Comparison

ArtRef vs RefCanvas

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ArtRef

This app helps artists and creatives find and organize high-quality images from popular stock photo sites. It also offers timed sketching challenges to improve art skills using saved images.

Highlights
  • Image search from multiple stock sites
  • Create and organize image collections
  • Timed sketching challenges
  • Improve art skills
  • Offline access to saved images
Features
Read full description

ArtRef is intended for the use of artist and creative individual who like to look up image and some how find themselves running out phone storage space due to so many images. The ArtRef application allow you to look up amazing quality image thankfully to website such as Flicker, Unplash, Pexels, ,Pixabay ,and then having the functionality of creating collections of galleries to organize with those images so you can easily access anytime and anyplace as long as the creator who provide those image on the various platform don't remove the image. You can also do time trial image sketch with the app using various time such as 30s , 60s, 5 min , and 30 min to overall improve art skills with the images your saved in your collections.

About

RefCanvas

This app helps artists and designers organize visual references for their projects. Import images and GIFs, arrange them on a canvas, add notes, and export your creations.

Highlights
  • Import images and GIFs
  • Add text notes
  • Move, scale, and rotate references
  • Group references with nodes
  • Supports split screen and pop-up view
  • Export boards as SVG or images
Features
Read full description

RefCanvas is an intuitive tool for artists and designers who need a comprehensive reference app to bring their creative vision to life. Key Features: - Import images and gifs. - Notes - Add text notes. - Move, scale and rotate references to create the perfect layout. - Multi selection - edit multiple references at one. - Nodes - Useful for grouping references. - Drag and drop - Drag and drop files from others apps like the gallery. - Paste files from the clipboard. - Supports split screen and pop-up view: Use it as a companion app with your favorite drawing app like Ibis Paint or Infinite Painter. - Save your progress as boards for future use. - Auto set thumbnails for boards after saving. - Eye dropper - Tap and hold to pick a color from your references as a hex code. - Drawing. Animated GIF support: - Reference your favorite animated gifs. - Pause animation and play frame by frame to better understand referenced animations. - Animation timeline gives you an interactive visual breakdown of all the frames. Easy to use reference tools: - Grayscale toggle. - Flip horizontally and vertically. - Add link - allows you to visit the source of your reference. Export: Export boards to share. Export board as SVG. Export Images/Gifs as files. Using RefCanvas to make reference boards & mood boards is easy, simply import your images or gifs, and move them around the canvas to arrange them in the layout that works best for your project. You can adjust their size, rotation and position to your liking, giving you maximum control over your creative process.

Screenshots

ArtRef4 screens
RefCanvas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ArtRef at 5.0 against RefCanvas's 2.3. ArtRef also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 17 months). RefCanvas's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 2). On price, ads and device support 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. RefCanvas sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. ArtRef asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ArtRef holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 7 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ArtRef ships an update every 3 weeks, RefCanvas every 17 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ArtRef versus RefCanvas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArtRefRefCanvas
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better2.3 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews—42.9% of reviews
Number of ratings27 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB131 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperWisterdy Alcidayoucef boukit

Customer experience

ArtRef

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

RefCanvas

All ratings7 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%

In-app purchases

None

ArtRef

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

RefCanvas

One-time2
  • Pro version$2.99
  • Pro version2 variants$3.99

Questions

Is ArtRef free?
ArtRef is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RefCanvas free?
RefCanvas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ArtRef or RefCanvas?
ArtRef is rated higher. ArtRef averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while RefCanvas averages 2.3 from 7 ratings.
Do ArtRef or RefCanvas have ads?
Neither ArtRef nor RefCanvas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ArtRef or RefCanvas?
ArtRef ships an update every 3 weeks, and RefCanvas every 17 months. Most recently, ArtRef was updated on November 3, 2026 and RefCanvas on November 3, 2026.

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