# Datacolor ColorReader vs Wattyl Colour Match

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Wattyl Colour Match at none against Datacolor ColorReader's 4. Datacolor ColorReader's advantage is review sentiment (25% vs 0%) and ratings volume (709 vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Datacolor ColorReader holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Datacolor ColorReader has 709 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Datacolor ColorReader's written reviews are positive against 0% of Wattyl Colour Match's.

Datacolor ColorReader ships an update every 2 months, Wattyl Colour Match monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Datacolor ColorReader | Wattyl Colour Match |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (709 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datacolor-colorreader/id1217566816/reviews)** | [4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wattyl-colour-match/id1453213624/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **709** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **25.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 34 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 13.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Datacolor Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/432310628) | [Variable Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/569541572) |

## 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


### Wattyl Colour Match

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wattyl-colour-match/id1453213624)

Easily find the perfect paint color by scanning any surface with a connected device. The app then matches the scanned color to the closest Wattyl paint shade, saving your matches and palettes for future reference.

**Highlights:** Scan colors from any surface, Match to closest Wattyl paint color, Save color scans and palettes, Streamlined color matching experience, Portable color matching system

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Datacolor ColorReader free?

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

### Is Wattyl Colour Match free?

Wattyl Colour Match is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Datacolor ColorReader or Wattyl Colour Match?

Datacolor ColorReader is rated higher. Datacolor ColorReader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 709 ratings, while Wattyl Colour Match averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do Datacolor ColorReader or Wattyl Colour Match have ads?

Neither Datacolor ColorReader nor Wattyl Colour Match shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Datacolor ColorReader or Wattyl Colour Match?

Datacolor ColorReader ships an update every 2 months, and Wattyl Colour Match monthly. Most recently, Datacolor ColorReader was updated on October 23, 2026 and Wattyl Colour Match on October 22, 2026.

---

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