# What Color Is This? vs Spectro by Variable

The clearest difference is rating: Spectro by Variable at 4.8 against What Color Is This?'s 4.0. Spectro by Variable also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 42%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. What Color Is This? sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Spectro by Variable sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Spectro by Variable holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 120 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of What Color Is This?'s written reviews are positive against 50% of Spectro by Variable's.

What Color Is This? ships an update every 4 months, Spectro by Variable every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | What Color Is This? | Spectro by Variable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what-color-is-this/id638700067/reviews) | **[4.8 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectro-by-variable/id1399186748/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **120** |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 57 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicholas Troia](https://appshunter.io/developer/638700210) | [Variable Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/569541572) |

## 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


### Spectro by Variable

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectro-by-variable/id1399186748)

This app enables color professionals to precisely measure, match, and communicate color data using connected devices. Access extensive color libraries and analyze spectral curves for accurate results anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Scan, match, and compare colors, View spectral curves and LAB values, Access extensive brand color libraries, Analyze colors under multiple light sources, Store and export scan data, Create and store color standards

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $15.99 | per month |
| Quality Control Module | $75.00 | per month |
| Annual | $99.99 | per year |
| Annual | $149.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is What Color Is This? free?

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

### Is Spectro by Variable free?

Spectro by Variable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, What Color Is This? or Spectro by Variable?

Spectro by Variable is rated higher. What Color Is This? averages 4.0 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Spectro by Variable averages 4.8 from 120 ratings.

### Do What Color Is This? or Spectro by Variable have ads?

Neither What Color Is This? nor Spectro by Variable shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, What Color Is This? or Spectro by Variable?

What Color Is This? ships an update every 4 months, and Spectro by Variable every 3 weeks. Most recently, What Color Is This? was updated on October 24, 2026 and Spectro by Variable on October 25, 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.*