# Planisphere vs Watercolour Reference

The clearest difference is rating: Planisphere at 3.0 against Watercolour Reference's 2.0. Planisphere also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (67% vs 39%). Watercolour Reference's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Planisphere costs $1.99 and Watercolour Reference $1.99 up front. Watercolour Reference sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Planisphere asks for nothing beyond the download.

Planisphere holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Planisphere's written reviews are positive against 39% of Watercolour Reference's.

Planisphere ships an update every 2 months, Watercolour Reference every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Planisphere | Watercolour Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id331897327/reviews)** | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watercolour-reference/id467961113/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 38.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 74 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Julian James](https://appshunter.io/developer/293642870) | [Oliver Shingler](https://appshunter.io/developer/886565740) |

## What reviewers say

### Planisphere

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id331897327)

Explore the cosmos with an interactive sky map. Discover constellations, stars, and celestial objects with detailed information. Track celestial bodies and view the sky from any location and time.

**Highlights:** Interactive sky map with pinch-to-zoom, Detailed information on celestial objects, Compass and accelerometer integration, Searchable database of stars and objects, Adjustable date, time, and location, Night Light mode for red tint viewing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Watercolour Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watercolour-reference/id467961113)

This app aids watercolour artists by providing data on individual colour characteristics and suggesting colour mixes. It features a paint mixing simulation and offers tips for various painting topics, with Apple Watch integration for quick reference.

**Highlights:** Colour characteristic data, Suggested colour mixes, Paint mixing simulation, Apple Watch integration, Portrait and flower painting combinations, General watercolour database

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buildings | $0.99 | one-time |
| Seascapes | $0.99 | one-time |
| Snowy Landscapes | $0.99 | one-time |
| Summer Landscapes | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Planisphere free?

Planisphere costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Watercolour Reference free?

Watercolour Reference costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Planisphere or Watercolour Reference?

Planisphere is rated higher. Planisphere averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Watercolour Reference averages 2.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Planisphere or Watercolour Reference have ads?

Neither Planisphere nor Watercolour Reference shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Planisphere or Watercolour Reference?

Planisphere ships an update every 2 months, and Watercolour Reference every 4 months. Most recently, Planisphere was updated on September 20, 2026 and Watercolour Reference on September 28, 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.*