# DarkRef vs Reference Board

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reference Board at 70% against DarkRef's 25%. Reference Board also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). DarkRef's advantage is price (Free vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

DarkRef is free to download; Reference Board costs $5.99 up front. DarkRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Reference Board asks for nothing beyond the download.

Reference Board holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of DarkRef's written reviews are positive against 70% of Reference Board's.

DarkRef ships an update every 3 weeks, Reference Board every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DarkRef | Reference Board |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkref-art-reference-board/id6757864307/reviews) | **[4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reference-board-mood-board/id6759159660/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#18** |
| Size | 62 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Timothy Patrick Dommett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869353422) | [Jordan Ruchtie](https://appshunter.io/developer/1530155367) |

## What reviewers say

### DarkRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkref-art-reference-board/id6757864307)

Organize your visual inspiration with images, GIFs, and notes. This app offers a free, intuitive platform for artists to manage references across all devices, with optional cloud sync for seamless backup and access.

**Highlights:** Unlimited boards and images, Image and GIF support, Notes and annotations, Folder organization, Offline access, Cross-device sync

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sync Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Sync Annual | $9.99 | per year |


### Reference Board

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reference-board-mood-board/id6759159660)

**Currently charting:** #18 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

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:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DarkRef free?

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

### Is Reference Board free?

Reference Board costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DarkRef or Reference Board?

Reference Board is rated higher. DarkRef averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Reference Board averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do DarkRef or Reference Board have ads?

Neither DarkRef nor Reference Board shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DarkRef or Reference Board?

DarkRef ships an update every 3 weeks, and Reference Board every 4 days. Most recently, DarkRef was updated on September 28, 2026 and Reference Board on October 7, 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.*