# Value Study vs Art Toolbox

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Value Study | Art Toolbox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127/reviews)** | [4.2 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-toolbox-values-and-guides/id6745422815/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **91.9% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 33 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diem Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439019995) | [Wes Castain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527028692) |

## 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


### Art Toolbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-toolbox-values-and-guides/id6745422815)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Art Toolkit Premium | $2.00 | per month |
| Art Toolkit Premium | $9.00 | per year |
| Art Toolkit Premium | $19.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*