# Hive vs ImgRef

The clearest difference is monetization model: ImgRef at free against Hive's free with in-app purchases. ImgRef also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and ratings volume (126 vs 36). Hive's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hive sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month 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.

Hive holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 126 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 78% and 77% positive.

Hive ships an update every 3 days, ImgRef every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hive | ImgRef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive-image-organizer/id6502647802/reviews)** | [4.7 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 36 | **126** |
| Positive reviews | **77.8% of reviews** | 77.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 94 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [易泓 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1616362412) | [文荣 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797720895) |

## What reviewers say

### Hive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hive-image-organizer/id6502647802)

This app helps designers, creators, and innovators organize and manage all their creative assets in one place. It offers smart photo organization, an integrated video player, and multiple ways to save inspirations, streamlining your creative process. Effortlessly sort, categorize, and find your ideas with advanced filtering and search capabilities.

**Highlights:** Organize creative assets, Smart photo organizer, Integrated video player, Multiple save methods, Web capture, Multi-level folder system, Advanced search and filter

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Safari Extension, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Annually | $19.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $34.99 | 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 Hive free?

Hive 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, Hive or ImgRef?

Hive is rated higher. Hive averages 4.9 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while ImgRef averages 4.7 from 126 ratings.

### Do Hive or ImgRef have ads?

Neither Hive nor ImgRef shows ads.

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

Hive ships an update every 3 days, and ImgRef every 6 days. Most recently, Hive was updated on September 27, 2026 and ImgRef on September 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*