# HEAVYPAINT vs Reference Board

The clearest difference is price: HEAVYPAINT at Free against Reference Board's $5.99. HEAVYPAINT also leads on ratings volume (66 vs 6) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). Reference Board's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

HEAVYPAINT is free to download; Reference Board costs $5.99 up front. HEAVYPAINT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Reference Board asks for nothing beyond the download.

Reference Board holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HEAVYPAINT has 66 ratings behind it against 6, 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 70% of Reference Board's.

HEAVYPAINT ships an update every 5 weeks, Reference Board every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HEAVYPAINT | Reference Board |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heavypaint/id6654887306/reviews) | **[4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reference-board-mood-board/id6759159660/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **66** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 58.4% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#56** |
| Size | 36 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HEAVYPOLY, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469848545) | [Jordan Ruchtie](https://appshunter.io/developer/1530155367) |

## 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


### Reference Board

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reference-board-mood-board/id6759159660)

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

This app offers an infinite canvas for visually organizing thoughts and inspiration. Users can drop in various media types, arrange them freely, and zoom in or out to explore connections. Instant search functionality helps locate specific items across all boards.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas, Visual idea organization, Supports images, videos, quotes, Freeform arrangement, Instant search, Zoom in/out functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HEAVYPAINT free?

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

### Is Reference Board free?

Reference Board costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HEAVYPAINT or Reference Board?

Reference Board is rated higher. HEAVYPAINT averages 4.0 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while Reference Board averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do HEAVYPAINT or Reference Board have ads?

Neither HEAVYPAINT nor Reference Board shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HEAVYPAINT or Reference Board?

HEAVYPAINT ships an update every 5 weeks, and Reference Board every 4 days. Most recently, HEAVYPAINT was updated on October 22, 2026 and Reference Board on October 22, 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.*