# DrawRef vs 8BitDo Ultimate Software

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DrawRef at 92% against 8BitDo Ultimate Software's 26%. DrawRef also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.2). 8BitDo Ultimate Software's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (254 vs 70). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

DrawRef holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 254 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of DrawRef's written reviews are positive against 26% of 8BitDo Ultimate Software's.

DrawRef ships an update every 9 months, 8BitDo Ultimate Software every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DrawRef | 8BitDo Ultimate Software |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawref/id1446586198/reviews)** | [2.2 (254 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bitdo-ultimate-software/id1532713768/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 70 | **254** |
| Positive reviews | **91.7% of reviews** | 26.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vasilii Sverchkov](https://appshunter.io/developer/638740211) | [8BitDo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532713770) |

## What reviewers say

### DrawRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawref/id1446586198)

This utility app helps artists by displaying drawing references in a picture-in-picture mode. It allows you to easily access your gallery, select an image, and overlay it on your screen while using your preferred drawing application. You can resize, reposition, and even hide the reference image to optimize your workspace.

**Highlights:** Picture-in-picture reference display, Instant gallery access, Selectable reference image parts, Adjustable reference image position, Scalable reference image

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### 8BitDo Ultimate Software

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bitdo-ultimate-software/id1532713768)

Gain complete control over your compatible gamepad. Customize button layouts, fine-tune analog stick and trigger responses, and manage vibration intensity. Create custom macro commands for advanced gameplay.

**Highlights:** Button mapping customization, Stick and trigger sensitivity adjustment, Vibration power control, Macro creation, Controller compatibility management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Functional app
- 💡 Helpful for left-hand device use
- 🚀 Seamless controller connection
- 🚀 Intuitive key mapping

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 🐛 Lack of support for certain controllers
- 🐛 Buggy firmware updates
- 🐛 Profiles not saving properly

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to detect connected controllers
- Key mapping not working as expected
- Profiles resetting after app restart
- Firmware update issues bricking controllers

**Requested features**

- Support for more controllers (e.g. 8bitdo Zero 2, SN30 Pro+)
- Add ability to remap command/option keys for macOS/iOS
- Improve macro functionality (e.g. adjustable delay, ability to hold keys)
- Add media control key mapping options
- Implement Bluetooth firmware update capability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DrawRef free?

DrawRef is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is 8BitDo Ultimate Software free?

8BitDo Ultimate Software is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DrawRef or 8BitDo Ultimate Software?

DrawRef is rated higher. DrawRef averages 4.7 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while 8BitDo Ultimate Software averages 2.2 from 254 ratings.

### Do DrawRef or 8BitDo Ultimate Software have ads?

Neither DrawRef nor 8BitDo Ultimate Software shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DrawRef or 8BitDo Ultimate Software?

DrawRef ships an update every 9 months, and 8BitDo Ultimate Software every 2 months. Most recently, DrawRef was updated on November 2, 2026 and 8BitDo Ultimate Software on November 3, 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.*