Software & Apps Apps The 5 Best Color Matching Apps for iOS and Android Find the most useful paint matching app for your device By Karen Marcus Writer Karen Marcus is a former Lifewire writer who has also written for companies like HP, Intel, IBM, Samsung, and others. our editorial process Twitter LinkedIn Karen Marcus Updated February 12, 2020 Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images Apps Best Apps Tweet Share Email 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. 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 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 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). 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 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. 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 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 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)