# Value Study vs HEAVYPAINT

The clearest difference is rating: Value Study at 4.8 against HEAVYPAINT's 4.0. Value Study also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 58%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Value Study sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and HEAVYPAINT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Value Study holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.3K ratings behind it against 65, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Value Study's written reviews are positive against 58% of HEAVYPAINT's.

Value Study ships an update weekly, HEAVYPAINT every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Value Study | HEAVYPAINT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127/reviews)** | [4.0 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heavypaint/id6654887306/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 65 |
| Positive reviews | **91.9% of reviews** | 58.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diem Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439019995) | [HEAVYPOLY, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469848545) |

## 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 (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Value Study Pro | $3.99 | 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 |

**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


### HEAVYPAINT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heavypaint/id6654887306)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gallery Sync Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Gallery Sync Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Unlock Full Version | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful brushes and tools
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 💡 Unique and distilled painting experience
- 👍 Responsive and dedicated developer
- 👍 Great community support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🐛 Issues with saving and restoring purchases
- 🐛 Inconsistent UI and missing features

**Reported bugs**

- Gallery crashes
- Artwork files not saving properly
- Eyedropper tool not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Improved layer management
- More customization options
- Better color controls and eyedropper tool


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Value Study free?

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

### Is HEAVYPAINT free?

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

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

Value Study is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while HEAVYPAINT averages 4.0 from 65 ratings.

### Do Value Study or HEAVYPAINT have ads?

Neither Value Study nor HEAVYPAINT shows ads.

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

Value Study ships an update weekly, and HEAVYPAINT every 6 weeks. Most recently, Value Study was updated on September 23, 2026 and HEAVYPAINT on September 21, 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.*