Comparison

VizRef Lite vs HEAVYPAINT

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

HEAVYPAINT

This app offers a raw digital painting experience with unique tools for creating textured art and quick studies. It's designed for artists who embrace digital chaos and seek a streamlined, mobile art studio.

Highlights
  • Unique digital brushes
  • Color Jitter for texture
  • Fast color blocking tools
  • Line Blend for gradients
  • Liquify tool
  • Minimalist interface
  • Gallery for creations
Features
Read full description

Raw digital painting with unique brushes & color chaos. The painter's painting app that celebrates digital chaos. HEAVYPAINT is unapologetically digital and a bit unhinged. It’s a celebration of digital impressionism. Whether you're sketching on the train, painting outdoors, or creating quick color studies, this is your pocket art studio. Unique Digital Tools Color Jitter: Unleash beautiful digital chaos and texture Fan Fill and Lasso Fill for fast color blockins, textured foliage, notan, organic shapes. Rake tool for softening up edges in a graphic way Line Blend for instant gradients
Liquify to adjust proportions and shapes Built for Speed & Mobility Perfect pochade box replacement for pleinair painting. Great for quick paintings on public transit, many will finger paint on their phones. Streamlined interface.Focus on pure color and shape without digital clutter. Streamlined Experience Minimalist interface puts painting first Customizable tools that adapt to your style Strong shape design tools for bold, crisp artwork Gallery to review and organize your creations + Plein air painters who want to ditch heavy supplies + Quick color studies and concept sketches + Figure painting and gesture drawing + Artists wanting to rediscover digital painting joy + Anyone seeking a uniquely digital aesthetic HEAVYPAINT balances professional capabilities with unhinged creativity. Embrace procedural randomness / crunchiness / glitchiness that digital enables. Touch grass. Ideal for pleinair painting and quick studies This app is subject to Apple's standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

VizRef Lite4 screens
HEAVYPAINT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HEAVYPAINT at Free against VizRef Lite's $1.99. HEAVYPAINT also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (58% vs 48%). VizRef Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#19 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support 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

HEAVYPAINT is free to download; VizRef Lite costs $1.99 up front. HEAVYPAINT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. VizRef Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HEAVYPAINT holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 66 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of VizRef Lite's written reviews are positive against 58% of HEAVYPAINT's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VizRef Lite ships an update every 3 months, HEAVYPAINT every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
VizRef Lite versus HEAVYPAINT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVizRef LiteHEAVYPAINT
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (38 ratings)4.0 (66 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.7% of reviews58.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3866 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#19 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.2 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStudio PixanohHEAVYPOLY, Inc.

Customer experience

VizRef Lite

All ratings38 ratings
Positive68.4%
Neutral7.9%
Negative23.7%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive47.7%
Neutral27.3%
Negative25.0%

HEAVYPAINT

All ratings66 ratings
Positive68.2%
Neutral13.6%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive58.4%
Neutral15.6%
Negative26.0%

Bugs and requests

VizRef Lite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

HEAVYPAINT

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Gallery crashes
  • Artwork files not saving properly
  • Eyedropper tool not working as expected

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improved layer management
  • More customization options
  • Better color controls and eyedropper tool

In-app purchases

None

VizRef Lite

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

HEAVYPAINT

Subscriptions2
  • Gallery Sync Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Gallery Sync Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock Full Version$9.99

Questions

Is VizRef Lite free?
VizRef Lite costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is HEAVYPAINT free?
HEAVYPAINT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VizRef Lite or HEAVYPAINT?
HEAVYPAINT is rated higher. VizRef Lite averages 3.8 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while HEAVYPAINT averages 4.0 from 66 ratings.
Do VizRef Lite or HEAVYPAINT have ads?
Neither VizRef Lite nor HEAVYPAINT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VizRef Lite or HEAVYPAINT?
VizRef Lite ships an update every 3 months, and HEAVYPAINT every 6 weeks. Most recently, VizRef Lite was updated on October 14, 2026 and HEAVYPAINT on October 13, 2026.

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