Comparison

FocalPaint vs SpeckCheck Mobile

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

Head to head
About

FocalPaint

This app offers a unique brush engine for realistic paint simulation, pigment mixing, and canvas textures. It allows for custom brush and layer creation using Metal GPU or Javascript code, with advanced features like spectral color models and Apple Pencil Pro support.

Highlights
  • Realistic paint and pigment mixing
  • Custom brush and layer creation
  • Transparent ink simulation
  • Apple Pencil Pro support
  • Spectral color model
  • Open source shader code library
Features
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FocalPaint's unique brush engine simulates thick paint and real pigment mixing with accurate physics models. Features: - Realistic color blending behaves like real paint! - Real canvas texture and paint thickness - Transparent Ink simulation - Open Source GPU shader code library for reference and customization - Write your own custom brush with Metal GPU or Javascript code - Write your own custom layer modes with Metal GPU code - Apple Pencil Pro support with hover - 16 channel "spectral" color model (256 bits per pixel) - Wide color gamut (P3) Please note: Apple A12 GPU or newer is required Terms of Use: https://www.focalpaint.com/p/terms-of-use.html Privacy Policy: https://www.focalpaint.com/p/privacy.html Special Thanks to: Scott Allen Burns Troy James Sobotka & Friends colour-science.org python library MyPaint painting software team Anna Timm (@anti-art)

About

SpeckCheck Mobile

Features
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The perfect solution for… – Color verification on the go or in the office. – Comparing against an industry CRPC or your own house measured standard. – Spot color evaluation against industry or house measured libraries. When paired with a Nix Spectro 2 or Mini 2 – SpeckCheck Mobile performs color verification of both 4/color process and spot color printing. SpeckCheck will compare your print to any of the industry standard Certified Reference Print Conditions (CRPCs) using a targeted methodology (accurate use of this feature requires a Spectro 2). SpeckCheck does this by comparing measurements to the outer gamut of a selected print condition to determine the accuracy of the color. In addition to the CRPCs, you can create your own reference from a set of measurements previously saved. (Use of the feature works with both the Spectro 2 and the Mini 2.) In either case, the gray balance of your sample is compared to the reference to make certain color is as precise as the print device is capable. Good gray balance almost always means good color. When a measurement is outside of acceptable ranges, SpeckCheck provides ample information to determine what is causing the issue. With Delta E values, 2D and 3D color charts and access to the measurement’s CGATS file, SpeckCheck provides the tools you need to work towards a solution. In addition to verification of color profiles, SpeckCheck has a full-featured color library function to validate spot colors. While we include a small sample library for your use, the system depends on the import of your colors in either CxF format or through measurement of physical samples. SpeckCheck can then use a color profile to generate CMYK values to reproduce that spot color on your own printer.

Screenshots

FocalPaint1 screens
SpeckCheck Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SpeckCheck Mobile at Free against FocalPaint's $4.99. SpeckCheck Mobile also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.6). FocalPaint's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On 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

SpeckCheck Mobile is free to download; FocalPaint costs $4.99 up front. FocalPaint sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. SpeckCheck Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FocalPaint ships an update monthly, SpeckCheck Mobile every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
FocalPaint versus SpeckCheck Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocalPaintSpeckCheck Mobile
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (13 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews78.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size557 MB70 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerbrien dieterleChris HALFORD

In-app purchases

3 purchases

FocalPaint

One-time3
  • Generous Tip$0.99
  • Big Tip$4.99
  • Huge Tip$9.99
None

SpeckCheck Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FocalPaint free?
FocalPaint costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SpeckCheck Mobile free?
SpeckCheck Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FocalPaint or SpeckCheck Mobile have ads?
Neither FocalPaint nor SpeckCheck Mobile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FocalPaint or SpeckCheck Mobile?
FocalPaint ships an update monthly, and SpeckCheck Mobile every 4 months. Most recently, FocalPaint was updated on October 10, 2026 and SpeckCheck Mobile on October 4, 2026.

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