# Watercolour Reference vs BWP

The clearest difference is price: Watercolour Reference at $1.99 against BWP's $35.99. Watercolour Reference also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.5). BWP's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Watercolour Reference costs $1.99 and BWP $35.99 up front. Watercolour Reference sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. BWP asks for nothing beyond the download.

BWP holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Watercolour Reference's written reviews are positive against 64% of BWP's.

Watercolour Reference ships an update every 4 months, BWP every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Watercolour Reference | BWP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $35.99 |
| Rating | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watercolour-reference/id467961113/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bwp/id1451326170/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 38.9% of reviews | **64.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 7 MB | 3.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oliver Shingler](https://appshunter.io/developer/886565740) | [NatureGuides Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310574314) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### BWP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bwp/id1451326170)

This comprehensive reference app provides detailed information on birds of the Western Palearctic. It features extensive data on species, including field characters, habitat, breeding, and behavior, enhanced with illustrations, songs, videos, and maps.

**Highlights:** 1,056 species covered, 5,473 illustrations, 1,066 songs and calls, 916 videos, 643 distribution maps, Updated taxonomy and new species

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Watercolour Reference free?

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

### Is BWP free?

BWP costs $35.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

BWP is rated higher. Watercolour Reference averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while BWP averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Watercolour Reference or BWP have ads?

Neither Watercolour Reference nor BWP shows ads.

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

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