# Compo vs Value Study

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Value Study at 3.3K against Compo's 5. Value Study also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). Compo's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 92%) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.6). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Compo sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Compo against 4.8 for Value Study. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.3K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Compo's written reviews are positive against 92% of Value Study's.

Compo ships an update every 5 weeks, Value Study every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compo | Value Study |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compo/id1517304818/reviews) | [4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **3.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 92.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sylvain Lambert](https://appshunter.io/developer/783315608) | [Diem Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439019995) |

## What reviewers say

### Compo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compo/id1517304818)

An intuitive app for creating dynamic and harmonious compositions using shapes and colors inspired by Bauhaus masters. Explore your creativity from a blank canvas or use a shuffle feature to generate ideas. Easily manipulate elements to express your unique style.

**Highlights:** Create compositions with shapes and colors, Inspired by Bauhaus masters, Blank canvas or shuffle feature, Move, rotate, copy, and overlap shapes, Express personal style

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Leaves | $0.99 | one-time |
| Letters | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coals | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fishes | $0.99 | one-time |


### Value Study

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127)

This app helps artists improve their skills by analyzing light and shadow in reference images. It allows users to break down tones step-by-step, from simple black and white to more complex value ranges, aiding in the understanding of depth and form. It's a tool to enhance traditional art studies.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step tone breakdown, Highlighting areas of same value, Focus on light, shadow, and form, Greyscale value studies, Works with reference images

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Value Study Pro | $3.99 | per year |
| Value Study Pro (yearly) | $6.99 | per year |
| Appreciation | $2.99 | one-time |
| Value Study Pro (Lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Generous boost | $9.99 | one-time |
| Value Study | $17.99 | one-time |
| Amazing supporter | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful for value studies
- 💡 Allows adjusting number of values
- 🎨 Useful for artists and painters
- ⭐ Great tool for beginners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with accurately representing blue hues
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/importing photos
- 🤔 Unclear instructions/lack of tutorial

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or fails to launch on some devices
- Occasional issues with image processing

**Requested features**

- Add ability to adjust value midpoint
- Include color study/color adjustment options
- Provide side-by-side comparison of original and simplified images
- Add customizable grid overlay


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compo free?

Compo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Value Study free?

Value Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Compo or Value Study?

Compo and Value Study are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 3.3K ratings respectively.

### Do Compo or Value Study have ads?

Neither Compo nor Value Study shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Compo or Value Study?

Compo ships an update every 5 weeks, and Value Study every 2 weeks. Most recently, Compo was updated on October 1, 2026 and Value Study on October 10, 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.*