# Handy Art Reference Tool vs 9VAe

The clearest difference is price: 9VAe at Free against Handy Art Reference Tool's $1.99. 9VAe also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 85%). Handy Art Reference Tool's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 4) and chart position (#84 vs unranked). On rating and ads there is nothing between them.

9VAe is free to download; Handy Art Reference Tool costs $1.99 up front. Handy Art Reference Tool sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. 9VAe asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Handy Art Reference Tool against 4.8 for 9VAe. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Handy Art Reference Tool has 1.2K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Handy Art Reference Tool's written reviews are positive against 100% of 9VAe's.

Handy Art Reference Tool ships an update every 5 months, 9VAe every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handy Art Reference Tool | 9VAe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-art-reference-tool/id478643661/reviews)** | [4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/9vae/id1480969516/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 85.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#84** | — |
| Size | 361 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Belief Engine](https://appshunter.io/developer/478643664) | [Hologram Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1142940135) |

## What reviewers say

### Handy Art Reference Tool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-art-reference-tool/id478643661)

**Currently charting:** #84 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app provides artists with rotatable 3D models of hands, heads, and feet for drawing reference. Customize poses and lighting to achieve realistic results for your artwork. Additional packs for animal skulls and foot rigs are available for purchase.

**Highlights:** Rotatable 3D limb models, Customizable poses, Adjustable 3-point lighting, 3D head busts, Animal skull reference pack, Material editing

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feet Models | $1.99 | one-time |
| Animal Skull Pack | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for drawing reference
- 🔍 Useful for lighting and shading
- 🎨 Great for hands and heads
- 💡 Customizable lighting and poses
- 🎨 Diverse skin tone options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes or freezes on some devices
- 💰 In-app purchases for additional content
- 🤔 Limited model variety (no full bodies)
- 🤔 Difficulty with precise positioning
- 🤔 Lighting controls could be improved

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch for some users
- Purchased content not unlocking
- Positioning and movement issues

**Requested features**

- Add full body models and poses
- Include more facial expressions and emotions
- Allow for custom hand and finger posing
- Implement ability to save custom poses
- Add more diverse skin tones and ethnicities


### 9VAe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/9vae/id1480969516)

Create smooth 2D vector morphing animations with powerful tools. Import graphics, add text and photos, and export in various formats. Offers features like hand-drawn writing and multi-layer support.

**Highlights:** 2D vector morphing animation, Import SVG/WMF graphics, Export SVG/GIF/APNG, Add text, photos, objects, Hand-draw writing, Multi-layer support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handy Art Reference Tool free?

Handy Art Reference Tool costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is 9VAe free?

9VAe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Handy Art Reference Tool or 9VAe?

Handy Art Reference Tool is rated higher. Handy Art Reference Tool averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while 9VAe averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do Handy Art Reference Tool or 9VAe have ads?

Neither Handy Art Reference Tool nor 9VAe shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handy Art Reference Tool or 9VAe?

Handy Art Reference Tool ships an update every 5 months, and 9VAe every 2 months. Most recently, Handy Art Reference Tool was updated on October 2, 2026 and 9VAe on September 14, 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.*