# HEAVYPAINT vs DarkRef

The clearest difference is rating: HEAVYPAINT at 4.0 against DarkRef's 2.8. HEAVYPAINT also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 25%) and ratings volume (66 vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HEAVYPAINT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and DarkRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

HEAVYPAINT holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HEAVYPAINT has 66 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of HEAVYPAINT's written reviews are positive against 25% of DarkRef's.

HEAVYPAINT ships an update every 6 weeks, DarkRef every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HEAVYPAINT | DarkRef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heavypaint/id6654887306/reviews)** | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkref-art-reference-board/id6757864307/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **66** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **58.4% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 35 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HEAVYPOLY, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469848545) | [Timothy Patrick Dommett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869353422) |

## What reviewers say

### HEAVYPAINT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heavypaint/id6654887306)

This app offers a raw digital painting experience with unique tools for creating textured art and quick studies. It's designed for artists who embrace digital chaos and seek a streamlined, mobile art studio.

**Highlights:** Unique digital brushes, Color Jitter for texture, Fast color blocking tools, Line Blend for gradients, Liquify tool, Minimalist interface, Gallery for creations

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gallery Sync Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Gallery Sync Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Unlock Full Version | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful brushes and tools
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 💡 Unique and distilled painting experience
- 👍 Responsive and dedicated developer
- 👍 Great community support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🐛 Issues with saving and restoring purchases
- 🐛 Inconsistent UI and missing features

**Reported bugs**

- Gallery crashes
- Artwork files not saving properly
- Eyedropper tool not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Improved layer management
- More customization options
- Better color controls and eyedropper tool


### DarkRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkref-art-reference-board/id6757864307)

Organize your visual inspiration with images, GIFs, and notes. This app offers a free, intuitive platform for artists to manage references across all devices, with optional cloud sync for seamless backup and access.

**Highlights:** Unlimited boards and images, Image and GIF support, Notes and annotations, Folder organization, Offline access, Cross-device sync

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sync Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Sync Annual | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HEAVYPAINT free?

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

### Is DarkRef free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HEAVYPAINT or DarkRef?

HEAVYPAINT is rated higher. HEAVYPAINT averages 4.0 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while DarkRef averages 2.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do HEAVYPAINT or DarkRef have ads?

Neither HEAVYPAINT nor DarkRef shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HEAVYPAINT or DarkRef?

HEAVYPAINT ships an update every 6 weeks, and DarkRef every 3 weeks. Most recently, HEAVYPAINT was updated on October 13, 2026 and DarkRef on September 28, 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.*