# MediBang Paletta：Drawing App vs HyperRef

MediBang Paletta：Drawing App and HyperRef both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of HyperRef's written reviews are positive against 62% of MediBang Paletta：Drawing App's. HyperRef also leads on ads (none vs shown). MediBang Paletta：Drawing App's advantage is ratings volume (1K vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MediBang Paletta：Drawing App sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and HyperRef sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

HyperRef holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MediBang Paletta：Drawing App has 1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of MediBang Paletta：Drawing App's written reviews are positive against 100% of HyperRef's.

MediBang Paletta：Drawing App ships an update every 2 weeks, HyperRef every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and June 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MediBang Paletta：Drawing App | HyperRef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medibang-palettadrawing-app/id6469014656/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hyperref/id6743102705/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 61.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 142 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MediBang inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/958821725) | [Seth Kenneth Berggren](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801346715) |

## What reviewers say

### MediBang Paletta：Drawing App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medibang-palettadrawing-app/id6469014656)

This painting app offers a user-friendly interface with world-class brushes and nuanced layering for digital art creation. Enjoy customizable brushes, creative effects, and professional finishing touches without subscription fees. Save and export your masterpieces in various formats, including PSD.

**Highlights:** User-Friendly Interface, World-Class Brushes, Nuanced Layering, Customizable Brushes, Stabilization Tool, Artistic Filters, PSD Export

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 30-day Trial | Free | one-time |
| Paletta: Perpetual License | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Clean and easy-to-use interface
- 👍 Customizable UI and icons
- 🎨 Good selection of brushes and tools
- 💡 Useful features like multi-layer support and fill tool
- 🚀 Smooth performance and responsiveness

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs causing random deletion of artwork
- 🔒 Lack of custom brush creation and import options
- 🔒 Missing features from previous Medibang versions
- 🔒 Intrusive UI elements overlapping the canvas
- 🐛 Glitches with layer selection and menu closing

**Reported bugs**

- Artwork randomly getting deleted
- Menus closing immediately after opening
- Brush not working after certain actions
- Issues with exporting and saving files

**Requested features**

- Add option to create custom brushes
- Implement a time-lapse recording feature
- Improve blending brush capabilities
- Provide more environmental and texture brushes
- Add a symmetry tool separate from the pen tool


### HyperRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hyperref/id6743102705)

Create and organize your personal art reference library with powerful import and study tools. Analyze images by value, contrast, and color, and track your artistic progress with attached studies. Secure your sensitive collections with biometric protection.

**Highlights:** Web import for bulk image saving, Analyze images by value, contrast, color, Timed practice and study modes, Attach sketches to references, Biometric collection protection, Smart collections and organization, Offline access with iCloud sync

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HyperRef Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MediBang Paletta：Drawing App free?

MediBang Paletta：Drawing App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is HyperRef free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MediBang Paletta：Drawing App or HyperRef?

HyperRef is rated higher. MediBang Paletta：Drawing App averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while HyperRef averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do MediBang Paletta：Drawing App or HyperRef have ads?

MediBang Paletta：Drawing App shows ads; HyperRef does not.

### Which is updated more often, MediBang Paletta：Drawing App or HyperRef?

MediBang Paletta：Drawing App ships an update every 2 weeks, and HyperRef every 2 months. Most recently, MediBang Paletta：Drawing App was updated on September 29, 2026 and HyperRef on June 9, 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.*