Comparison

Drawing References Pro vs Muddy Waters

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

Head to head
About

Drawing References Pro

Access a vast library of portrait and pose references for artistic practice. Enhance your workflow with tools like photo import, mirroring, grids, and timed gesture drawing. Compare your work directly to references with a unique transparent overlay feature.

Highlights
  • Portrait and pose reference library
  • Import photos from phone/Google Drive
  • Reference manipulation tools
  • Timed gesture drawing mode
  • Transparent overlay comparison
Features
Read full description

Do you like portraits or figure drawing? Then welcome! Here is what you will find in our app: * Huge collection of portrait and pose references for your practice. * Import your own photos from phone or Google Drive. * Flip, mirror, always on screen, customizable overlay grid, convert to greyscale, blur, ... everything you need to turn your reference photo into a stunning drawing. * Timed mode for gesture drawing practice. AND: Take a photo of your drawing and compare it with the reference using our unique transparent overlay ... that's hard to explain ... you just need to try it for yourself :-) Very helpful, you'll see! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.drawingreferencesapp.com/privacy-policy/

About

Muddy Waters

Features
Read full description

Muddy Waters helps you mix watercolor paints using real pigment behaviour, not digital approximations. Many artists reach a point where color mixing becomes frustrating. You add more paint, adjust ratios, and still end up with muddy results. This app is designed to give you a clearer path forward. Using scientific colour values and high end math, Muddy Waters focuses on how watercolor actually behaves, helping you make better mixing decisions using YOUR paints before committing pigment to paper. Key features • Mix colors using your own palette, not generic examples • Explore how pigments combine, including non-linear behaviour • Generate gradients to understand transitions between colors • Match colors from images and find the closest achievable mix • Identify the closest matching pigment in the library • Save favourites for the next time you go shopping for art supplies Images and barcodes are processed on your device. No photos are uploaded or stored externally. No personal data collected. Designed for real painting decisions Watercolour mixing is not predictable or linear. Lighting, dilution, paper colour, and pigment behaviour all affect the result. This app helps you navigate those variables so you can start with the right base colours. Use your own paints Build your palette from the pigments you actually own. The app works with your materials, not an idealised set from a book or tutorial. Simple and focused No accounts, no distractions. The app is designed to support your painting process without getting in the way. Keep exploring Nothing replaces hands-on experimentation, but with better guidance you can avoid common mixing mistakes and make more confident choices. Muddy Waters is free to use with an 8-slot palette. Two optional upgrades unlock more: Premium (one-time purchase) — unlocks palettes to hold any number of paints, in-app camera capture, and Backup & Restore so your palettes, favourites and Shopping List stay safe across devices. Pro (monthly subscription) — adds the Palette Adviser (tells you which paints to swap for a stronger palette), the Light & Shadow engine, Paint Check (compare any paint against everything you already own before you buy), and unlimited palettes.

Screenshots

Drawing References Pro4 screens
Muddy Waters4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Muddy Waters at Free against Drawing References Pro's $4.99. Muddy Waters also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). Drawing References Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#149 vs unranked). On 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

Muddy Waters is free to download; Drawing References Pro costs $4.99 up front. Muddy Waters sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Drawing References Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Drawing References Pro ships an update every 2 months, Muddy Waters every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Drawing References Pro versus Muddy Waters: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrawing References ProMuddy Waters
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#149 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size110 MB52 MB
Age rating12+4+
Developerfnx.ioSTUART JOHN FRENCH

In-app purchases

None

Drawing References Pro

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Muddy Waters

Subscriptions2
  • Muddy Waters Pro Monthly3 Months trial$1.991 Month
  • Muddy Waters Pro Annual$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Muddy Waters Premium$5.99

Questions

Is Drawing References Pro free?
Drawing References Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Muddy Waters free?
Muddy Waters is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Drawing References Pro or Muddy Waters have ads?
Neither Drawing References Pro nor Muddy Waters shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Drawing References Pro or Muddy Waters?
Drawing References Pro ships an update every 2 months, and Muddy Waters every 5 days. Most recently, Drawing References Pro was updated on October 25, 2026 and Muddy Waters on October 8, 2026.

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