Comparison

Chromatic Vision Simulator vs Bee Vision

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

Head to head
About

Chromatic Vision Simulator

Simulate various types of color vision deficiency in real-time using your device's camera or photos. Compare how different vision types perceive the same scene side-by-side and analyze color differences.

Highlights
  • Real-time color vision simulation
  • Side-by-side scene comparison
  • Adjustable simulation strength
  • Appearance and Difference modes
  • Color name and value display
  • Camera and photo support
  • Wide color gamut support
Features
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"Chromatic Vision Simulator" is a color vision simulation tool which simulates the color vision of color vision deficiencies. This software is developed by Kazunori Asada (Ph.D. medical science and Ph.D. media design), based on the research in color science. About 5% of men have difficulty distinguishing red and green, or recognizing dark red. Such color deficiency can be classified into three major categories: protanope / Protanomal, Deuteranope / Deuteranomal and Tritanope / Tritanomal. Color deficiencies are the inability to tell differences between some colors other people can easily distinguish. People with different types of color vision deficiency perceive colors differently. For example, individuals diagnosed as Protan or Deutan cannot perceive differences between red and green, and pink and cyan. These color visions are predictable by calculating working of the cone cells that perceives the color to some degree. "Chromatic Vision Simulator" makes simulated images of each color vision type from built-in Camera or Photos and shows you how people with specific types of color vision sees the world in real-time. - Compare how "Normal Color Vision," "Protanope," "Deuteranope" and "Tritanope" see the same scene, side by side. The screen can be divided into up to four. - Change the simulation strength from 0 to 100%. You can also check the appearance between normal color vision and dichromacy. - Switch between Appearance mode and Difference mode. Difference mode shows the difference between the original image and the simulated colors as brightness (the upper limit of the difference is set with the slider). Switch with a one-finger swipe on the toolbar, a two-finger swipe on the screen, or in Settings. - Turn on "Show Color Name" and the color cursor shows the name of the color at the point you choose ("Systematic Color Name (ISCC-NBS)", "Traditional Color Name (TCCA)", "Systematic Color Name (JIS)" and "Traditional Color Name (JIS)"), together with values such as the Munsell value and CIELAB. - Works with the rear and front cameras, and with photo files. Pinch to magnify up to 500%. - Save the screen you are looking at as a photo. You can write the type and strength on the saved image (switch in Settings). You can also save with the volume button. - On devices with a wide color gamut (Display P3), images are shown and saved in the wide color gamut. - Works with VoiceOver. - Works on both the outer and the inner screen of the foldable iPhone (iPhone Duo). - Available in Japanese and English. - No network access. Camera images are used only for display on the screen and for saving on your device. - The theory behind the simulation is published on the website. https://asada.website/cvsimulator/e/theory.html

About

Bee Vision

Features
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SEE WHAT BEES SEE Bees have a superpower. They can see something in the sky that humans cannot: an invisible compass made of polarized light. When sunlight passes through the atmosphere, it creates a hidden pattern across the entire sky. This pattern always points to the sun, even on cloudy days. For 400 million years, bees, ants, and butterflies have used it to find their way home. Bee Vision reveals this hidden world on your iPhone. BEE VIEW See the world through compound eyes. Your camera transforms into hexagonal facets, just like a bee's vision. The colors reveal the polarization pattern: orange near the sun, blue at 90° away, where the signal is strongest. Capture stunning photos and share what you see through insect eyes. POLARIZATION COMPASS A real navigation tool. Point your phone at the sky and see the polarization pattern overlaid on the real world. The compass shows your heading, the sun's position, and how polarized the light is in any direction. Open the Sky Map to see the full pattern across the entire sky at once. FEATURES - Real-time polarization visualization - Hexagonal compound eye camera filter - Capture and share photos with polarization overlay - Full sky polarization map - Works through clouds, that's the whole point - Accurate sun position based on your location - Demo mode for indoor use or at night - No ads. No subscriptions. Just science. THE SCIENCE IS REAL This isn't a simulation. Bee Vision calculates the actual polarization pattern using your GPS location and precise astronomical formulas. What you see is what's really in the sky, you just couldn't see it before. Point at the sky. See what bees see.

Screenshots

Chromatic Vision Simulator4 screens
Bee Vision4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Chromatic Vision Simulator at Free against Bee Vision's $2.99. Chromatic Vision Simulator also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.1). Bee Vision's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 11 months). On ads, in-app purchases 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

Chromatic Vision Simulator is free to download; Bee Vision costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chromatic Vision Simulator ships an update every 11 months, Bee Vision every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Chromatic Vision Simulator versus Bee Vision: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChromatic Vision SimulatorBee Vision
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.4 (58 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews84.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings58 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.1
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKazunori AsadaAdventuring B.V.

In-app purchases

None

Chromatic Vision Simulator

No in-app purchases

None

Bee Vision

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chromatic Vision Simulator free?
Chromatic Vision Simulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bee Vision free?
Bee Vision costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Chromatic Vision Simulator or Bee Vision have ads?
Neither Chromatic Vision Simulator nor Bee Vision shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chromatic Vision Simulator or Bee Vision?
Chromatic Vision Simulator ships an update every 11 months, and Bee Vision every 5 months. Most recently, Chromatic Vision Simulator was updated on November 10, 2026 and Bee Vision on November 9, 2026.

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