Comparison

Value Study vs Monogram

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

Head to head
About

Value Study

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
Read full description

In art, value (or tone) refers to how light or dark a colour is. If you're learning to paint or draw, doing value studies is one of the best ways to improve. These small, loose sketches in greyscale help you understand where shadows fall and highlights appear—essential for capturing depth and form. Value Study is a simple, focused tool designed to help you see values more clearly in your reference images. Instead of just converting a photo to black and white, this app lets you break down tones step by step. Start with just black and white to map out the biggest shapes, then gradually add more values to refine your understanding. You can also highlight all areas of an image that share the same value, making it easier to see subtle shifts in tone. This is especially useful in complex references, like portraits, where different parts of the image might have the same level of shadow but look completely different in colour. Value Study isn’t here to replace traditional studies—it’s here to enhance them. Whether you're sketching, painting, or working digitally, this tool makes it easier to focus on the fundamentals of light, shadow, and form. Try it for free with all features enabled on sample images from Unsplash before deciding to unlock the full app with a low-cost yearly or lifetime purchase. All Value Study Pro upgrades count as lifetime purchase. Either option will unlock Value Study across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Annual: Auto-renews yearly. Lifetime: One-time payment, no fees. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Monogram

Features
Read full description

Monogram is a digital tool for art collectors, a place to organise and understand your collection. It brings together inventory, private social interaction and a discreet collector-to-collector marketplace in one secure environment. With Monogram, you can build a clear overview of your collection, access relevant insights and statistics, connect with other users and, when needed, sell works without expensive intermediaries. Everything is designed to be intuitive, private and tailored to how collections actually grow. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Value Study4 screens
Monogram4 screens

Verdict

The call

Value Study and Monogram are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

Both are free to download. Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and Monogram sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, Monogram every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Value Study versus Monogram: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterValue StudyMonogram
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3.3K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDiem LimitedMonogram Art Inventory AB

Bugs and requests

Value Study

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Monogram

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Value Study

Subscriptions2
  • Value Study Pro$3.991 Year
  • Value Study Pro (yearly)$6.991 Year
One-time5
  • Appreciation$2.99
  • Value Study Pro (Lifetime)$9.99
  • Generous boost$9.99
Show 2 more
  • Value Study$17.99
  • Amazing supporter$24.99
4 purchases

Monogram

Subscriptions4
  • Premium1 Month trial$7.991 Month
  • Premium3 Months trial$7.991 Month
  • Premium1 Month trial$79.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Premium3 Months trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Value Study free?
Value Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Monogram free?
Monogram is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Value Study or Monogram have ads?
Neither Value Study nor Monogram shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Value Study or Monogram?
Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, and Monogram every 9 days. Most recently, Value Study was updated on October 12, 2026 and Monogram on October 5, 2026.

Other comparisons