Comparison

Value Study vs TangleApp

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 tool helps artists improve their drawing and painting skills by simplifying reference images into distinct value ranges. It allows users to break down tones step-by-step, highlight areas of similar value, and focus on light, shadow, and form.

Highlights
  • Value breakdown of reference images
  • Highlighting areas of similar value
  • Adjustable number of value steps
  • Focus on light, shadow, and form
  • Enhances traditional art studies
  • Cross-platform compatibility
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

TangleApp

Train your mind, find calm, and boost creativity with guided challenges inspired by the Zentangle method. This app offers step-by-step instructions to enhance concentration and reduce stress, making it ideal for both beginners and artists seeking mindfulness.

Highlights
  • Mind training challenges
  • Zentangle technique inspiration
  • Step-by-step guides
  • Concentration enhancement
  • Stress reduction
  • Creativity stimulation
Features
Read full description

Tangle es una app diseñada para entrenar tu mente, encontrar calma y estimular tu creatividad. Ofrece retos inspirados en la técnica Zentangle, con guías paso a paso para potenciar tu concentración. Perfecta para principiantes y artistas, esta app te ayuda a reducir el estrés y conectar con el momento presente. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Value Study4 screens
TangleApp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Value Study at 92% against TangleApp's 45%. Value Study also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (3.4K vs 4). TangleApp's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and TangleApp sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Value Study holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.4K ratings behind it against 4, 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 45% of TangleApp's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, TangleApp every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Value Study versus TangleApp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterValue StudyTangleApp
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.4K ratings) — better3.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews92.0% of reviews — better45.5% of reviews
Number of ratings3.4K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDiem LimitedAlicia Gutierrez Rey

Customer experience

Value Study

All ratings3,359 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews200 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.5%

TangleApp

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative54.5%

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

TangleApp

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
  • Generous boost$9.99
  • Value Study Pro (Lifetime)$17.99
Show 2 more
  • Value Study$17.99
  • Amazing supporter$24.99
3 purchases

TangleApp

Subscriptions3
  • Suscripción mensual$6.001 Month
  • Suscripción trimestral$15.003 Months
  • Suscripción anual$30.001 Year

Questions

Is Value Study free?
Value Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TangleApp free?
TangleApp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Value Study or TangleApp?
Value Study is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.4K ratings, while TangleApp averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Value Study or TangleApp have ads?
Neither Value Study nor TangleApp shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Value Study or TangleApp?
Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, and TangleApp every 10 days. Most recently, Value Study was updated on October 29, 2026 and TangleApp on October 20, 2026.

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