Comparison

Spectro by Variable vs DockMaster Mobile App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spectro by Variable

This app enables color professionals to precisely measure, match, and communicate color data using connected devices. Access extensive color libraries and analyze spectral curves for accurate results anytime, anywhere.

Highlights
  • Scan, match, and compare colors
  • View spectral curves and LAB values
  • Access extensive brand color libraries
  • Analyze colors under multiple light sources
  • Store and export scan data
  • Create and store color standards
Features
Read full description

Now Available: Spectro by Variable + Pantone® Color Subscription by Variable. Users are now able to access more than 16,500 Pantone colors directly through the Spectro by Variable app when they subscribe to a Pantone Color Subscription within. Created with frictionless color communication in mind, the Spectro by Variable app connects to the Spectro 1 and Spectro 1 Pro devices, allowing color professionals to achieve professional-grade color matches and view deep color data anytime, anywhere. About the Spectro 1 and Spectro 1 Pro Devices: Spectro 1 is a compact, affordable color measurement tool for accurately measuring and communicating color at the professional and industrial level. Using patented technology, the Spectro units are true spectrophotometers that deliver accuracy and repeatability comparable to expensive benchtop spectrophotometers—for a fraction of the price. Features: Scan, match, and compare colors View spectral curves for scanned colors Achieve exact matches with spectral curve and LAB values Have access to dozens of brands like Behr, Benjamin Moore, Dulux, PPG, Sherwin-Williams in the palm of your hand View matches under four different light sources including A, F2, D50, and D65 (Incandescent, fluorescent, horizon, and noon daylight) Include 2 & 10 degree observations Store scans and scan data Export scan history, inspection history, and saved colors Save and export spectral curve data in 10 nm increments between 400-700 nm Create and store standards through the Saved Colors features Supports multiple dE formulas And much more!

About

DockMaster Mobile App

This app digitizes time tracking for technicians, replacing paper timesheets with electronic data. It allows for accurate logging of time spent on billable and non-billable work orders directly from a mobile device, streamlining invoicing and payroll.

Highlights
  • Electronic time tracking
  • Work order time logging
  • Billable and non-billable hours
  • Voice-to-text notes
  • Job scheduling view
  • Color-coded job status
Features
Read full description

With DockMaster Mobile, replace paper time sheets and time cards with accurate, electronic time tracking data. Employee time on both billable and non-billable work orders is entered by the technician on their mobile device and seamlessly made available in DockMaster to speed up invoicing and payroll processing. Available Features: - Time Clock – Select from a list of open work orders, choose the appropriate opcode (job) and then clock-in. The time clock app tracks the actual amount of time expended on a job. You can even go back and change the start time for increased accuracy. You can add notes to the job by typing or using the device’s built-in voice-to-text feature. - Time Entry – Similar to the Time Clock, technicians can select from a list of work orders and associated opcodes to either add a new time card or edit an existing one. Technicians can select to use Start/Stop time or Total Hours, and edit the dates. You can add notes to the job by typing or using the device’s built-in voice-to-text feature. - Scheduler – For those companies that use the DockMaster Service Schedule, the Scheduler in the Time Clock app will allow technicians to view or select jobs scheduled in DockMaster. All jobs (opcodes) are color-coded by status: Completed, In Progress or Not Started. Technicians can tap a job to launch the Time Clock or Time Card.

Screenshots

Spectro by Variable4 screens
DockMaster Mobile App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Spectro by Variable at 4.8 against DockMaster Mobile App's 3.4. Spectro by Variable also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (118 vs 5). DockMaster Mobile App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Spectro by Variable sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. DockMaster Mobile App asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spectro by Variable holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectro by Variable has 118 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spectro by Variable ships an update every 3 weeks, DockMaster Mobile App every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and June 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Spectro by Variable versus DockMaster Mobile App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectro by VariableDockMaster Mobile App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (118 ratings) — better3.4 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings118 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.412.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB228 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVariable Technologies LLCDockMaster Software, Inc

Customer experience

Spectro by Variable

All ratings118 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative16.7%

DockMaster Mobile App

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Spectro by Variable

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Monthly$15.991 Month
  • Quality Control Module1 Month trial$75.001 Month
Show 2 more
  • Annual$99.991 Year
  • Annual$149.991 Year
None

DockMaster Mobile App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spectro by Variable free?
Spectro by Variable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DockMaster Mobile App free?
DockMaster Mobile App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spectro by Variable or DockMaster Mobile App?
Spectro by Variable is rated higher. Spectro by Variable averages 4.8 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while DockMaster Mobile App averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.
Do Spectro by Variable or DockMaster Mobile App have ads?
Neither Spectro by Variable nor DockMaster Mobile App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spectro by Variable or DockMaster Mobile App?
Spectro by Variable ships an update every 3 weeks, and DockMaster Mobile App every 6 months. Most recently, Spectro by Variable was updated on September 17, 2026 and DockMaster Mobile App on June 9, 2026.

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