Comparison

Art Authority vs artDatabase

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

Head to head
About

Art Authority

Explore over 100,000 classic western artworks from ancient times to today. Discover detailed information on artists, periods, and movements, with features like real-size viewing and location-based art searches. Purchase museum-approved reproductions directly through the app.

Highlights
  • 100,000+ classic artworks
  • Organized by period, location, artist
  • In-depth artist and artwork information
  • Art Real Size feature
  • Art Near Me location search
  • Purchase art reproductions
  • Full-screen slideshows
Features
Read full description

Based on our award-winning “Best iPad Reference App.” A comprehensive collection of works by over 1,500 of the western world's major artists, from ancient times to today. Organized by period, location and artist, Art Authority's 100,000+ paintings and sculptures are downloaded as needed and displayed chronologically, with detailed captioning. In-depth information about the artists, locations and many individual works is also available. From the earliest creative pieces to the latest modern and contemporary works, Art Authority provides an impressively displayed, carefully selected, well organized view of the western art world that is both broad and deep. Does something really catch your eye? Purchase a museum-approved reproduction and take it home with you! Features include: - Access to 20GB worth of art optimized for quality and download speed through our servers (works still under copyright come from authorized sites) - Early, Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary periods - Special section on American art - Art movements and/or nationalities within each period - Highlights for each period, and overall - Index to all 1500+ artists, plus indices within each period - Art Real Size: instantly see and understand the actual size of works - Art Near Me: search for art based on your location - Shuffle: random display of all art, or by period - Captions with work title, date, location and other details - Access to in-depth information on each artist and location, and on many specific works - Full-screen slideshow display, with user-settable transitions and music - Multi-touch controls including double-tap and pinch zoom, flick and rotate - Gallery-like, scrolling thumbnail view shows how works have evolved over time, aids in comparisons and exploration - Save works to Favorites, Categories or the Photos app - Keep track of works you’ve seen in real life - Share works through AirDrop, mail and social networks - Spotlight searches and universal links - Purchase prints directly from 1000Museums.com Also available for iPad and Macintosh.

About

artDatabase

Explore masterpieces and discover new artists with this modern art guide. Learn key facts about iconic paintings and save your favorites. It's a pocket museum for daily inspiration, perfect for art lovers and students.

Highlights
  • Explore artworks by artist, style, period, or movement
  • Learn key facts: year, medium, and context
  • Save favorite artworks and artists
  • High-quality artwork images
  • Clean, intuitive interface
  • Curated catalogs
Features
Read full description

ArtDatabase is your modern art guide. Explore masterpieces, discover new artists, and dive into the stories behind the world’s most iconic paintings—right from your iPhone. Browse curated catalogs, learn key facts at a glance, and enjoy high-quality artwork images in a clean, intuitive interface designed for art lovers, students, and curious minds. Explore art your way • Discover artworks by artist, style, period, or movement • Learn the essentials: year, medium, and context • Save and revisit your favorite artworks and artists A pocket museum for everyday inspiration Whether you’re preparing a museum visit, studying art history, or simply looking for daily inspiration, ArtDatabase turns your device into a personal art gallery—always ready when you are. Featured artists include Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Goya, Velázquez, Rembrandt, Turner, Botticelli, El Greco, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Modigliani, Toulouse-Lautrec, Seurat, and many more. New catalogs and improvements are added regularly.

Screenshots

Art Authority4 screens
artDatabase4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: artDatabase at Free against Art Authority's $4.99. artDatabase also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 46%). Art Authority's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.6). On update cadence, ads, monetization model 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

artDatabase is free to download; Art Authority costs $4.99 up front. artDatabase sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Art Authority asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Art Authority ships an update every 2 months, artDatabase every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Art Authority versus artDatabase: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArt AuthorityartDatabase
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.1 (21 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews46.2% of reviews68.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings21 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB26 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperArt Authority LLCtotiherms

Customer experience

Art Authority

All ratings21 ratings
Positive52.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative47.6%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral12.9%
Negative40.9%

artDatabase

Written reviews22 reviews
Positive68.2%
Neutral4.5%
Negative27.3%

Bugs and requests

Art Authority

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App crashes after updates
  • Cannot connect to the internet
  • Thumbnails not loading correctly
  • Text is cut off on newer devices
  • App won't update or delete
Show 5 more
  • Visual glitches
  • Swiping is unresponsive
  • Images not displaying after update
  • App not loading on phone
  • iPhone backup grinds to a halt

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add search functionality
  • Include more female artists
  • Expand modern and contemporary art sections
  • Add ability to save favorite artists/works
  • Improve UI design and consistency
Show 5 more
  • Add explanations/commentary for paintings
  • Offline access to the database
  • Update the app logo
  • Add photography section
  • Allow users to add commentary

artDatabase

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Art Authority

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

artDatabase

One-time10
  • Botticelli$0.99
  • Leonardo da Vinci$0.99
  • Caravaggio$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Degas$1.99
  • Van Gogh$1.99
  • Monet$1.99
  • Rembrandt$1.99
  • John Singer Sargent$1.99
  • Winslow Homer$1.99
  • Unlimited Access$9.99

Questions

Is Art Authority free?
Art Authority costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is artDatabase free?
artDatabase is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Art Authority or artDatabase have ads?
Neither Art Authority nor artDatabase shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Art Authority or artDatabase?
Art Authority ships an update every 2 months, and artDatabase every 5 weeks. Most recently, Art Authority was updated on November 6, 2026 and artDatabase on November 1, 2026.

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