Comparison

Value Study vs Art Toolbox

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

Art Toolbox

This app helps artists of all levels improve their skills by mastering light, shadow, and form. It offers tools for simplifying complex subjects, ensuring accurate proportions, and composing visually engaging artwork.

Highlights
  • Master light and shadow
  • Simplify complex forms
  • Portrait simplification with grids
  • Proportions guide for lifelike portraits
  • Composition grids for balanced art
  • Tools for sketching and painting
Features
Read full description

Art Toolbox is the perfect companion for artists of all skill levels, designed to help you master the fundamentals and create more confident, compelling artwork. Key Features: Master Light and Shadow Train your eye to recognize subtle value shifts and improve the depth and realism in your work. Break Down Complex Forms Simplify your subject into bold, readable shapes with the shape simplification tool—perfect for learning structure and design. Portrait Simplification Made Easy Start with flat colors and use facial grids to build a strong, accurate base for portrait painting or drawing. Perfect Proportions, Every Time Draw lifelike portraits with the proportions guide—no more guesswork or awkward angles. Compose with Confidence Design stronger artwork using 6 classic composition grids to create balanced and visually engaging pieces. Whether you’re sketching, painting, or just learning, Art Toolbox helps you focus on what matters most: improving your art. Terms & Conditions: https://arttoolbox.app/terms-conditions/ Privacy Policy: https://arttoolbox.app/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Value Study4 screens
Art Toolbox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Value Study at 4.8 against Art Toolbox's 4.2. Value Study also leads on ratings volume (3.3K vs 17) and review sentiment (92% vs 75%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 and Art Toolbox sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 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 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.3K ratings behind it against 17, 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 75% of Art Toolbox's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Value Study ships an update weekly, Art Toolbox every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Value Study versus Art Toolbox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterValue StudyArt Toolbox
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings) — better4.2 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews91.9% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3.3K — better17
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDiem LimitedWes Castain

Customer experience

Value Study

All ratings3,268 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews198 reviews
Positive91.9%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.6%

Art Toolbox

All ratings17 ratings
Positive76.5%
Neutral11.8%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

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

Art Toolbox

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
3 purchases

Art Toolbox

Subscriptions2
  • Art Toolkit Premium$2.001 Month
  • Art Toolkit Premium$9.001 Year
One-time1
  • Art Toolkit Premium$19.00

Questions

Is Value Study free?
Value Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Art Toolbox free?
Art Toolbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Value Study or Art Toolbox?
Value Study is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Art Toolbox averages 4.2 from 17 ratings.
Do Value Study or Art Toolbox have ads?
Neither Value Study nor Art Toolbox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Value Study or Art Toolbox?
Value Study ships an update weekly, and Art Toolbox every 2 weeks. Most recently, Value Study was updated on September 23, 2026 and Art Toolbox on September 22, 2026.

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