# Palettes vs Datacolor ColorReader

The clearest difference is rating: Datacolor ColorReader at 4.7 against Palettes's 3.6. Datacolor ColorReader also leads on ratings volume (713 vs 23) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Palettes's advantage is review sentiment (46% vs 26%) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 13). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Palettes sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Datacolor ColorReader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Datacolor ColorReader holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Datacolor ColorReader has 713 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Palettes's written reviews are positive against 26% of Datacolor ColorReader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Palettes ships an update every 4 months, Datacolor ColorReader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Palettes | Datacolor ColorReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palettes/id297157708/reviews) | **[4.7 (713 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datacolor-colorreader/id1217566816/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **713** |
| Positive reviews | **46.2% of reviews** | 25.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 13 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rick Maddy](https://appshunter.io/developer/287115069) | [Datacolor Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/432310628) |

## What reviewers say

### Palettes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palettes/id297157708)

Create and manage color palettes from various sources like photos, websites, or manually. Supports multiple color models and schemes for design projects. Offers import/export options and cloud backup.

**Highlights:** Create palettes from photos, websites, or manually, Supports RGB, HSV, HSL, CMYK, and Grayscale, Import/export with design software, Cloud backup and restore, Color blending and schemes, Color information display

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade Palettes Free to Palettes Basic | $1.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade Palettes Basic to Palettes Pro | $1.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade Palettes Free to Palettes Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


### Datacolor ColorReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datacolor-colorreader/id1217566816)

This app helps professionals and DIYers accurately match paint colors from walls or objects to popular paint brands. It provides color values and recommendations, saving time and ensuring job quality.

**Highlights:** Accurate paint color matching (>90%), Matches to uploaded fan decks, Build, save, and share color palettes, Color measurement history, Color scheme recommendations, Get paint brand color name and number, Provides RGB, Hex, CIELab values

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NCS Colour (monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| British Standards (monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| NCS Colour (yearly) | $89.99 | per year |
| British Standards (yearly) | $149.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Accurate color matching on ceiling colors
- 📚 Comprehensive paint brand library
- ⚡ Quick and efficient scanning process
- 🎯 Useful complementary color schemes
- 👍 Minimal app permissions required

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection failures between device and app
- ❌ Poor color accuracy on walls and samples
- 📵 App requires device connection to view saved colors
- 🔄 Outdated and missing paint colors in library
- 🎨 Inconsistent results across different lighting conditions

**Reported bugs**

- Blank page on device registration
- White screen during app startup
- Calibration failed error messages
- Device won't connect to smartphone
- Bluetooth connectivity issues requiring multiple attempts

**Requested features**

- Store scanned colors on phone without device connection
- Cloud sync for color history across devices
- Tutorial or guided walkthrough for app navigation
- Ability to delete individual colors from history
- Reorder colors within custom palettes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Palettes free?

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

### Is Datacolor ColorReader free?

Datacolor ColorReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Palettes or Datacolor ColorReader?

Datacolor ColorReader is rated higher. Palettes averages 3.6 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Datacolor ColorReader averages 4.7 from 713 ratings.

### Do Palettes or Datacolor ColorReader have ads?

Neither Palettes nor Datacolor ColorReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Palettes or Datacolor ColorReader?

Palettes ships an update every 4 months, and Datacolor ColorReader every 2 months. Most recently, Palettes was updated on October 31, 2026 and Datacolor ColorReader on November 13, 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.*