# FineScale Modeler vs paintRack

The clearest difference is review sentiment: paintRack at 96% against FineScale Modeler's 2%. paintRack also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.4) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). FineScale Modeler's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FineScale Modeler sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and paintRack sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

paintRack holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: paintRack has 218 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 2% of FineScale Modeler's written reviews are positive against 96% of paintRack's.

FineScale Modeler ships an update every 6 months, paintRack every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | FineScale Modeler | paintRack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/finescale-modeler/id640180896/reviews) | **[4.9 (218 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintrack/id1490523130/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 31 | **218** |
| Positive reviews | 2.3% of reviews | **96.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 96 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Flying Media Group, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1600548072) | [Courageous Octopus](https://appshunter.io/developer/1490523129) |

## What reviewers say

### FineScale Modeler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/finescale-modeler/id640180896)

Learn to build and finish detailed scale models of aircraft, armor, and ships. Access articles on assembly and painting, plus reviews of new kits and expert tips. Features a gallery showcasing reader creations.

**Highlights:** Model building tutorials, Assembly and painting guides, Kit reviews, Product announcements, Expert tips, Reader model gallery

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FineScale Modeler | $3.99 | per month |
| FineScale Modeler | $39.95 | per year |
| July 2013 | $5.99 | one-time |
| March 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| April 2016 | $6.99 | one-time |
| May 2016 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Build Better Models | $7.99 | one-time |
| Build Better Models 2 | $7.99 | one-time |
| The Ultimate Guide to Finishing | $9.99 | one-time |
| Experts Guide to Superdetailing | $9.99 | one-time |


### paintRack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintrack/id1490523130)

Manage your miniature paint collection digitally. Track thousands of paints from various brands, create custom sets, and find matching colors. Features include barcode scanning for quick entry and a wish list for paints you need.

**Highlights:** Extensive paint library with over 27,000 paints, Create custom paint sets and recipes, Barcode scanning for rapid paint entry, Wish list to track needed paints, Color matching tools, Support for numerous paint brands

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Unlock | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient scanning and inventory management
- 💡 Helpful color matching and comparison tools
- 👍 Extensive paint database across brands
- 👍 Useful for planning and tracking painting projects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with scanning and recognizing certain paint brands
- 🐛 Occasional inaccuracies in color matching
- 🔍 Limited ability to manually add paints not in the database
- 🔍 Lack of cloud sync/cross-device functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Certain paint brands not appearing in megafilter
- Scanning issues with some barcodes

**Requested features**

- Ability to upload and attach photos to paint sets/projects
- Improved sorting and organization options for paint libraries
- Bulk add/import functionality for entire paint ranges
- Personal paint mixing/recipe notes section


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FineScale Modeler free?

FineScale Modeler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is paintRack free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FineScale Modeler or paintRack?

paintRack is rated higher. FineScale Modeler averages 2.4 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while paintRack averages 4.9 from 218 ratings.

### Do FineScale Modeler or paintRack have ads?

Neither FineScale Modeler nor paintRack shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FineScale Modeler or paintRack?

FineScale Modeler ships an update every 6 months, and paintRack every 6 weeks. Most recently, FineScale Modeler was updated on October 18, 2026 and paintRack on October 18, 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.*