# Art Reference vs Aiko

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Aiko at none against Art Reference's 1. Aiko also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Art Reference sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Aiko asks for nothing beyond the download.

Aiko holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Art Reference | Aiko |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-reference-easel-assistant/id6752580673/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aiko-inspiration-engine/id6758415630/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **6** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 172 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Gil Osborne](https://appshunter.io/developer/1135987694) | [Riley Drcelik](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872832427) |

## What reviewers say

### Art Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-reference-easel-assistant/id6752580673)

This app provides digital reference tools for traditional artists working with physical media. It offers features like value studies, gridlines, side-by-side comparison, and composition adjustments to aid in creating accurate and balanced artwork.

**Highlights:** Value study mode, Gridlines for accurate sketching, Side-by-side reference and canvas view, Crop and frame reference images, Curated starter project collections, Color harmony experimentation, Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Full Access | $14.99 | one-time |


### Aiko

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aiko-inspiration-engine/id6758415630)

Discover your next great idea with this premium inspiration engine. Explore content tailored to your tastes without ads or distractions. Import existing collections or start anew as the app evolves with you.

**Highlights:** AI-powered inspiration engine, Ad-free and distraction-free experience, Content discovery tailored to user taste, Import existing collections, Evolves with user preferences

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Art Reference free?

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

### Is Aiko free?

Aiko is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Art Reference or Aiko?

Aiko is rated higher. Art Reference averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Aiko averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Art Reference or Aiko have ads?

Neither Art Reference nor Aiko shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Art Reference or Aiko?

Art Reference ships an update every 2 weeks, and Aiko every 2 weeks. Most recently, Art Reference was updated on October 24, 2026 and Aiko on October 24, 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.*