Comparison

Image Actions vs Reference Board

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

Head to head
About

Image Actions

Features
Read full description

Image Actions is a fast, simple way to transform your images using Shortcuts. Create powerful image workflows you can run with a tap, a widget, or an automation. Instead of opening an editor every time, let Image Actions handle the repetitive work for you. Use Image Actions to change the following EXIF properties of your photos: - Add a user comment to a photo - Read a user comment from a photo - Remove a user comment from a photo - Add a location tag to a photo - Read a location tag from a photo - Remove a location tag from a photo - Check if a photo has a location tag - Add a location tag to a photo based on your current location - Add a location tag to a photo based on the latitude and longitude of a location - Mark a photo as screenshot Designed for Shortcuts Image Actions is built specifically to work inside Apples Shortcuts app. Add its actions to your existing shortcuts or build new ones from scratch. Once set up, you can run your image flows from: - The Shortcuts app - Share sheet - Automations, such as after taking a photo or saving a file Examples of what you can automate - After taking a screenshot, add a location tag and save it to a specific folder - Read location data from a photo and add it to the filename Why use Image Actions - Save time on repetitive edits - Keep full control by defining your own workflows - Avoid large file sizes when sharing by mail or chat - Get consistent results across all your images Image Actions turns simple Shortcuts into powerful tools for managing your images, so you spend less time editing and more time creating and sharing.

About

Reference Board

This app offers an infinite canvas for visually organizing thoughts and inspiration. Users can drop in various media types, arrange them freely, and zoom in or out to explore connections. Instant search functionality helps locate specific items across all boards.

Highlights
  • Infinite canvas
  • Visual idea organization
  • Supports images, videos, quotes
  • Freeform arrangement
  • Instant search
  • Zoom in/out functionality
Features
Read full description

Reference Board is a private visual workspace for collecting inspiration, developing ideas, and keeping creative research close at hand on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. BUILD VISUAL BOARDS • Collect images, videos, links, text, colors, and PDFs in one place. • Arrange references freely on an infinite canvas or switch to an organized grid. • Move, resize, group, stack, crop, flip, and annotate without changing your original media. • Use the loupe to inspect fine details in images and videos. FIND WHAT YOU NEED • Search across boards and references. • Use on-device analysis, OCR, colors, metadata, and visual similarity to rediscover material quickly. • Keep notes and details attached to the work they describe. SYNC, COLLABORATE, AND SHARE • Keep your library in sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad with iCloud. • Invite others to collaborate on shared boards. • Publish a separate public, view-only webpage when you want to present your work more widely. • Update or unpublish a published board whenever you like. WORK YOUR WAY • Import from Photos, Files, Safari, drag and drop, or the Share Sheet. • Export boards as images, PDFs, or Reference Board archives. • Use widgets, Shortcuts, the screen saver, and optional MCP automation to connect Reference Board to your workflow. ONE PURCHASE. NO SUBSCRIPTION. New customers receive Reference Pro with their App Store purchase, including unlimited private boards and items, Publish to Web, AI metadata and visual discovery, new collaborations, PDF export, and MCP automation. People who acquired Reference while it was free keep their existing Free plan with one private board and up to 20 items. They can unlock lifetime Reference Pro with a one-time in-app purchase. Reaching a Free limit never deletes or hides existing work. Original paid-app customers and people who already purchased lifetime Reference Pro keep permanent Pro access automatically.

Screenshots

Image Actions2 screens
Reference Board4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Reference Board at every 4 days against Image Actions's every 3 weeks. Reference Board also leads on chart position (#163 vs unranked). Image Actions's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Image Actions costs $3.99 and Reference Board $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Image Actions ships an update every 3 weeks, Reference Board every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Image Actions versus Reference Board: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterImage ActionsReference Board
Price$3.99 — better$5.99
Rating—4.7 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—70.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—6 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
Best chart rank—#163 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWesley de GrootJordan Ruchtie

In-app purchases

None

Image Actions

No in-app purchases

None

Reference Board

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Image Actions free?
Image Actions costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reference Board free?
Reference Board costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Image Actions or Reference Board have ads?
Neither Image Actions nor Reference Board shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Image Actions or Reference Board?
Image Actions ships an update every 3 weeks, and Reference Board every 4 days. Most recently, Image Actions was updated on October 25, 2026 and Reference Board on October 25, 2026.

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