# Datacolor ColorReader vs Festool

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Festool at none against Datacolor ColorReader's 4. Festool also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (35% vs 25%). Datacolor ColorReader's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Datacolor ColorReader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Festool asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Datacolor ColorReader against 4.8 for Festool. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 699 and 1.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 25% of Datacolor ColorReader's written reviews are positive against 35% of Festool's.

Datacolor ColorReader ships an update every 2 months, Festool every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Datacolor ColorReader | Festool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (699 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datacolor-colorreader/id1217566816/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/festool/id1361516764/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 699 | **1.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.3% of reviews | **35.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 34 MB | 151 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Datacolor Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/432310628) | [Festool GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/632082241) |

## What reviewers say

### Datacolor ColorReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datacolor-colorreader/id1217566816)

This app helps professionals and DIYers accurately match paint colors from walls or objects to popular paint brands. It provides color values and recommendations, saving time and ensuring job quality.

**Highlights:** Accurate paint color matching (>90%), Matches to uploaded fan decks, Build, save, and share color palettes, Color measurement history, Color scheme recommendations, Get paint brand color name and number, Provides RGB, Hex, CIELab values

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NCS Colour (monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| British Standards (monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| NCS Colour (yearly) | $89.99 | per year |
| British Standards (yearly) | $149.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Accurate color matching on ceiling colors
- 📚 Comprehensive paint brand library
- ⚡ Quick and efficient scanning process
- 🎯 Useful complementary color schemes
- 👍 Minimal app permissions required

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection failures between device and app
- ❌ Poor color accuracy on walls and samples
- 📵 App requires device connection to view saved colors
- 🔄 Outdated and missing paint colors in library
- 🎨 Inconsistent results across different lighting conditions

**Reported bugs**

- Blank page on device registration
- White screen during app startup
- Calibration failed error messages
- Device won't connect to smartphone
- Bluetooth connectivity issues requiring multiple attempts

**Requested features**

- Store scanned colors on phone without device connection
- Cloud sync for color history across devices
- Tutorial or guided walkthrough for app navigation
- Ability to delete individual colors from history
- Reorder colors within custom palettes


### Festool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/festool/id1361516764)

Manage and customize your power tools with this app. Track tool locations, register for warranty, order repairs, and stay updated on new products and promotions. It provides a direct connection to your tools and services.

**Highlights:** Tool customization and updates, Location detection, Tool registration and warranty, Repair ordering, Product discovery and watch list, Dealer search

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💚 Perfection in every way
- 👍 Simple, fast, effective
- 🔝 Top quality
- 💚 Excellent before iOS26
- 💚 Exceptional service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Amazing products, customer service diabolical
- 🐛 Lack of product photos
- 🐛 Order of registered machines
- 🐛 Renofix sander not connectable
- 🐛 Landscape option not available

**Reported bugs**

- Battery firmware update doesn't work
- Akkus und Maschinen werden einfach gelöscht
- Every update deletes the battery information
- Impossible to register a brand new tool with receipt scan
- App gets stuck on sign in

**Requested features**

- Ability to rename batteries
- Save and transfer angle settings
- Watch version
- Ability to delete old tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Datacolor ColorReader free?

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

### Is Festool free?

Festool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Datacolor ColorReader or Festool?

Festool is rated higher. Datacolor ColorReader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 699 ratings, while Festool averages 4.8 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Datacolor ColorReader or Festool have ads?

Neither Datacolor ColorReader nor Festool shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Datacolor ColorReader or Festool?

Datacolor ColorReader ships an update every 2 months, and Festool every 2 weeks. Most recently, Datacolor ColorReader was updated on September 27, 2026 and Festool on September 29, 2026.

---

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