The 5 Best Color Matching Apps for iOS and Android

Find the most useful paint matching app for your device

Paint chips and paint brushes are spread out on a table.

Getty Images / Witthaya Prasongsin

by Karen Marcus
Karen Marcus is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who has also written for companies like HP, Intel, IBM, Samsung, and others.
Updated January 16, 2019

Finding the right colors to paint your walls seems like it should be easy, but can be surprisingly challenging. You may think you’ve got it figured out, only to find the color looks much different painted on your wall than on the color card you picked up at the home improvement store. There’s no foolproof way to make sure you get the color you want, but some of the following apps can help. They enable you to find, match, save, and buy paint colors. 

Warning: Due to variations in screen quality and other factors, the colors you discover on these apps will rarely look exactly how the paint will appear on your wall. Use the apps in conjunction with other methods, such as color cards from your paint retailer, or painting a small area of the wall in the color you’re considering. 

01
of 05

Handiest Color Palette Creator: ColorSnap

The Colorsnap app is identifying colors.

Sherwin-Williams

What We Like

  • The process is quick and easy
  • 1,500 colors to choose from
  • Allows you to save colors you like

What We Don’t Like

  • Paint color may show up on all objects in the scene

This fun app allows you to snap a photo of a part of your house and turn the colors there into a palette. Next, snap a photo of a room where you want to paint the wall, and try out the palette colors in the scene. Share your masterpiece with friends online. Finally, explore similar colors to make sure you pick just the right shade, and get information about coordinating colors. The app is free.

Download ColorSnap for iOS
(requires iOS 9.0 or later / compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Download ColorSnap for Android
(requires Android 4.0.3 or later)

02
of 05

Most Accurate Color Grabber: Nix Paints

The Nix Paints app is showing paint color matches for the scanned color.

Nix Sensor Ltd.

What We Like

  • Accurate color matching
  • Get color schemes to match the color you grab
  • You can include notes for each color sample

What We Don’t Like

  • Only works with the sensor

Use this app in conjunction with the Nix Mini™Color Sensor to “grab” colors from any surface or photo. When you place the sensor on the surface, the app displays the exact color. Then you can search a variety of paint brands to find the best match and locate the closest store to purchase it. Save scanned colors for future use. The app is free, but it only works with the sensor ($99). 

Tip: You can also use the color matching function for graphic design projects.

Download Nix Paints for iOS
(requires iOS 9.0 or later / compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Download Nix Paints for Android
(requires Android 4.4 or later)

03
of 05

Fastest Color Finder: ColorSmart

The Colorsmart app is showing options for the selected color.

BEHR 

What We Like

  • Color matching feature helps you coordinate choices
  • Save favorite colors or images to reference later
  • Share projects on social media

What We Don’t Like

  • Color cards may still be needed to verify colors 

Remember going to the hardware store and selecting paper cards with variations of paint colors on them to take home? Now you don’t have to leave your house to find the perfect color for your next room painting project. Just download this app and use it to discover new colors or preview your choices in room scenes. The app is free. 

Note: The app only includes colors from the BEHR brand, which is sold exclusively at The Home Depot.

DownloadColorSmart for iOS
(requires iOS 9.0 or later / compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Download ColorSmart for Android
(requires Android 4.0 or later)

04
of 05

Best Paint Project Planner: Color Capture

The Color Capture app is showing a selection of paint colors to choose from.

Benjamin Moore & Co.

What We Like

  • Save photos and corresponding colors together
  • Product catalog helps you find the right paint for your project
  • Great time saver

What We Don’t Like

  • No way to view color combinations together

If you like Benjamin Moore paint, this app is a good companion. Use it to snap a photo of any object whose color you like, then find out which paint color most closely matches it. Save colors, add notes, and share with friends. You can also explore colors and color combinations, or locate the nearest retailer. The app is free.

Download Color Capture for iOS
(requires iOS 9.0 or later / compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Download Color Capture for Android
(requires Android 4.4 or later)

05
of 05

Easiest Room Color Tester: Paint Tester

The Paint Tester app is showing an image of a room with a trial color applied to the walls.

Luminant Software, Inc.

What We Like

  • Adjust the brightness to account for lighting conditions
  • Save images to continue work later
  • Includes color palettes

What We Don’t Like

  • Doesn't include specific paint products 

This simple app does exactly what the name says: it tests different colors of wall paint on a photo of the room. Use the color picker and “smart paint bucket” to easily and quickly change the color. You can even use more than one color at once to create an accent wall. The app is free.

Download Paint Tester for iOS
(requires iOS 11.0 or later / compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Download Paint Tester for Android
(Android version required is different for each device)