# Value Study vs Pocket Easel

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Value Study at 3.3K against Pocket Easel's 4. Pocket Easel's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and Pocket Easel sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pocket Easel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.3K 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 100% of Pocket Easel's.

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, Pocket Easel every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Value Study | Pocket Easel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/value-study-art-reference/id1546616127/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-easel/id6792240582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 92.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 35 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diem Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439019995) | [彬 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/6790275793) |

## 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 (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Value Study Pro | $3.99 | per year |
| Value Study Pro (yearly) | $6.99 | per year |
| Appreciation | $2.99 | one-time |
| Value Study Pro (Lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Generous boost | $9.99 | one-time |
| Value Study | $17.99 | 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


### Pocket Easel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-easel/id6792240582)

This app helps artists study color harmony on the go using traditional painting techniques. It offers tools for quick color selection, fine-tuning, and precise shape drawing, with options for exporting time-lapses of your creative process. Designed for efficient mobile use, it focuses on color studies rather than detailed illustration.

**Highlights:** Gamut masking for harmonious color palettes, Joystick color adjustment for fine control, Canvas zoom, pan, and reset, Precise shape drawing tools, Color-process time-lapse export, Landscape mode for two-handed painting

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Easel Pro | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Value Study free?

Value Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pocket Easel free?

Pocket Easel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Value Study or Pocket Easel?

Pocket Easel is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Pocket Easel averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Value Study or Pocket Easel have ads?

Neither Value Study nor Pocket Easel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Value Study or Pocket Easel?

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pocket Easel every 3 days. Most recently, Value Study was updated on October 12, 2026 and Pocket Easel on September 30, 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.*