# HyperRef vs Aela

The clearest difference is update cadence: Aela at every 11 days against HyperRef's every 2 months. HyperRef's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HyperRef sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Aela sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

HyperRef ships an update every 2 months, Aela every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HyperRef | Aela |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 12 MB | 244 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Seth Kenneth Berggren](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801346715) | [乐恺 邢](https://appshunter.io/developer/1795059853) |

## 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 |


### Aela

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aela-design-and-photo-manager/id6756772694)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aela Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Aela Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| Aela lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |
| Aela lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HyperRef free?

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

### Is Aela free?

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

### Do HyperRef or Aela have ads?

Neither HyperRef nor Aela shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HyperRef or Aela?

HyperRef ships an update every 2 months, and Aela every 11 days. Most recently, HyperRef was updated on October 19, 2026 and Aela on October 12, 2026.

---

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