# Value Study vs Smarty Paints

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Value Study at 3.3K against Smarty Paints's 38. Value Study also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 78%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and Smarty Paints sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 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 Value Study against 4.7 for Smarty Paints. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.3K ratings behind it against 38, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of Value Study's written reviews are positive against 78% of Smarty Paints's.

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, Smarty Paints every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Value Study | Smarty Paints |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127/reviews)** | [4.7 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarty-paints/id6472111419/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | **92.0% of reviews** | 77.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 35 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diem Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439019995) | [Neural Appworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1671246020) |

## What reviewers say

### 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) | $14.99 | per year |
| Appreciation | $2.99 | one-time |
| Value Study Pro (Lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Generous boost | $9.99 | one-time |
| Amazing supporter | $24.99 | one-time |
| Value Study | $29.99 | 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


### Smarty Paints

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarty-paints/id6472111419)

This app helps watercolor artists manage their paint collections, find substitute colors, and match tutorial supplies. It simplifies tracking what you own, identifying dupes, and ensuring your paints align with class or tutorial requirements.

**Highlights:** Track watercolor paint collections, Find close-enough paint dupes, Match tutorial supplies to your stash, Compare paint properties across brands, Create digital palette layouts, Searchable paint database

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $12.99 | per year |
| Unlock Premium Features | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Value Study free?

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

### Is Smarty Paints free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Value Study or Smarty Paints?

Value Study is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Smarty Paints averages 4.7 from 38 ratings.

### Do Value Study or Smarty Paints have ads?

Neither Value Study nor Smarty Paints shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Value Study or Smarty Paints?

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, and Smarty Paints every 11 days. Most recently, Value Study was updated on September 29, 2026 and Smarty Paints on September 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*