# Flowpaper vs ImgRef

The clearest difference is update cadence: ImgRef at every 2 days against Flowpaper's every 8 days. ImgRef also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Flowpaper sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and ImgRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Flowpaper against 4.7 for ImgRef. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 326 and 127 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of Flowpaper's written reviews are positive against 79% of ImgRef's.

Flowpaper ships an update every 8 days, ImgRef every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flowpaper | ImgRef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (326 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flowpaper-drawing-and-animation/id424499611/reviews) | **[4.7 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **326** | 127 |
| Positive reviews | 77.5% of reviews | **79.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Botto Studio LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1466473111) | [文荣 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797720895) |

## What reviewers say

### Flowpaper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flowpaper-drawing-and-animation/id424499611)

This digital sketchbook allows users to create dynamic still or animated drawings with physics-based brushes. It offers tools for fluid art generation, drawing on existing images, and precise color selection, suitable for both beginners and professionals.

**Highlights:** Create flowing still or animated drawings, Master generative, physics-based brushes, Design fluid artwork for backgrounds, Draw on photos and existing artwork, Precise color picker and palette builder, Export high-resolution sketches

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flowpaper Plus Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Flowpaper Plus Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Flowpaper Plus Annual | $5.99 | per year |
| Flowpaper Plus Lifetime | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Beautiful and mesmerizing visuals
- 🎨 Unique and creative drawing experience
- 🎨 Great for making wallpapers and abstract art
- 🎨 Relaxing and meditative to use
- 🎨 Fun for all ages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes when trying to save images
- 🐛 Controls and settings not always responsive
- 🔒 Limited features without paid upgrade
- 🔒 Lack of customization options
- 🔒 Outdated for newer devices

**Reported bugs**

- Saving high-quality images causes crashes
- Settings menu not functioning properly
- Incompatibility issues with newer iPads
- Drawing controls not responsive at times

**Requested features**

- Add undo/redo functionality
- Implement a color picker and custom brush options
- Allow importing of background images
- Optimize for latest iOS devices and screen sizes
- Provide more brush styles and drawing tools


### ImgRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732)

This app is a professional reference and inspiration tool for creatives. It combines mood boards, image management, color picking, and free-form collaging across devices. Streamline your workflow with features like unlimited canvases, batch processing, and image editing.

**Highlights:** Unlimited Canvas, Multi-Select Batch Processing, Professional Workflow with Keyboard Shortcuts, Image Editing Tools, Dynamic Eyedropper Color Picker, Video Processing for Storyboards, Magnetic Guides for Layouts

**Features:** Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pro_monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| ImgRef Annual Subscription | $5.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great alternative to Vizref
- 👍 Simple and intuitive
- 👍 Lots of features Vizref doesn't have
- 👍 Satisfying image compilation
- 👍 Lovely app and intuitive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Monotonous image selection and movement
- 👎 Unappealing UI

**Reported bugs**

- Trouble importing images from other apps

**Requested features**

- Add cropping functionality
- Implement doodle/text feature for notes
- Add GIF frame reading function


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flowpaper free?

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

### Is ImgRef free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Flowpaper or ImgRef?

ImgRef is rated higher. Flowpaper averages 4.7 out of 5 from 326 ratings, while ImgRef averages 4.7 from 127 ratings.

### Do Flowpaper or ImgRef have ads?

Neither Flowpaper nor ImgRef shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Flowpaper or ImgRef?

Flowpaper ships an update every 8 days, and ImgRef every 2 days. Most recently, Flowpaper was updated on November 1, 2026 and ImgRef on November 5, 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.*