# ImgRef vs ArtDeck

ImgRef and ArtDeck both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of ArtDeck's written reviews are positive against 79% of ImgRef's. ImgRef's advantage is ratings volume (127 vs 5) and update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ImgRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and ArtDeck sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for ImgRef against 4.8 for ArtDeck. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ImgRef has 127 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of ImgRef's written reviews are positive against 100% of ArtDeck's.

ImgRef ships an update every 2 days, ArtDeck weekly. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ImgRef | ArtDeck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732/reviews) | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artdeck-art-reference-board/id6764851724/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **127** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 79.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 76 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [文荣 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797720895) | [Alexandre Alves](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895936528) |

## What reviewers say

### ImgRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732)

This app is a professional reference and inspiration tool for creatives. It combines mood boards, image management, color picking, and free-form collaging across devices. Streamline your workflow with features like unlimited canvases, batch processing, and image editing.

**Highlights:** Unlimited Canvas, Multi-Select Batch Processing, Professional Workflow with Keyboard Shortcuts, Image Editing Tools, Dynamic Eyedropper Color Picker, Video Processing for Storyboards, Magnetic Guides for Layouts

**Features:** Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo 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


### ArtDeck

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artdeck-art-reference-board/id6764851724)

Organize visual inspiration and study images with this app. Create moodboards by collecting images, videos, links, and notes, then analyze their composition, color, and values. Seamlessly sync your boards across all your Apple devices for easy access.

**Highlights:** Collect images, videos, and links, Create moodboards and reference boards, Analyze image values, color, and composition, Sync boards across Apple devices, Offline access to boards, Annotate and draw on images, Organize with infinite canvas

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7-Day Trial | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ImgRef free?

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

### Is ArtDeck free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ImgRef or ArtDeck?

ArtDeck is rated higher. ImgRef averages 4.7 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while ArtDeck averages 4.8 from 5 ratings.

### Do ImgRef or ArtDeck have ads?

Neither ImgRef nor ArtDeck shows ads.

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

ImgRef ships an update every 2 days, and ArtDeck weekly. Most recently, ImgRef was updated on November 5, 2026 and ArtDeck on November 5, 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.*