# ImgRef vs DarkRef

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ImgRef at 79% against DarkRef's 25%. ImgRef also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.8) and monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ImgRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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.

ImgRef holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ImgRef has 124 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of ImgRef's written reviews are positive against 25% of DarkRef's.

ImgRef ships an update every 5 days, DarkRef every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and August 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ImgRef | DarkRef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (124 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732/reviews)** | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkref-art-reference-board/id6757864307/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **124** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **79.1% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 76 MB | 551 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [文荣 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797720895) | [Timothy Patrick Dommett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869353422) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### 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 ImgRef free?

ImgRef 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, ImgRef or DarkRef?

ImgRef is rated higher. ImgRef averages 4.7 out of 5 from 124 ratings, while DarkRef averages 2.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do ImgRef or DarkRef have ads?

Neither ImgRef nor DarkRef shows ads.

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

ImgRef ships an update every 5 days, and DarkRef every 3 weeks. Most recently, ImgRef was updated on September 21, 2026 and DarkRef on August 18, 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.*