Best Art Reference App

225+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
19 free apps
Updated June 2026

Out of 225+ art reference app apps on iOS, 19 are free and the rest sit in the paid tier. This page sorts them so you can compare both sides before you commit.

Top Picks for Art Reference App

Magic Poser - Art Pose Tool#1

Magic Poser - Art Pose Tool by Wombat Studio, Inc.

Best 3D pose reference app
Editor's Choice
🎨 Graphics & Design
3.7😐(10K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Magic Poser - Art Pose Tool screenshot 1
Magic Poser - Art Pose Tool screenshot 2
Magic Poser - Art Pose Tool screenshot 3
Magic Poser - Art Pose Tool screenshot 4
Magic Poser - Art Pose Tool screenshot 5
Magic Poser - Art Pose Tool screenshot 6

"Enhance your art with Magic Poser - the ultimate tool for creating 3D character poses and scenes. With intuitive drag-and-pose features, realistic anatomy models, versatile lighting effects, and an extensive library of props and clothing, bring your artistic visions to life effortlessly. Download now and revolutionize your artwork!"

What We Love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Helpful for drawing references
  • 👍 Good variety of models and props
  • 👍 Smooth posing and manipulation

Room to Improve

  • 🔒 Many features locked behind paywall
  • 🔒 Lack of free female model
  • 🐛 Buggy joint and camera controls
Value Study: art reference#2

Value Study: art reference by Diem Limited

Analyze light and shadow
Strong Contender
🎨 Graphics & Design
4.8😊(3.1K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Value Study: art reference screenshot 1
Value Study: art reference screenshot 2
Value Study: art reference screenshot 3
Value Study: art reference screenshot 4
Value Study: art reference screenshot 5
Value Study: art reference screenshot 6

Improve your drawing and painting skills with our artist's assistant tool that helps you create value studies to better understand shadows and highlights. Enhance your artwork by selecting and focusing on different values in your reference images, perfect for beginner artists looking to start with complicated subjects.

What We Love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Helpful for value studies
  • 💡 Allows adjusting number of values
  • 🎨 Useful for artists and painters

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Issues with accurately representing blue hues
  • 🔍 Difficulty finding/importing photos
  • 🤔 Unclear instructions/lack of tutorial
Head Model Studio - Art Study#3

Head Model Studio - Art Study by Wes Castain

3D references for artists
Worth Considering
🎨 Graphics & Design
4.6😊(2.3K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Head Model Studio - Art Study screenshot 1
Head Model Studio - Art Study screenshot 2
Head Model Studio - Art Study screenshot 3
Head Model Studio - Art Study screenshot 4
Head Model Studio - Art Study screenshot 5
Head Model Studio - Art Study screenshot 6

Enhance your portrait drawing skills with a leading iOS/iPadOS app that provides 3D references for artists. Study facial features in detail, progress through different model complexities, and take complete control to improve your artistic abilities. Elevate your sketches today.

What We Love

  • 🎨 Excellent reference tool for artists
  • 🔍 Helpful for understanding head anatomy and planes
  • 🔧 Customizable lighting and model features
  • 💰 Reasonable subscription pricing

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Premium features locked behind paywall
  • 🔒 Lack of free trial to test premium content
  • 🔧 Limited customization options for free users

More Art Reference App apps to explore

4
Easy Pose -Best Posing App
Easy Pose -Best Posing App
Easy Pose -Best Posing App
Posing app for manga/comic art
Free

A posing app for manga/comic artists, Easy Pose allows users to create and manipulate human body poses for drawing purposes, offering features like sensitive joint control, comic-style models, multi-model scenes, and various pose options. The app also provides both free and paid versions with distinct benefits, making it a valuable tool for artists looking to enhance their illustrations. Start posing today!

🔧 Utilities
(1.1K)
5
Artista - Drawing Reference
Artista - Drawing Reference
Artista - Drawing Reference
by Max Buster
Free

This application provides a platform for artists to access a vast library of high-quality reference photos, share their work, and learn from others by seeing how they interpret the same references. By joining the community, users can track their progress over time and enhance their artistic skills.

📚 Education
(17)
6
DailyArt
DailyArt
DailyArt
Daily Dose of Art History
Free

Get your daily dose of art history with this app, providing a new piece of art and its story every day. Immerse yourself in the world of art and expand your knowledge effortlessly.

📚 Education
(7.4K)
7
Handy Art Reference Tool
Handy Art Reference Tool
Handy Art Reference Tool
3D Lit Reference for Artists!
$1.99

An essential artist's reference tool, offering 3D rotatable limbs for drawing realistic hands, heads, and skulls. Includes customizable poses, adjustable lighting, and additional packs for animal skulls and foot rigs. Perfect for comic book artists, painters, and sketchers. Sign up for updates and check out the demo at the website.

📚 Education
(1.2K)
8
Da Vinci Eye: AR Trace & Draw
Da Vinci Eye: AR Trace & Draw
Da Vinci Eye: AR Trace & Draw
Art Projector, Tracing, Sketch
Free

An innovative app for artists offering a wide range of drawing tools, lessons, and a supportive community for creating incredible artwork with features like tracing, hyper-realistic drawings, time-lapse videos, and more. Perfect for artists of all skill levels, it provides a unique way to layout, check, and improve your artwork with a patent-pending method similar to a Camera Lucida.

🎨 Graphics & Design
(10K)
9
FlipaClip: 2D Animation Maker
FlipaClip: 2D Animation Maker
FlipaClip: 2D Animation Maker
Animate Cartoons & Create Art
Free

Create 2D animations with ease using this app that lets you draw art and animate it frame by frame. Unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life through animation!

🎨 Graphics & Design
(5.7K)
10
Tumblr: Social Media & Art
Tumblr: Social Media & Art
Tumblr: Social Media & Art
Fandom, blogs & fan archives
Free

Discover a vibrant community of artists and fandom enthusiasts on a platform that celebrates creativity and self-expression. Dive into a world of fan art, discussions, memes, and more, or showcase your own artwork and engage with like-minded individuals. Join now and make Tumblr your creative home.

🌐 Social Networking
(368K)
11
Pixel Studio for pixel art
Pixel Studio for pixel art
Pixel Studio for pixel art
Best mobile pixel art editor
Free

Create incredible pixel art and animations with our versatile mobile editor! Perfect for beginners and professionals with features like layers, animation tools, Google Drive sync, and a vibrant community. Join now and unlock a world of pixel art possibilities!

🎨 Graphics & Design
(5.4K)
12
Art Reference
Art Reference
Art Reference
Easel-Side Prep & Study Tool
Free
$4.99 | 100% OFF
🎨 Graphics & Design
(2)
13
Art History & Painting - Artly
Art History & Painting - Artly
Art History & Painting - Artly
Artists & Artworks & Galleries
Free

Explore a comprehensive digital archive of art history spanning various periods and styles. Discover and learn about famous artworks, artists, and movements through interactive features like timelines, galleries, and in-depth articles. Start your journey through the rich world of art today.

📚 Education
(2.2K)
14
Drawing Desk: Sketch Paint Art
Drawing Desk: Sketch Paint Art
Drawing Desk: Sketch Paint Art
Learn How To Draw,Step by Step
Free

Unleash your creativity with a comprehensive digital art experience featuring drawing tools, sketching capabilities, smudge art, image-based drawing, doodling, pixel art, mandala drawing, and a relaxing coloring book. Join now and start creating your masterpiece today!

🎨 Graphics & Design
(15K)
15
DarkRef - Art Reference Board
DarkRef - Art Reference Board
DarkRef - Art Reference Board
Reference board for artists
Free
🎨 Graphics & Design
(0)
16
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture
See artworks, museums and more
Free

Discover a vast collection of artworks, cultural artifacts, and virtual tours from museums around the world on this innovative platform. Immerse yourself in the world of art and history through high-resolution images, 360-degree videos, and educational resources. Explore, learn, and expand your horizons with a click of a button!

📚 Education
(134K)
17
Pixquare - Pixel Art Studio
Pixquare - Pixel Art Studio
Pixquare - Pixel Art Studio
#1 pixel art editor
Free

Pixquare is a pixel art app tailored for iPad and iPhone users, offering a range of tools for creating static or animated pixel art sprites. With features like a simple UI, isometric and tileset tools, and no subscription required, Pixquare is ideal for both beginners and professionals in pixel art. Create stunning pixel artworks with ease today!

🎨 Graphics & Design
(49)
18
Pose Maker: 3D Art Reference
Pose Maker: 3D Art Reference
Pose Maker: 3D Art Reference
Draw Anime, Manga & Realistic
Free
🎨 Graphics & Design
(2)
19
Anime Art - AI Art Generator
Anime Art - AI Art Generator
Anime Art - AI Art Generator
ai art, anime avatar, drawing
Free

Experience the power of AI with an Art Generator app that transforms your text prompts into stunning AI artworks. Choose from three unique art models - stable, fantasy, and anime - to create your own style of art. Explore AI chat, roleplay games, and the ability to generate artworks from any picture. Unleash your creativity and share your AI creations with the world!

🎨 Graphics & Design
(17K)
20
Artsy: Buy & Sell Fine Art
Artsy: Buy & Sell Fine Art
Artsy: Buy & Sell Fine Art
Discover art that moves you
Free

Discover and collect fine art from top galleries worldwide, follow your favorite artists for tailored recommendations, buy art with confidence through live auctions, and even preview artworks in your home with augmented reality. Explore art events globally and consign your collection with ease through this all-in-one art marketplace. Start your art journey today!

🛍️ Shopping
(6.3K)