Comparison

Pholor vs ARK

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pholor

This app uses augmented reality to analyze the true colors of surfaces, correcting for light and shadows. It provides objective color data for professionals and descriptive color names for the colorblind, offering features like raw sensor access and persistent markers.

Highlights
  • AR Surface Detection
  • Lab-Lock Engine (White Balance/ISO)
  • Raw Sensor Access
  • Persistent Color Markers
  • 3-Tier Color Naming System
  • Global Color Dictionary (21 languages)
Features
Read full description

See the world's true colors. I designed Pholor to transform your iPhone into a laboratory-grade surface analyzer. Unlike standard color pickers that just read a single pixel, Pholor uses AR Surface Detection to understand the 3D world, correcting for light and shadows to give you the objective color of any object. FOR DESIGNERS & PROS Stop trusting auto-exposure. Pholor's "Lab-Lock" Engine instantly freezes White Balance and ISO to prevent the color shifting that plagues standard camera apps. Get consistent, raw data straight from the sensor—perfect for matching paint, textiles, or print materials. • Raw Sensor Access: Bypasses standard image processing for maximum fidelity. • Smart Averaging: Automatically filters out digital grain and noise. • Workflow Ready: Tap to copy Hex codes instantly. FOR THE COLORBLIND Stop guessing if it is "green" or "brown." Pholor translates abstract color data into clear, descriptive language. Our 3-Tier Naming System gives you the context you need: • The Category: (e.g., "Blue") • The Tone: (e.g., "Grayish Blue") • The Name: (e.g., "Space Cadet") KEY FEATURES • AR Raycasting: Physically locates objects in 3D space for accurate sampling. • Persistent Markers: "Stamp" color readouts onto real-world objects to compare shades side-by-side. • Global Dictionary: Localized color names in 21 languages. • Accessible UI: High-contrast text modes designed for maximum readability. WHY FREE? I believe good, simple accessibility tools should be free and hassle-free. Muyao Wu https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ARK

Features
Read full description

ARK by MRVL is your personal mobile security companion. Get a clear, honest security score for your device — and fix issues in seconds. NO FEAR. NO JARGON. JUST CLARITY. Your phone holds your life — banking, identity, photos, messages. ARK scans your device and tells you exactly how protected you are, with a simple score from 0 to 100. WHAT ARK CHECKS • Device Security — OS updates, encryption, screen lock, biometrics • Network Safety — Wi-Fi security, VPN status, connection risks • Privacy Audit — Which apps access your camera, microphone, and location • Breach Exposure — Has your email been in a data breach? INTELLIGENCE TOOLS (Shield & Fortress) • Call Shield — Check any UK phone number against our verified official registry. Know who's really calling before you call back. • Phishing Link Scanner — Honest 3-state results: confirmed threat, no known threat found, or unable to verify. We never falsely label a URL safe. • Password Health Check — Test strength and breach exposure • Wi-Fi Network Analyser — Deep security audit of your connection • Permission Audit — See exactly which apps can access your data • Secure QR Scanner — Verify QR code links before opening • Dark Web Monitor — 24/7 breach monitoring for your family • Privacy Report — Export and share your security posture DAILY SECURITY TIPS 365 unique insights — a new tip every day on protecting your privacy and digital life. PRIVACY-FIRST All scanning happens on your device. Your data never leaves your phone. We don't collect, store, or sell your information. Ever. COMPLETE DATA CONTROL Reset App wipes every piece of data ARK holds — scan history, breach emails, account session — completely and permanently. Your data, your choice. ONE-TAP FIXES (Shield & Fortress) Every issue comes with a clear explanation and a direct link to fix it. No searching through settings menus. SUBSCRIPTION PLANS • Free — 3 scans per month, security score, device/network/privacy check, issues listed • Shield (£3.99/mo | £29.99/yr) — Unlimited scans, one-tap fixes, breach monitoring, phishing scanner, password check, Wi-Fi analyser, QR scanner, privacy reports, Call Shield • Fortress (£7.99/mo | £59.99/yr) — Everything in Shield + 5 devices, dark web monitoring, family protection SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ARK Shield — Monthly (£3.99/month) and Yearly (£29.99/year) auto-renewable subscriptions unlock unlimited scans, one-tap fixes, breach monitoring, phishing link scanner, password health check, Wi-Fi analyser, secure QR scanner, exportable privacy reports, and Call Shield. ARK Fortress — Monthly (£7.99/month) and Yearly (£59.99/year) auto-renewable subscriptions include everything in Shield plus protection for up to 5 devices, dark web monitoring for up to 5 email addresses, and priority security alerts. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription in your Apple ID Account Settings at any time. No free trial is offered. Privacy Policy: https://mrvltechnologies.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://www.mrvltechnologies.com/terms-and-conditions/ Built by MRVL Technologies.

Screenshots

Pholor3 screens
ARK4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pholor at none against ARK's 4. ARK's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.6). On price and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ARK sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Pholor asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pholor versus ARK: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPholorARK
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequency—Every 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMuyao WuJohn Hammond

In-app purchases

None

Pholor

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

ARK

Subscriptions4
  • ARK Shield Monthly$3.991 Month
  • ARK Fortress Monthly$7.991 Month
  • ARK Shield Yearly$29.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • ARK Fortress Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Pholor free?
Pholor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ARK free?
ARK is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pholor or ARK have ads?
Neither Pholor nor ARK shows ads.

Other comparisons