# DarkRef vs ArtDeck

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ArtDeck at 100% against DarkRef's 25%. ArtDeck also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). DarkRef's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DarkRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. ArtDeck asks for nothing beyond the download.

ArtDeck holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of DarkRef's written reviews are positive against 100% of ArtDeck's.

DarkRef ships an update every 3 weeks, ArtDeck weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DarkRef | ArtDeck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkref-art-reference-board/id6757864307/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artdeck-reference-board/id6764851724/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Size | 62 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Timothy Patrick Dommett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869353422) | [Alexandre Alves](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895936528) |

## 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 |


### ArtDeck

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artdeck-reference-board/id6764851724)

Organize visual inspiration and study images with this app. Create moodboards by collecting images, videos, links, and notes, then analyze their composition, color, and values. Seamlessly sync your boards across all your Apple devices for easy access.

**Highlights:** Collect images, videos, and links, Create moodboards and reference boards, Analyze image values, color, and composition, Sync boards across Apple devices, Offline access to boards, Annotate and draw on images, Organize with infinite canvas

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DarkRef free?

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

### Is ArtDeck free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DarkRef or ArtDeck?

ArtDeck is rated higher. DarkRef averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ArtDeck averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do DarkRef or ArtDeck have ads?

Neither DarkRef nor ArtDeck shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DarkRef or ArtDeck?

DarkRef ships an update every 3 weeks, and ArtDeck weekly. Most recently, DarkRef was updated on September 28, 2026 and ArtDeck on October 8, 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.*