# ImgRef vs Pocket Easel

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pocket Easel at 100% against ImgRef's 79%. Pocket Easel also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7). ImgRef's advantage is ratings volume (127 vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 days). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ImgRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Pocket Easel sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pocket Easel holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ImgRef has 127 ratings behind it against 10, 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 100% of Pocket Easel's.

ImgRef ships an update every 2 days, Pocket Easel every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ImgRef | Pocket Easel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imgref/id6742316732/reviews) | **[4.9 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-easel/id6792240582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **127** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 79.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 76 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [文荣 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797720895) | [彬 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/6790275793) |

## 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


### Pocket Easel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-easel/id6792240582)

This app facilitates quick color studies for painting from life, offering a unique palette system that allows color mixing without leaving the canvas. It helps artists maintain color harmony by limiting palettes and provides tools to analyze values and import master palettes.

**Highlights:** Intuitive color mixing gesture, Gamut masks for palette harmony, Painterly brush textures, Value check with grayscale conversion, Import master palettes, Save and duplicate color studies, Export studies with color analysis

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Easel Pro | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ImgRef free?

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

### Is Pocket Easel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ImgRef or Pocket Easel?

Pocket Easel is rated higher. ImgRef averages 4.7 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while Pocket Easel averages 4.9 from 10 ratings.

### Do ImgRef or Pocket Easel have ads?

Neither ImgRef nor Pocket Easel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ImgRef or Pocket Easel?

ImgRef ships an update every 2 days, and Pocket Easel every 4 days. Most recently, ImgRef was updated on November 8, 2026 and Pocket Easel on November 10, 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.*