# Handy Art Reference Tool vs Head Study

The clearest difference is price: Handy Art Reference Tool at $1.99 against Head Study's $7.99. Handy Art Reference Tool also leads on ratings volume (1.2K vs 34) and chart position (#55 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Handy Art Reference Tool costs $1.99 and Head Study $7.99 up front. Handy Art Reference Tool sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Head Study sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Handy Art Reference Tool against 4.8 for Head Study. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Handy Art Reference Tool has 1.2K ratings behind it against 34, 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 78% of Head Study's.

Handy Art Reference Tool ships an update every 5 months, Head Study every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handy Art Reference Tool | Head Study |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $7.99 |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-art-reference-tool/id478643661/reviews) | [4.8 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/head-study/id1623609206/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | **85.0% of reviews** | 77.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#55** | — |
| Size | 361 MB | 342 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Belief Engine](https://appshunter.io/developer/478643664) | [Stephen Bauman Artwork](https://appshunter.io/developer/1623609208) |

## What reviewers say

### Handy Art Reference Tool

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

**Currently charting:** #55 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


### Head Study

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/head-study/id1623609206)

This app provides artists with a 3D reference for understanding human anatomy and facial forms. It features simplified planes, a skull model, and adjustable lighting to aid in portraiture studies. Enhance your knowledge of the human form by exploring what lies beneath the surface.

**Highlights:** Simplified planes of the head model, Anatomically correct male skull model, 360-degree 3D model manipulation, Adjustable lighting, Switchable anatomical views, Informational overlay with structural insights

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Female Planes + Skull | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handy Art Reference Tool free?

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

### Is Head Study free?

Head Study costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Handy Art Reference Tool or Head Study?

Handy Art Reference Tool and Head Study are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.2K and 34 ratings respectively.

### Do Handy Art Reference Tool or Head Study have ads?

Neither Handy Art Reference Tool nor Head Study shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handy Art Reference Tool or Head Study?

Handy Art Reference Tool ships an update every 5 months, and Head Study every 3 months. Most recently, Handy Art Reference Tool was updated on September 24, 2026 and Head Study on September 19, 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.*