# Art Authority vs artDatabase

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Art Authority | artDatabase |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[3.1 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-authority/id355879924/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **21** | — |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **68.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Art Authority LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1468408012) | [totiherms](https://appshunter.io/developer/354863536) |

## What reviewers say

### Art Authority

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-authority/id355879924)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🖼️ High-quality images
- 🖼️ Vast art collection
- 🖼️ Detailed artist information
- 🖼️ Useful for art history study
- 👍 Easy to use interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Slow loading times
- 🐛 Poor image quality (some users)
- 🐛 Inconsistent app performance
- 🐛 Lacks modern/contemporary art
- 🐛 Missing many prominent artists

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### artDatabase

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artdatabase-the-art-guide/id385464258)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Botticelli | $0.99 | one-time |
| Leonardo da Vinci | $0.99 | one-time |
| Caravaggio | $0.99 | one-time |
| Degas | $1.99 | one-time |
| Van Gogh | $1.99 | one-time |
| Monet | $1.99 | one-time |
| Rembrandt | $1.99 | one-time |
| John Singer Sargent | $1.99 | one-time |
| Winslow Homer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Access | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*