# Datacolor ColorReader vs Butterfly Subscription Tracker

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Butterfly Subscription Tracker at none against Datacolor ColorReader's 4. Datacolor ColorReader's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 26.0). 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. Butterfly Subscription Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Datacolor ColorReader ships an update every 2 months, Butterfly Subscription Tracker monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Datacolor ColorReader | Butterfly Subscription Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (699 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datacolor-colorreader/id1217566816/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **699** | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 34 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Datacolor Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/432310628) | [Eduardo Salinas Marquez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1459387057) |

## 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


### Butterfly Subscription Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/butterfly-subscription-tracker/id6761439670)

**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 Butterfly Subscription Tracker free?

Butterfly Subscription Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Datacolor ColorReader or Butterfly Subscription Tracker have ads?

Neither Datacolor ColorReader nor Butterfly Subscription Tracker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Datacolor ColorReader or Butterfly Subscription Tracker?

Datacolor ColorReader ships an update every 2 months, and Butterfly Subscription Tracker monthly. Most recently, Datacolor ColorReader was updated on October 2, 2026 and Butterfly Subscription Tracker on September 24, 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.*