# RefCanvas vs ImgRef

The clearest difference is rating: ImgRef at 4.7 against RefCanvas's 2.3. ImgRef also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 43%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 17 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RefCanvas sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and ImgRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ImgRef holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ImgRef has 124 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of RefCanvas's written reviews are positive against 79% of ImgRef's.

RefCanvas ships an update every 17 months, ImgRef every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RefCanvas | ImgRef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refcanvas/id6447381089/reviews) | **[4.7 (124 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **124** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **79.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 131 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [youcef boukit](https://appshunter.io/developer/1681171051) | [文荣 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797720895) |

## What reviewers say

### RefCanvas

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refcanvas/id6447381089)

This app helps artists and designers organize visual references for their projects. Import images and GIFs, arrange them on a canvas, add notes, and export your creations.

**Highlights:** Import images and GIFs, Add text notes, Move, scale, and rotate references, Group references with nodes, Supports split screen and pop-up view, Export boards as SVG or images

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro version | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pro version | $3.99 | one-time |


### ImgRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732)

This app is an all-in-one creative tool for mood boards, reference images, and collaging. It offers smart asset management, precise color picking, and free-form layout capabilities across multiple devices. Designed for various creative professionals, it streamlines workflows with advanced editing and import/export features.

**Highlights:** Unlimited canvas with smart caching, Multi-select batch processing, Professional workflow with keyboard shortcuts, Image editing and adjustments, Dynamic color picker, Cross-platform support (iOS/macOS), Video frame extraction, GIF decomposition

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pro_monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| ImgRef Annual Subscription | $5.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great alternative to Vizref
- 👍 Simple and intuitive
- 👍 Lots of features Vizref doesn't have
- 👍 Satisfying image compilation
- 👍 Lovely app and intuitive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Monotonous image selection and movement
- 👎 Unappealing UI

**Reported bugs**

- Trouble importing images from other apps

**Requested features**

- Add cropping functionality
- Implement doodle/text feature for notes
- Add GIF frame reading function


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RefCanvas free?

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

### Is ImgRef free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RefCanvas or ImgRef?

ImgRef is rated higher. RefCanvas averages 2.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while ImgRef averages 4.7 from 124 ratings.

### Do RefCanvas or ImgRef have ads?

Neither RefCanvas nor ImgRef shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RefCanvas or ImgRef?

RefCanvas ships an update every 17 months, and ImgRef every 5 days. Most recently, RefCanvas was updated on September 15, 2026 and ImgRef on September 21, 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.*