associated with it as well as notes. Using the notes and photos it is easy to keep a build diary or just keep track of things that you need to do at some point. Model Colors requires iCloud and iCloud Drive to be enabled for the app to work. iCloud Drive is used to save photos and documents for our models. Model Colors uses a subscription in order to support the application development and there's a trial period that lets you evaluate the app. Please see the link https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ for the End User License Agreement.

About

HelpMate

Features
Read full description

HelpMate makes it easy to connect with local help when you need it. Whether you’re looking for assistance with everyday tasks, local services, or quick support, HelpMate provides a simple and accessible way to find help nearby. The app is designed to be easy to use, with a clean interface that helps you get started quickly without unnecessary complexity. HelpMate focuses on convenience, clarity, and reliability, making it easier to access support when it matters most. Key features: Simple and intuitive user interface Easy access to local help and services Designed for quick and stress-free use Optimised for mobile devices HelpMate is built to support real-world needs by making help more accessible and easier to find. Download HelpMate and get started today.

Screenshots

Model Colors4 screens
HelpMate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HelpMate at none against Model Colors's 4. HelpMate also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Model Colors sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. HelpMate asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Model Colors ships an update monthly, HelpMate weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Model Colors versus HelpMate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterModel ColorsHelpMate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (445 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings445 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size70 MB7 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperD-Pointer OyRicha Vasudeva

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Model Colors

Subscriptions4
  • 1 month subscription7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • 3 month subscription14 Days trial$1.993 Months
  • 6 month subscription1 Month trial$3.496 Months
Show 1 more
  • 1 year subscription1 Month trial$5.991 Year
None

HelpMate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Model Colors free?
Model Colors is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HelpMate free?
HelpMate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Model Colors or HelpMate have ads?
Neither Model Colors nor HelpMate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Model Colors or HelpMate?
Model Colors ships an update monthly, and HelpMate weekly. Most recently, Model Colors was updated on September 18, 2026 and HelpMate on September 14, 2026.

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