# What Color Is This? vs Datacolor ColorReader

The clearest difference is rating: Datacolor ColorReader at 4.7 against What Color Is This?'s 4.0. Datacolor ColorReader also leads on ratings volume (712 vs 41) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). What Color Is This?'s advantage is review sentiment (42% vs 26%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. What Color Is This? sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Datacolor ColorReader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Datacolor ColorReader holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Datacolor ColorReader has 712 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 42% of What Color Is This?'s written reviews are positive against 26% of Datacolor ColorReader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

What Color Is This? ships an update every 4 months, Datacolor ColorReader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | What Color Is This? | Datacolor ColorReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what-color-is-this/id638700067/reviews) | **[4.7 (712 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datacolor-colorreader/id1217566816/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **712** |
| Positive reviews | **41.7% of reviews** | 25.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 57 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicholas Troia](https://appshunter.io/developer/638700210) | [Datacolor Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/432310628) |

## What reviewers say

### What Color Is This?

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what-color-is-this/id638700067)

Instantly identify colors by pointing your camera. Get precise color values like HEX, RGB, and HSL, and find matches within extensive libraries. This app also offers tools for designers, students, and those with color vision deficiencies.

**Highlights:** Live camera color identification, HEX, RGB, and HSL color codes, 25+ color libraries (Pantone, RAL, Crayola), Closest color match with Delta E, Color vision deficiency simulation, Save palettes and export codes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enable All Libraries | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for colorblind users
- 🎨 Useful for art and fashion
- 💡 Provides hex and RGB values
- 🌟 Helps settle disputes
- 🖼️ Can use photos from camera roll

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Inaccurate color readings
- 🤔 Colors are a ballpark
- 😵 Patterns can confuse
- 📺 Bad with screens
- 🗣️ Uses odd color words

**Reported bugs**

- Web app doesn't work
- App freezes up constantly
- App stopped working
- App won't load information about color
- App freezes

**Requested features**

- Bring back ability to see similar colors and percentages
- Add Lego color library
- Add more color options
- Improve accuracy of color recognition
- Add ability to change background color in search/picker mode


### Datacolor ColorReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datacolor-colorreader/id1217566816)

This app helps professionals and DIYers accurately match paint colors from walls or objects to popular paint brands. It provides color values and recommendations, saving time and ensuring job quality.

**Highlights:** Accurate paint color matching (>90%), Matches to uploaded fan decks, Build, save, and share color palettes, Color measurement history, Color scheme recommendations, Get paint brand color name and number, Provides RGB, Hex, CIELab values

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NCS Colour (monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| British Standards (monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| NCS Colour (yearly) | $89.99 | per year |
| British Standards (yearly) | $149.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Accurate color matching on ceiling colors
- 📚 Comprehensive paint brand library
- ⚡ Quick and efficient scanning process
- 🎯 Useful complementary color schemes
- 👍 Minimal app permissions required

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection failures between device and app
- ❌ Poor color accuracy on walls and samples
- 📵 App requires device connection to view saved colors
- 🔄 Outdated and missing paint colors in library
- 🎨 Inconsistent results across different lighting conditions

**Reported bugs**

- Blank page on device registration
- White screen during app startup
- Calibration failed error messages
- Device won't connect to smartphone
- Bluetooth connectivity issues requiring multiple attempts

**Requested features**

- Store scanned colors on phone without device connection
- Cloud sync for color history across devices
- Tutorial or guided walkthrough for app navigation
- Ability to delete individual colors from history
- Reorder colors within custom palettes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is What Color Is This? free?

What Color Is This? is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Datacolor ColorReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, What Color Is This? or Datacolor ColorReader?

Datacolor ColorReader is rated higher. What Color Is This? averages 4.0 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Datacolor ColorReader averages 4.7 from 712 ratings.

### Do What Color Is This? or Datacolor ColorReader have ads?

Neither What Color Is This? nor Datacolor ColorReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, What Color Is This? or Datacolor ColorReader?

What Color Is This? ships an update every 4 months, and Datacolor ColorReader every 2 months. Most recently, What Color Is This? was updated on November 1, 2026 and Datacolor ColorReader on November 11, 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.*