BrushForge vs Hobby Dataslate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BrushForge
This app helps miniature painters organize their paint collections, convert colors between brands, and build custom color palettes. It offers AI-powered suggestions and works offline, allowing users to focus on their creative projects.
- Instant color conversion across dozens of brands
- Scan paint rack to inventory collection
- Track owned paints and create wishlists
- Build custom painting recipes and palettes
- Check model contrast with black & white view
- AI-powered color suggestions
- Offline functionality
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BrushForge – Complete Miniature Painting Toolkit BrushForge helps miniature painters track their paint collection, compare colors across brands, build palettes, save recipes, and plan painting sessions with less guesswork. Use it for Warhammer, tabletop, RPG miniatures, scale models, and hobby projects of every size. Key Features: Paint Converter Find close paint matches across popular miniature paint brands including Citadel, Vallejo, The Army Painter, Scale75, and more. Paint Collection Tracker Track the paints you own, mark wishlist paints, add custom or mixed paints, and keep notes on your collection. Photo Paint Import Take a photo of your paint rack and let BrushForge help identify paints. Review matches before adding them to your owned list. Recipes & Palettes Create step-by-step painting recipes, save project notes, and build custom color palettes for your models. Color Harmony Tools Explore palette ideas with harmony-based color tools and build stronger color schemes for your miniatures. Primed Photos Save photos of primed models and review contrast, lighting, and value placement while planning your paint scheme. AI-Powered Suggestions Get optional AI help for paint matching and recipe ideas while staying in full creative control. Offline-Friendly Your paint library, collection, recipes, palettes, and core tools are available offline. AI and purchase-related features require an internet connection. Feedback & Support Send feedback, request features, or get help directly through the app. Why BrushForge? • Match paints across brands with less guesswork. • Keep your paint library, recipes, and palettes in one place. • Plan projects faster and spend more time painting. BrushForge is free to use. Optional premium features unlock expanded limits and AI-powered tools while supporting ongoing development. Download BrushForge and focus on what matters most: bringing your miniatures to life. Links: Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Custom Terms of Use: https://brushforgeapp.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://brushforgeapp.com/privacy.html
Hobby Dataslate
This app helps miniature collectors and painters track their Warhammer 40K models, log paints, organize army lists, and manage hobby projects. It offers features for collection management, painting progress, and social sharing of finished models.
- Track 1,600+ datasheets
- Barcode quick-add for boxes
- Painting pipeline tracking
- Sprue & bits stash management
- Unit paint recipes
- Import/backup from other formats
- Collection documentation & valuation
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The miniature collection and painting tracker for your Warhammer 40K pile of shame. Track every model from sprue to shelf, organize army lists, log your paints and hobby spending — free with Sign in with Apple, Google Sign-In, or Guest Mode. COLLECTION Track 1,600+ datasheets across every faction: • Universal add search — box sets and units in one field; bulk-add whole combat patrols in one tap • Barcode quick-add — scan 137+ retail UPCs for combat patrols, boarding patrols, battleforces, Kill Team boxes, and Start Collecting sets • 150+ retail box sets including chapter combat patrols, boarding patrols, battleforces, and Kill Team retail boxes • Faction & chapter organization with role groupings and X/Y role counters • Legends toggle (498 units) with stats inclusion control • Painting pipeline from Wishlist through Finished, plus Kitbashed, Magnetized, and 3D Printed tags • Effort scoring and storage location tags • Launch box workflows — combat patrols and split halves (e.g. Armageddon) • Inventory Screen — filter, role-group, and batch-edit collection units WORKBENCH Your painting hub for projects, stash, sessions, repairs, and challenges: • Sprue & bits stash (20 free / unlimited Premium) and paint collection (40 free / unlimited Premium) • Batch projects and WIP photo timelines (Premium) • Unit paint recipes (free) and army-level shared recipes (Hero) • Desk painting sessions with timer and logs (free); session progress photos (Premium) • Repairs queue — flag broken or missing bits, add notes, bulk mark fixed (free) • Achievements, seasonal challenges (1 free / full library Hero), and friend leaderboards (Hero) • Commission tracking, magnetization loadouts, tournament prep checklists, and campaign notes SOCIAL • DATASLATE# friend codes — 3 friends free, unlimited with Premium • Browse friend collections on free tier; public sharing and army lending (Premium) • Community & friends finished-model showcases (Hero) • Monthly friend activity feed, army share codes, borrow requests, and deep links IMPORT & BACKUP BattleScribe (.rosz), New Recruit (.json), WH40k app paste, JSON backup/restore, native JSON export via share sheet, duplicate checker, auto army creation, and list gap (owned vs shortfall). INSURANCE Up to 10 collection documentation photos (all tiers) and valuation PDF export with MSRP rollup and photo appendix. SPENDING Price Paid & MSRP per unit, 290+ kit lookups, 13 currencies, and Stats overview. Free tier includes 25 spending-log entries; Premium unlimited source logs (GW, LGS, eBay, trade). Hero adds analytics charts and monthly budget goals. ARMIES Custom lists with stats, completion %, bulk select, and free tournament PDF export. STATS Status breakdowns and repair callouts on every tier. Hero adds pile-of-shame predictor, hobby velocity charts, faction breakdowns, monthly Hobby Wrapped share cards, and tap-to-filter Collection. Local reminders for budget check-ins and challenge deadlines. PREMIUM — $1/mo or $10/yr Unlimited units & armies (free: 40/5), unlimited photos, WIP timelines, painted gallery view, batch projects, full social (unlimited friends, public sharing), spending logs, unlimited stash & paints, and desk session photos. HERO — $5/mo or $40/yr Everything in Premium plus full-resolution showcase photos, custom unit names, 40K theme, custom faction colors, army paint recipes, advanced stats dashboards, full challenges & leaderboards, finished-model showcases, alternate app icons, and weekly painting nudge. Lifetime Hero — $50 one-time (ends July 31, 2026) Privacy Policy: https://hobby-dataslate.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://hobby-dataslate.app/terms Download Hobby Dataslate and take command of your collection! (Hobby Dataslate is an unofficial fan app and is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Games Workshop Limited.)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hobby Dataslate at 5.0 against BrushForge's 4.4. Hobby Dataslate also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). BrushForge's advantage is ratings volume (12 vs 1). On price, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. BrushForge sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Hobby Dataslate asks for nothing beyond the download.
Hobby Dataslate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrushForge has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
BrushForge ships an update monthly, Hobby Dataslate every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BrushForge | Hobby Dataslate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (12 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 67 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bastiaan Mahieu | Alexander Lewis |
Customer experience
BrushForge
Hobby Dataslate
In-app purchases
BrushForge
- Premium Monthly2 variants$2.991 Month
- Tip – Small2 variants$1.99
- Tip – Medium2 variants$9.99
- Premium Lifetime2 variants$14.99
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- Tip – Large$17.99
- Tip – Large$19.99
Hobby Dataslate
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BrushForge free?
Is Hobby Dataslate free?
Which has better reviews, BrushForge or Hobby Dataslate?
Do BrushForge or Hobby Dataslate have ads?
Which is updated more often, BrushForge or Hobby Dataslate?
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