# HyperRef vs Shape Sketch

The clearest difference is update cadence: HyperRef at every 2 months against Shape Sketch's every 9 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HyperRef sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Shape Sketch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

HyperRef ships an update every 2 months, Shape Sketch every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HyperRef | Shape Sketch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hyperref/id6743102705/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 12 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **17.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Seth Kenneth Berggren](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801346715) | [川 丁](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852666309) |

## What reviewers say

### HyperRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hyperref/id6743102705)

Create and organize your personal art reference library with powerful import and study tools. Analyze images by value, contrast, and color, and track your artistic progress with attached studies. Secure your sensitive collections with biometric protection.

**Highlights:** Web import for bulk image saving, Analyze images by value, contrast, color, Timed practice and study modes, Attach sketches to references, Biometric collection protection, Smart collections and organization, Offline access with iCloud sync

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HyperRef Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


### Shape Sketch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shape-sketch/id6755219454)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shape Sketch Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HyperRef free?

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

### Is Shape Sketch free?

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

### Do HyperRef or Shape Sketch have ads?

Neither HyperRef nor Shape Sketch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HyperRef or Shape Sketch?

HyperRef ships an update every 2 months, and Shape Sketch every 9 months. Most recently, HyperRef was updated on June 9, 2026 and Shape Sketch on September 16, 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.*