Datacolor ColorReader vs Bosch MeasureOn
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Datacolor ColorReader
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.
- 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
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Matching paint color by eye is subjective. Job quality is not. That’s why you need the Datacolor ColorReader. It matches paint color with more than 90% accuracy. All at the push of a button. All in the brand of your choice. The ColorReader analyzes the color of a wall or object and matches it in less than a second to the closest paint color. For those who need to know paint color to do their jobs. No more matching by eye and searching through fan decks or color cards. Paint confidently. Design confidently. DIY confidently. Be confident with color. Highest Accuracy Across Popular Paint Brands • Industry leading matching with more than 90% success rate • Matches color to any uploaded fan deck • Easy to use • One-click analysis • Ultra-portable • Bluetooth®-connected • OLED display for standalone device use (ColorReader Pro only) Expanded capabilities through the mobile app: • Build, save, and share color palettes • Color measurement history • Color scheme recommendations for harmonious color flow • Get paint brand color name and number • Get color values for measurements and color matches including RGB, Hex, CIELab, and more! • QC functionality (ColorReader and ColorReader Pro only) Backed by the Leading Precision Color Company For more than 45 years, Datacolor’s passion for precision color has helped us meet the exacting needs of more than a million customers whose entire job depends on the accuracy of their colors. What People Are Saying about ColorReader? “This device is incredibly easy to use - and it’s dependable.” John Metz - Haddon Painting “I love it. It cut one hour of time off my desk.” Debbie Deutsh – Interiors by Cornerstone “In this industry, time is money. If I can’t get the exact color they want, I’m losing time and material costs. “ Jon Ipock – ProTastic Painting “I have not stopped using it in matching colors to fabric and wall covering. It has saved me so much time in trying to match with paint chips.” Vincent Wolf – Vincent Wolf Associates, Inc. “There are many contenders in this field, but this in my opinion is the only one that provides the best balance between accuracy, ease-of-use and price. Whatever color you read with your ColorReader will be matched against those fan decks and the best matching returned. This is a much better alternative to purchasing multiple paint samples and trying them out, and is in my opinion the best bang for the buck.” Amazon Customer “Bought this (the lower cost one) because it seemed there had to be a better way than trying to match paint swatches to what is on the walls now. Setup was straight forward, and the app is fairly easy to use to take readings. The device accurately identified a swatch that I had, and it was straight forward to take multiple readings of the long ago painted walls in our old house.“ Amazon Customer Terms & Conditions: https://www.datacolor.com/legal/us/terms-conditions/ Privacy Policy: http://www.datacolor.com/legal-documents/colorreader/privacy-policy/
Bosch MeasureOn
Easily document floor plans, measurements, photos, and notes on-site. This app allows for cloud-based project access across all devices, ensuring your data is backed up and synchronized. Streamline your workflow and improve efficiency for various trade professionals and DIYers.
- Infinite workspace for floor plans, photos, and notes
- Direct measurement input from laser range finder via Bluetooth
- Document wall dimensions, doors, and windows
- Automatic cloud synchronization for data backup
- Share and export data in multiple formats
- Organize projects for improved efficiency
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Save all information in one place: Bosch MeasureOn by Bosch Measuring Tools is your app for easy on-site documentation of floor plans, measurements, photos, and notes. With cloud-based* project access anywhere on all devices – on the construction site, at the office, on the move, or at home. Main functions and benefits: - USE THE NEW INFINITE WORKSPACE: Start your project, sketch floor plans as individual rooms within the flexible workspace, and add photos and notes according to your individual needs. - DOCUMENT ON THE JOBSITE: Use your laser range finder and your smart device to capture measurements instantly and insert them error-free into the app. - STAY ON TOP OF THINGS: Organize your projects, save time, and avoid confusion. - SECURITY AND CONVENIENCE: Thanks to the cloud*, your data is always backed up and synchronized on all your devices. You can easily process your documentation on your desktop back at the office. Features: - Add floor plans as individual rooms, photos, and notes to your workspace - Add in measurements directly from your laser range finder via Bluetooth® - Document wall dimensions including doors and windows - Synchronize your data automatically via the cloud* - Share and export data in a variety of formats Developed for tradesmen such as painters, electricians, carpenters, tilers, dry wallers, floorers, plumbers, architects, and construction managers as well as DIYers. Compatible laser range finders: Bosch Professional: GLM 50 C, GLM 100 C, GLM400C, GLM165-27C and GLM165-27CG Bosch MeasureOn replaces the MeasureOn Gen 1 app. Experience our cloud* for free and synchronize your first project with up to three workspaces. Questions, problems, suggestions? Contact us: Measuring.AppSupport@us.bosch.com *Not available in all countries. In order to use the cloud service, you need to set up a Bosch account with your Bosch ID.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Datacolor ColorReader at 4.7 against Bosch MeasureOn's 4.1. Datacolor ColorReader also leads on review sentiment (25% vs 12%) and iOS requirement (13 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Datacolor ColorReader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Bosch MeasureOn sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Datacolor ColorReader holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 699 and 531 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Datacolor ColorReader's written reviews are positive against 12% of Bosch MeasureOn's.
Datacolor ColorReader ships an update every 2 months, Bosch MeasureOn monthly. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.
| Parameter | Datacolor ColorReader | Bosch MeasureOn |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (699 ratings) — better | 4.1 (531 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.3% of reviews — better | 11.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 699 — better | 531 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 101 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Datacolor Inc. | Bosch US |
Customer experience
Datacolor ColorReader
Bosch MeasureOn
User reviews
Datacolor ColorReader
From 699 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎨 Accurate color matching on ceiling colors
- 📚 Comprehensive paint brand library
- ⚡ Quick and efficient scanning process
- 🎯 Useful complementary color schemes
- 👍 Minimal app permissions required
Room to improve
- 🐛 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
Bosch MeasureOn
From 531 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Efficient and productive
- 👍 Useful for measuring and planning
- 💡 Promising app with potential
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔒 Restrictive subscription model
- 👎 Poor customer support
- 💰 Overpriced for limited functionality
Bugs and requests
Datacolor ColorReader
Reported bugs
10 issues- 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
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- Fan deck update stuck indefinitely
- Missing read button on iPhone XS Max
- iOS 12 compatibility broken after update
- Inaccessible color history after fan deck removal
- Support ticket system non-functional
Requested features
10 requests- 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
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- Search by paint swatch number
- Support for more eco-conscious paint brands
- Expanded UK/European paint brand options
- Separate color selection for trim and cabinets in photo mode
- Display custom color names in detail view
Bosch MeasureOn
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes frequently
- Measurements and data loss issues
- Bluetooth connectivity problems
- Unintuitive user interface
Requested features
4 requests- Allow exporting of entire projects
- Improve drawing and annotation tools
- Add support for non-rectangular rooms
- Integrate with CAD/design software
In-app purchases
Datacolor ColorReader
- NCS Colour (monthly)$9.991 Month
- British Standards (monthly)$14.991 Month
- NCS Colour (yearly)$89.991 Year
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- British Standards (yearly)$149.991 Year
Bosch MeasureOn
- PRO Export Monthly14 Days trial$9.991 Month
- PRO Cloud & Export Monthly14 Days trial$14.991 Month
- PRO Export Annual$99.991 Year
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- PRO Cloud & Export Annual$149.991 Year
- PRO Cloud & Export Annual3 Months trial$149.991 Year
- PRO Cloud & Export Annual1 Year trial$149.991 Year
- PRO Cloud & Export Annual6 Months trial$149.991 Year
Questions
Is Datacolor ColorReader free?
Is Bosch MeasureOn free?
Which has better reviews, Datacolor ColorReader or Bosch MeasureOn?
Do Datacolor ColorReader or Bosch MeasureOn have ads?
Which is updated more often, Datacolor ColorReader or Bosch MeasureOn?
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