Comparison

ArmorPaint vs SceneRef

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

Head to head
About

ArmorPaint

This 3D painting software allows users to create PBR textures for 3D models with instant visual feedback. It features a node-based workflow for procedural materials and brushes, and is GPU-accelerated for a smooth 4K painting experience on iPad.

Highlights
  • PBR texture painting
  • Node-based material creation
  • Procedural brushes
  • GPU-accelerated viewport
  • Instant baking of texture maps
  • Path-traced viewport rendering
Features
Read full description

ArmorPaint is in active development. Please report any issues you may encounter. For the best experience Apple Pencil is recommended. Mouse, keyboard and pencil hover is supported. --- 3D Painting Software ArmorPaint is a software for PBR texture painting. Import your 3D models and start painting. Receive instant visual feedback in the viewport as you paint. Node Based Work fast with the convenience of nodes. Paint with fully procedural materials. Build fill layers with material nodes. Use brush nodes to create patterns and procedural brushes. GPU Accelerated ArmorPaint is designed from scratch to run completely on the GPU. This results in a smooth 4K painting experience on your iPad. Baking Bake texture maps for high-poly models instantly on your iPad device. Hardware accelerated ray-traced baking is available on supported iPads. (M1 or newer, A13 or newer) Path-Traced Viewport Paint models in a viewport with true light simulation. Path-traced viewport rendering is available on supported iPads. (M1 or newer, A13 or newer)

About

SceneRef

Features
Read full description

SceneRef works with iPad Split View and multiple windows as the ideal companion for Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, and other drawing and animation apps—freeing your reference images from stacked layers, organizing them clearly on an infinite canvas, and keeping inspiration and efficiency within reach wherever you create. HIGHLIGHTS - Perfect companion: Work side by side with Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, and other creative apps using iPad Split View and multiple windows - Infinite canvas: Smart caching and image management keep vast libraries saved and scrolling smoothly - Multi-select batch tools: One-tap auto-fit, smart layout, and unified sizing make copying and aligning effortless - Professional workflow: Full keyboard shortcut mapping for faster everyday actions - Flexible import: Clipboard, Photos, folders, camera, and drag-and-drop—grab what you need, when you need it - Web drag-and-drop: Drag images in directly from Pinterest, Pixiv, and other popular image sites - Flexible export: Export scenes or image groups for easy sharing and delivery - View / Lock / Edit modes so browsing and editing never get in each other's way - Grid and list views for file management, with multiple sort options - Smooth zoom and pan to inspect every detail - A clean, intuitive interface so you can stay focused on creating Professional Reference Tools - Rotate, crop, desaturate, flip vertical/horizontal, opacity, layering, and scale—a complete set of adjustments - Live color picker: Sample any color on the canvas in real time and get common color codes - Magnetic guides: Alignment hints and smart snapping for more precise layouts - After multi-select, quickly align and distribute from the top-right corner for faster batch organization - Brush annotations and highlight circles to communicate more clearly - Styled text: A rich set of fonts and styles for notes, titles, and labels Video & GIF - Play MP4 and extract 4K stills for storyboards, covers, and video references - One-tap GIF frame-by-frame breakdown so animation details are crystal clear Thanks for reading. Contact us: Email: scenereftech@163.com

Screenshots

ArmorPaint4 screens
SceneRef3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SceneRef at Free against ArmorPaint's $17.99. SceneRef also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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

SceneRef is free to download; ArmorPaint costs $17.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ArmorPaint ships an update every 5 days, SceneRef every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ArmorPaint versus SceneRef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArmorPaintSceneRef
Price$17.99Free — better
Rating2.1 (27 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews16.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings27 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLubos Lenco文荣 李

In-app purchases

None

ArmorPaint

No in-app purchases

None

SceneRef

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ArmorPaint free?
ArmorPaint costs $17.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SceneRef free?
SceneRef is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ArmorPaint or SceneRef have ads?
Neither ArmorPaint nor SceneRef shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ArmorPaint or SceneRef?
ArmorPaint ships an update every 5 days, and SceneRef every 2 days. Most recently, ArmorPaint was updated on October 20, 2026 and SceneRef on October 13, 2026.

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