Comparison

Value Study vs ArtGrid

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

ArtGrid

Features
Read full description

Transform reference photos into perfectly gridded drawing guides with Atelier Art Grid, the essential tool for artists of all levels. Key features: • Square grid overlay - perfect for maintaining proportions • Rectangular grid overlay - ideal for scaled drawings • Perspective grid - for 1, 2, and 3 point perspective • Edge highlighting - easily identify crucial contours and shapes • Tonal filter - • Clean intuitive interface designed by artists for artists Whether your learning the basics of proportion or working on precise reproductions, Atelier Art Grid helps you: • Break complex images into manageable sections • Maintain accurate proportions in your drawings • Transfer images to different scales with confidence • Focus on key details with edge highlighting • Check colours and values Download now and make every drawing session more productive and precise

Screenshots

Value Study4 screens
ArtGrid4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ArtGrid at none against Value Study's 5. Value Study's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. ArtGrid asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Value Study ships an update weekly, ArtGrid fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Value Study versus ArtGrid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterValue StudyArtGrid
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews91.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings3.3K — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDiem LimitedMartyn Wiggins

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

ArtGrid

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Value Study

Subscriptions1
  • Value Study Pro$3.991 Year
One-time4
  • Appreciation$2.99
  • Value Study Pro (Lifetime)$9.99
  • Generous boost$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Amazing supporter$24.99
None

ArtGrid

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Value Study free?
Value Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ArtGrid free?
ArtGrid is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Value Study or ArtGrid have ads?
ArtGrid shows ads; Value Study does not.
Which is updated more often, Value Study or ArtGrid?
Value Study ships an update weekly, and ArtGrid fortnightly. Most recently, Value Study was updated on September 26, 2026 and ArtGrid on September 15, 2026.

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