Gathered vs HyperRef
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Gathered
This app helps you curate a digital library of inspiring images for your creative projects. Easily collect visuals from photos, your camera roll, or other apps, and organize them into custom collections with notes and color palettes. Sync your library across devices via iCloud.
- Collect images from various sources
- Organize into custom collections
- Extract color palettes
- Add notes and edit image details
- Sync across devices with iCloud
- Drag & Drop functionality
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Gathered is a calm, beautiful home for the images, screenshots and links you want to keep. Collect what inspires you and organize it your way — into collections, with notes, tags, colors and locations. Everything syncs automatically across iPhone, iPad and Mac with iCloud. • Collections — group images and links however you like • Smart Filters — instantly browse Recents, Places, Screenshots, 3D Models and more • Rich metadata — color palettes, locations on a map, notes and tags • Links — save webpages alongside your images • Share Card — turn any image into a stylish card with its colour palette and location • Quick import — Share Extension, drag & drop, camera, scanner and paste • Home Screen widget — a daily dose of inspiration from your library • Private by design — your library lives in your own iCloud, with no account required
HyperRef
Create and organize your personal art reference library with powerful import and study tools. Analyze images by value, contrast, and color, and track your artistic progress with attached studies. Secure your sensitive collections with biometric protection.
- Web import for bulk image saving
- Analyze images by value, contrast, color
- Timed practice and study modes
- Attach sketches to references
- Biometric collection protection
- Smart collections and organization
- Offline access with iCloud sync
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HyperRef provides a focused, distraction-free environment with no infinite scrolling or algorithms deciding what you see. Use your own curated reference library to accelerate your drawing and painting study. Features: - Powerful Web Import: Bulk-save multiple images instantly from almost any website or app. Select exactly what you need for fast, organized importing. - Advanced Study Filters: Isolate value, contrast, and color for a deeper understanding of lighting and composition. Essential for serious art study. - Timed Practice Mode: Use customizable, distraction-free slideshows for quick figure drawing or anatomy study sessions. - Study Mode: Attach your own sketches and studies directly to reference images to track your progress over time. - Biometric Protection: Lock sensitive collections with Face ID or Touch ID for maximum privacy. - Smart Collections: Organize thousands of visual references with a gorgeous, efficient layout. - Offline First with iCloud Sync: Access your entire visual library instantly, anywhere on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Whether you're studying anatomy, lighting, composition, or preparing a detailed mood board, HyperRef keeps your visual library organized, secure, and always accessible. Start your reference library with 5 collections and 50 images free. Unlock unlimited storage and all Pro features with a single, one-time upgrade. No subscriptions, ever.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: HyperRef at 100% against Gathered's 47%. HyperRef also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.9) and iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). Gathered's advantage is ratings volume (17 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Gathered sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and HyperRef sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
HyperRef holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gathered has 17 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Gathered's written reviews are positive against 100% of HyperRef's.
Gathered ships an update monthly, HyperRef every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and June 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Gathered | HyperRef |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (17 ratings) | 4.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 47.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 17 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nikola Kirev | Seth Kenneth Berggren |
Customer experience
Gathered
HyperRef
In-app purchases
Gathered
- Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Annual Subscription1 Month trial$9.991 Year
- Gathered Pro$24.99
HyperRef
- HyperRef Pro$4.99









