Cube Companion App vs Variable Color
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cube Companion App
This app digitizes colors from any surface using a portable device. It matches scanned colors to extensive libraries, reveals color values, and allows you to preview them in various scenes. Save, compare, and share your color discoveries.
- Color capture from any surface
- Match to thousands of color collections
- Create custom color collections
- Reveal RGB, HEX, CMYK, LAB values
- Preview scanned colors in scenes
- Compare, favorite, and share colors
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Pair Cube with the Cube Companion App and take the guesswork out of color matching. Cube fits in the palm of your hand and with one tap captures the color of any surface. Match to thousands of built in color collections (such as Sherwin Williams or RAL) or create your own custom collections to match to. Reveal RGB, HEX, CMYK and LAB values of scanned colors. Now introducing the new Visualizer feature which lets you preview your scanned color in different scenes. You can compare, favorite and share your colors making Cube the perfect companion for creative minds that love color. Get your Cube at www.palette.com Cube is an award-winning portable color digitizer for your iPhone. You may purchase an auto-renewing subscription through an In-App Purchase. • Auto-renewable subscription • 1 month ($7.99) and 1 year ($65.99) durations • Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Current subscription may not be cancelled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase • Privacy policy and terms of use: https://palette.com/terms/
Variable Color
Easily scan and identify colors from your surroundings. Find matching paints and materials, organize your color discoveries into palettes, and share them with others. Streamline your color selection process for design, DIY, or professional projects.
- Scan and identify colors instantly
- Match colors to paint and material libraries
- Organize colors into custom palettes
- Share color palettes with others
- Cross-reference colors between brands
- Attach images to palettes
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The Variable Color app assists consumers, DIYers and professionals (such as interior designers, architects, paint contractors and material specifiers), streamline the color selection process. Scan color, find products that match, coordinate and complement. Color referencing, collecting, organizing and sharing has never been easier and more efficient. Variable Color offers: • Instant color match to exact colors • Speed up the color selection process • Share color palettes with friends, clients & colleagues • Material & paint libraries on your mobile device • Cross reference colors between brands & materials Color referencing, collecting, organizing and sharing has never been easier, more accurate and more efficient. A Color Reference System of a Different Color The Variable Color system changes the way modern color management systems operate. The compact size and mobility allow for easy collection and identification of color, which is critical, as you may never know when a color will inspire you. The COLOR MUSE system gives you the ability to match these colors to color and material libraries. Making color matching more black and white The Variable Color system can differentiate colors the human eye isn’t able to. Our technology can be broken down into three essential components. The Variable Color app allows color referencing, selection and inspiration collection to streamline the color selection process. Features: • Scan, store, file and reference colors • Reference scans against color libraries • Scan colors and store them in your custom palettes • Remembers device connections for connecting with ease during later usages • Provides paint and material matching for leading U.S. and International paint companies • Browse full color libraries of paint and material manufacturers • Attach pictures to your inspirational palettes About Variable Inc. Variable, Inc. is an industry leader in color hardware technology, color mobile app development, digital color referencing and color library management across multiple industries throughout the world.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Variable Color at none against Cube Companion App's 2. Variable Color also leads on ratings volume (62 vs 4). Cube Companion App's advantage is review sentiment (14% vs 0%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Cube Companion App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Variable Color asks for nothing beyond the download.
Variable Color holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Variable Color has 62 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of Cube Companion App's written reviews are positive against 0% of Variable Color's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Cube Companion App ships an update every 2 months, Variable Color every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cube Companion App | Variable Color |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (4 ratings) | 4.4 (62 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 62 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 41 MB | 83 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Palette | Variable Technologies LLC |
Customer experience
Cube Companion App
Variable Color
In-app purchases
Cube Companion App
- PANTONE® FHI Monthly14 Days trial$7.991 Month
- PANTONE® FHI Yearly14 Days trial$65.991 Year
Variable Color
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Cube Companion App free?
Is Variable Color free?
Which has better reviews, Cube Companion App or Variable Color?
Do Cube Companion App or Variable Color have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cube Companion App or Variable Color?
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