# Kaleido vs ImgRef

The clearest difference is ads: ImgRef at none against Kaleido's shown. ImgRef also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 50%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kaleido sells 1 one-off in-app purchase 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.

Kaleido ships an update every 8 days, ImgRef every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kaleido | ImgRef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.7 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **126** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **78.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 39 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [松 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1790470279) | [文荣 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797720895) |

## What reviewers say

### Kaleido

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kaleido-art/id6740176081)

Create stunning symmetrical art with every brushstroke. This app offers a unique and relaxing way to generate beautiful designs, perfect for stress relief and creative expression.

**Highlights:** Symmetrical brush strokes, Artistic design generation, Stress relief tool, Creative expression, Intuitive interface

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP | $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 Kaleido free?

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

### Is ImgRef free?

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

### Do Kaleido or ImgRef have ads?

Kaleido shows ads; ImgRef does not.

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

Kaleido ships an update every 8 days, and ImgRef every 2 days. Most recently, Kaleido was updated on October 9, 2026 and ImgRef on October 30, 2026.

---

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