Reference Board vs LiquidThemes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Infinite canvas
- Visual idea organization
- Supports images, videos, quotes
- Freeform arrangement
- Instant search
- Zoom in/out functionality
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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.
LiquidThemes
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Welcome to the future of iOS customization. LiquidThemes doesn't just change your background—it transforms your entire device into a reactive, 5D holographic experience using the bleeding edge of Apple's graphics engine. FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND FEATURES: Liquid Gravity: Watch your interface physically slosh and tilt as you rotate your device, powered by native gyroscopic sensors. Spatial AR Projections: Tap a button to project a 3D levitating holographic preview of your theme directly into your physical room before you apply it. Reactive StandBy Mode: Turn your phone sideways while charging to activate a futuristic, glowing liquid glass nightstand clock. AI Mood Glass (VIP): Let our generative AI craft a completely unique, living Metal shader for your screen every single day. PREMIUM THEMES INCLUDE: Cyber Liquid: Reactive gradient blooms. Neon Dimension: 5th-dimensional parallax effects. Glass OS: Ultra-premium frosted transparency. Push your iPhone to its absolute limits. Select your reality today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: LiquidThemes at Free against Reference Board's $5.99. Reference Board's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and chart position (#31 vs unranked). On ads 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
LiquidThemes is free to download; Reference Board costs $5.99 up front. LiquidThemes sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Reference Board asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Reference Board | LiquidThemes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #31 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 — better | 26.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Jordan Ruchtie | NICHOLAS ERWIN HEITKAMP |
In-app purchases
Reference Board
No in-app purchases
LiquidThemes
- VIP Access$19.991 Month
- Neon Dimension Theme$0.99
- Glass OS Theme$0.99
- Cyber Liquid Theme$1.99
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- Liquid Gravity Effect$3.99
- Liquid StandBy Clock$5.99





