Comparison

Spectro by Variable vs Coralis

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

Coralis

This app connects to a color measurement instrument via Bluetooth to collect and analyze color data. It supports various color measurement standards, performs color comparisons with difference formulas, and allows for the creation and searching of custom color databases.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth instrument connection
  • Collects color data (reflectance, CIE-LABCH, XYZ, etc.)
  • Performs color comparisons with difference formulas
  • Creates custom color databases
  • Searches for similar colors in databases
Features
Read full description

Main function: 1、Connect the color measure instrument by Bluetooth ,Collect color data ,set instrument parameter ,calibrate instrument,etc 2、Measure color data ,including reflectance ,CIE-LABCH,XYZ,Yxy,RGB,density(A/T/M/E),,Metamerism Index Milm,Munsell,Opacity,Color Strength,Whiteness,Yellowness,etc. 3、Color comparsion,judge if the sample color qualified, color difference formulas ( ΔE*ab,ΔE*94,ΔE*00,ΔEcmc,etc ) 4、Color storage,could creat your own color database easily, and save the color data into the database 5、Color search , measure a color , find the most similar color in the color database

Screenshots

Spectro by Variable4 screens
Coralis4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Coralis at 100% against Spectro by Variable's 50%. Coralis also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Spectro by Variable's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (118 vs 1). 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. Coralis asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Coralis holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectro by Variable has 118 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Spectro by Variable's written reviews are positive against 100% of Coralis's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spectro by Variable ships an update every 3 weeks, Coralis every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Spectro by Variable versus Coralis: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectro by VariableCoralis
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (118 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings118 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.412.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB107 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVariable Technologies LLCCoralis Americas LLC

Customer experience

Spectro by Variable

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

Coralis

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Coralis

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spectro by Variable free?
Spectro by Variable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Coralis free?
Coralis is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spectro by Variable or Coralis?
Coralis is rated higher. Spectro by Variable averages 4.8 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while Coralis averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Spectro by Variable or Coralis have ads?
Neither Spectro by Variable nor Coralis shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spectro by Variable or Coralis?
Spectro by Variable ships an update every 3 weeks, and Coralis every 5 months. Most recently, Spectro by Variable was updated on October 5, 2026 and Coralis on September 26, 2026.

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