DarkRef vs Colour Detective
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DarkRef
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.
- Unlimited boards and images
- Image and GIF support
- Notes and annotations
- Folder organization
- Offline access
- Cross-device sync
Read full descriptionHide full description
Your own library of art references, organised and on all your devices. DarkRef is a powerful reference board designed for digital artists. Organize your inspiration with images, GIFs, notes, videos and folders; all in one beautiful, minimalist library and use canvases to plan your next big artwork. 100% FREE TO USE All core features are completely free including your reference library, automatic image tagging, canvases and more. Create unlimited boards, add unlimited images and GIFs, take notes, and organize with folders. The only features requiring a paid plan are for syncing your files across devices and for live collaboration boards where you can work with your team together on a shared board. All the core features are completely free. WORKS OFFLINE All your references are stored locally on your device. Work anywhere, even without internet. With a DarkRef paid plan, your changes sync automatically when you're back online. WHY DARKREF? Unlike other reference board apps, DarkRef truly works everywhere. Whether you're sketching on your iPad at a coffee shop, at the office on your Mac or working at home, your references are always with you. Perfect for: • Digital artists and illustrators • Concept artists • Character designers • Environment artists • Animators • Game artists • Anyone who needs organized visual references Download DarkRef for free today and never lose track of your inspiration again.
Colour Detective
Read full descriptionHide full description
Colour Detective — A professional color assistant that instantly matches any color you capture with your camera to the closest paint code. KEY FEATURES - Live color capture, pin-point precision with center reticle - 2300+ paint codes from popular paint brands - International standards: PANTONE, RAL, NCS - Tailwind and Material palettes for designers - Smart palette extraction from photos (Median Cut algorithm) - Manual HEX entry, find any known code instantly - WCAG contrast checker for accessible design - Colorblind simulation (Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia) - DIY mixing recipes, how to achieve any color - Color history and notes - Pantone-style palette cards for sharing - Turkish and English support CAMERA Real-time reticle, flash, zoom, front/back camera control. PALETTES Extract 4-10 color palettes from any photo. Drag and drop to reorder. Export as CSS Variables, JSON, or Tailwind config. COMPARISON Compare two colors side-by-side: Delta-E, contrast ratio, color family. PRO Unlimited capture, unlimited palettes, extended archive, ad-free. Monthly or annual plan. Perfect for interior designers, decorators, graphic designers, illustrators, painters, hobbyist artists, anyone who loves the world of color. Contact: app@ad-modern.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: DarkRef at none against Colour Detective's shown. DarkRef also leads on device support (4 vs 2). Colour Detective's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. DarkRef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Colour Detective sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
DarkRef ships an update every 3 weeks, Colour Detective every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DarkRef | Colour Detective |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.8 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 62 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Timothy Patrick Dommett | App Modern |
In-app purchases
DarkRef
- Sync Monthly1 Month trial$1.991 Month
- Sync Annual$9.991 Year
Colour Detective
- Colour Detective Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
- Colour Detective Pro Yearly$9.991 Year









