HEAVYPAINT Classic vs VizRef Lite
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HEAVYPAINT Classic
A streamlined painting application focused on pure colors and shapes. It offers essential tools for artists, including improved smudge and blur, layers, masking, and erasing. Ideal for quick sketches, studies, and plein air work.
- Improved Smudge tool
- Improved Blur tool
- Layers
- Masking
- Clipping
- Erase tool
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HEAVYPAINT ClassicA simple yet secretly powerful painting app! Focus on pure colors and shapes with a streamlined interface. Ideal for plein air painting, color notes, sketches and studies. + Improved Smudge + Improved Blur + Layers + Masking + Erase + Clipping 30 day trial with full functionality.
VizRef Lite
This app allows creatives to build and carry visual reference boards on their iPhone. It supports various image types, including GIFs, and integrates with popular drawing applications, acting as a second monitor for inspiration on the go.
- Create visual reference boards
- Import images from web, cloud, photos
- Supports animated GIFs with timeline control
- Use iPhone as a second monitor
- Batch import and export
- Image editing tools (crop, flip, rotate)
- Light and Dark mode
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VizRef Lite® for iPhone enables creatives to finally take their inspiration anywhere on their phones. *You can not use iPad multitasking features with the iPhone version of VizRef. Please Download VIZREF for use on iPad. * It becomes the perfect companion app for Procreate or paired with your favorite drawing/animation application by using your iPhone as a second monitor dedicated to references. Take your reference boards with you while you travel and draw in your sketchbook. Make visual reference boards with any images or gifs from web browsers, cloud storage, photos, screen captures and more. The first mood board creation app made by artists for artists, that brings comprehensive referencing tools to animators and visual artists. We are dedicated to bringing creatives what they need most in being inspired everywhere they go. HIGHLIGHTS -VIZREF LITE® version for iPhone has all the same in-app features as VIZREF on iPad ( Vizref Lite if used on IPad does not have multitasking features and is not fullscreen. For iPad please purchase VIZREF® -Take your visual reference boards with you while you sketch at your favorite locations -Perfect companion app paired with Procreate® Adobe Fresco ® Clip Studio Paint® Infinite Painter® etc. by utilizing iPhone as a second monitor along with an iPad -Supports many image types including GIF -Quickly copy and paste images from web -Batch Import from Photos app -Batch Export images from boards to cloud storage using Files app -Import High-Resolution images with HD toggle -*Focus on whats importing with Focus mode. ( rotate imageboard ) *Multi-Select and auto pack images for a quicker workflow * - -Import from iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive -Quick and responsive visual reference board experience -Easy to use/ minimal UI -Light mode and Dark mode -Set thumbnails for reference boards to visually organize your inspiration ANIMATED GIF SUPPORT -Reference your favorite animated gifs -Pause animation and play frame by frame to better understand referenced animations -Advanced animation timeline gives you an interactive visual breakdown of all frames EASY TO USE REFERENCE TOOLS -Crop images to optimize screen space and view more references -Greyscale toggle for images for value reference -Flip horizontally and vertically -Rotate Images -Copy-paste images into other apps Artwork and animation credits @_Artazi @_baomii @_Deadslug_ @amnesiapancake @barachan @belgeist @criisalys @ergo.josh @evan_monteiro @gloomwastaken @mrbeezul @onemegawatt @rocketboiART @samuelyounart @cobalt_requin VizRef was created by Max Gonzalez (@mrbeezul) and RoboWorld Entertainment with supporting development from Valere Labs
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: HEAVYPAINT Classic at Free against VizRef Lite's $1.99. HEAVYPAINT Classic also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and rating (4.1 vs 3.8). VizRef Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#18 vs unranked). On review sentiment, 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
HEAVYPAINT Classic is free to download; VizRef Lite costs $1.99 up front. HEAVYPAINT Classic sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. VizRef Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.
HEAVYPAINT Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 179 and 38 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of HEAVYPAINT Classic's written reviews are positive against 48% of VizRef Lite's.
HEAVYPAINT Classic ships an update every 5 days, VizRef Lite every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HEAVYPAINT Classic | VizRef Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.1 (179 ratings) — better | 3.8 (38 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 52.2% of reviews — better | 47.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 179 — better | 38 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #18 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 51 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HEAVYPOLY, Inc. | Studio Pixanoh |
Customer experience
HEAVYPAINT Classic
VizRef Lite
Bugs and requests
HEAVYPAINT Classic
Reported bugs
18 issues- App crashes frequently, causing work loss
- Auto-save feature unreliable despite crashes
- Canvas flips upside down randomly
- Transform tool deletes paintings
- Undo button requires multiple taps
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- Zoom functionality buggy and destabilizes canvas
- Canvas resize not working
- Image corruption with layer duplication
- Eye dropper functionality haphazard
- Fill tool doesn't work with selected colors
- Pressure setting eliminates mark-making
- Brush size settings change across all tools
- Some brush textures cannot be changed
- Random blobs appear on export
- App crashes when switching between drawings
- Trial period not clearing for paid users
- Incompatibility with SE2 and older devices
- Speaker popping on undo action
Requested features
15 requests- Gesture controls (2-finger undo, 3-finger redo)
- Pressure sensitivity for brush size
- Lasso tool for moving selections
- Redo button functionality
- Canvas zoom capability
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- Resizable/collapsible UI elements
- Ability to move canvas with single finger
- Line work capabilities
- Better brush texture preset selection
- Canvas size input field
- Eraser tool
- Moveable UI panels
- Tutorial or onboarding guide
- Better save/export documentation
- Pressure control for size on all tools
VizRef Lite
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
HEAVYPAINT Classic
- Seurat Texture Brushes$4.99
- HEAVYPAINT Pro$9.99
VizRef Lite
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is HEAVYPAINT Classic free?
Is VizRef Lite free?
Which has better reviews, HEAVYPAINT Classic or VizRef Lite?
Do HEAVYPAINT Classic or VizRef Lite have ads?
Which is updated more often, HEAVYPAINT Classic or VizRef Lite?
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