Best Paint-Matching Apps and Tools for iOS and Android Phones

It always seems easy enough. You want a simple gray, a navy blue or even white. You peruse piles of paint chips and make multiple trips to the store for samples. Then, you paint a room, and somehow the gray looks green, the navy pulls purple and the white is suspiciously yellow. Ugh. Matching already-existing paint can be an exercise in futility.

If that's not enough pressure, Color Expert and creator of the Color911 app, Amy Wax notes that finding a color match isn't a simple matter. "What’s interesting about matching colors is that it’s largely dependent on the lighting in the space," she notes. Different light bulbs give off different color temperatures, which ultimately affects the way we perceive a shade. She notes that when looking for a color match, it's best to lead by look vs. feel.

Sound complicated? No worries—apps to the rescue! Using phone cameras to analyze RBG, CMYK, Pantone or other color codes allows the app to match it to a branded paint color library, or give you the codes that may help your local hardware store find the right match. Keep in mind that light, texture and the variations on phone screens do make this an imperfect science. Still, it can help winnow your options and may even provide the perfect hue.

The Best Paint Matching Apps

Best Overall: Color Muse Colorimeter
Best Visualizer: Amazon Paint Finder
Best Tool: Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio with the Color Match Tool
Best Features: Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap Match App
Most Intuitive: The Home Depot Project Color App
Biggest Library: Pantone Color Match Card
Best for Desktop Users: Valspar Pinterest Analyzer
Best for Apple Users: FindPaintColor
Best for Pros: Nix Paint App with the Nix Mini Color Sensor

Best Overall Paint Matching App

Color Muse

Color Muse is a sophisticated app that allows you to scan and store inspiration paint colors using the Colorimeter. Create color palettes, cross-reference and match to color libraries from many leading paint companies, and browse full-color libraries of paint manufacturers.

One review says they successfully matched 30-year-old paint from a defunct company to one sold at their hardware store—that's a solid endorsement!

Platforms: Apple & Android | Cost: App offers paid subscriptions and free version; device is around $70

Pros

Works natively in CIELAB, RGB, and HSB
Compact size fits in a pocket
Bluetooth pairing capability
Suggests coordinating colors
Create and save color palettes

Cons

Database incomplete, so some paint brands may be missing

Best Paint Matching Visualizer

Amazon Paint Finder

The Amazon Paint Finder’s robust search tool makes it easy to browse their huge selection of colors, from baby blue to neon green. Search purchasable paints by brand or view curated palettes using the “inspiration” tab. This clever feature enables shoppers to browse photos of existing rooms, then purchase any of the showcased paint colors for their own home.

Worried about how a shade will look with your decor? Shoppers can use the upload feature to show prospective wall colors in real time. All they need is a current, well-lit photo of a room that captures a portion of the wall that will be painted. From there, the digital painting tool replaces the current wall color with any of the choices available in their catalog. This makes it easy to see which colors are close to the existing shade.

Platforms: Desktop | Cost: Free

Pros

Save and share color palettes
Explore inspiration from other users
Visualize colors on your wall

Cons

Matching colors relies on eyeballing it

Best Paint Matching App and Tool

Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio with the Color Match Tool

Using the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio with the Color Match Tool is a surefire way to find a near-identical color match in minutes. The app lets you apply paint colors to any space using a photo, or discover Benjamin Moore color matches within a video. Virtual fan decks (those paper paint samples from stores) are available for those putting together a palette for their space.

Using the tool with the app lets customers scan any color for a near-identical match in the Benjamin Moore catalog—no trip to the hardware store is required. It's also inexpensive at under $50, while other color match tools can ring up for as high as several thousand dollars.

Platforms: Apple & Android | Cost: Free app; tool is around $50

Pros

Apply paint color to photos of your space
Access virtual fan decks
Video visualizer tool included
Bluetooth-connected device reads color matches instantly

Cons

Only uses the Benjamin Moore color database

Paint Matching App with the Best Features

Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap Match

The Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap Match app features a bunch of tools to find your perfect color match. Use "Instant Paint" to try out Sherwin-Williams' 1,500 paint colors on any of your walls without the commitment. Just snap a photo and choose a color.

The app also offers images in day and night lighting and can help you estimate how much paint you'll need for your project. Try it with any inspirational photo in nature, or a work of art. Choose a spot on the image, and the app will recommend colors close to it or help you choose a palette of colors to work with. Users say that it can take a while to master the bells and whistles. But once you get the hang of it, there is a wealth of painting tools to use for any project.

Platforms: Apple & Android | Cost: Free

Pros

Uses cutting-edge augmented reality
Instantly finds color cards in the store
Day and night lighting built-in
Paint calculator included

Cons

Good for "ball parking" colors, but not for exact matches

Most Intuitive Paint Matching App

Project Color by The Home Depot

The Home Depot Project Color app works much like the others. Upload a photo and test any paint in your space with a tap of the screen, using brands The Home Depot carries. Take or upload an inspiration photo and get color recommendations, as well as complementary or coordinating colors. You can also find the store nearest you and order paint and tools.

Platforms: Apple & Android | Cost: Free

Pros

See what’s popular and trending
View similar and coordinating paint colors
Save your top color picks
Purchase colors through the app

Cons

ProjectColor only lets you see one color visual at a time

Paint Matching App with the Biggest Library

Pantone Color Match Card

Those looking to match their paint to the universal language of color need to snag the Pantone Color Match Card. It easily pairs up to both paid and free Pantone Connect accounts via a QR code on the back, quickly translating any color scanned to a shade in Pantone's catalog. From there, you can take the Pantone color identifier number to a hardware store for a custom match.

It's a nice tool for finding good accent colors and primary shades, though it does take a few extra steps to find a good paint match.

Platforms: Apple & Android | Cost: Card is $15; app offers free version or $89.99 for a one-year subscription

Pros

Lightweight and portable
Works with both free and paid Pantone Connect accounts
Colors integrate into Pantone Connect mobile, web and Adobe Extension
Incredibly easy to use

Cons

Only offers Pantone color matches

Best Paint Matching App for Desktop Users

Valspar Pinterest Analyzer

The Valspar Pinterest Analyzer is an app, but not one you use on your phone. It helps solve this longtime Pinterest problem: You've found the perfect color in an image of an obscure European apartment, but what could the paint color possibly be? Log in to your Pinterest account through Valspar, and the app will analyze a single image or an entire board. It can fine-tune which part of the image you want to be analyzed, giving the closest color matches to the Valspar paint library.

Platforms: Website | Cost: Free

Pros

Free expert design advice
Photo color matching
Color personality quiz
Free paint chip delivery

Cons

Requires a Pinterest account

Best Paint Matching App for Apple Users

FindPaintColor

If you're not sold on shopping for a single brand, then FindPaintColor is for you. Apple users easily match any existing shade to colors from Behr, Benjamin Moore, PPG and Sherwin Williams catalogs. All it takes is a photo of the paint color next to one of the suggested white paint chips to generate a list of potential matches—no color sensor is required. It's a quick, free solution for both paint touchups and full-on color revivals.

Platform: Apple | Cost: Free

Pros

Offers lighter/darker shade suggestions
Gives several different shade-match options
Uses Behr, Benjamin Moore, PPG and Sherwin Williams catalogs
Uses industry-standard ‘sRGB’ (standard Red Green Blue) values

Cons

Requires a white color chip

Best Paint Matching App for Pros

Nix Paint with the Nix Mini Color Sensor

For color die-hards and design pros, an investment in the Nix Mini Color Sensor with the Nix Paint app may pay dividends. The Nix Mini Color Sensor tool is a spectrometer that can read the values of a color, then match those values to paint colors. This sensor blocks out ambient light to give the truest color reading every time.

The Nix app can then match the values of the color with more than 40,000 paint colors, offer palette suggestions and create custom swatches of your saved color choices. It's a professional tool that easily matches existing paint colors in just seconds.

Platform: Apple and Android | Cost: $100 tool; app is free

Pros

200,000+ brand name paints in catalog
Also offers instant RGB, HEX and CMYK color values
Dust and water-resistant
Compact at under two inches long

Cons

Pantone, RAL and NCS premium databases require a subscription

What to Look for in a Paint Matching App

When looking for a paint matching app, consider what brand of paint you'll be using. This will determine the app you choose, as color-matching apps oftentimes focus on a limited library of brands. You also need to consider your needs. Those looking for palette inspiration may prefer to go with an app more focused on that, like the Color911 app.

While many apps on this list offer versions for both Apple and Android, not all do. It's important to ensure that any app you choose is compatible with your device. In addition, some apps use a device purchased separately to scan and find color matches, which can make them more accurate but also more expensive.

Why You Should Trust Us

I'm an award-winning freelance writer who has written about home, design, and lifestyle topics for more than 15 years. My work has been featured in Artful Living, Midwest Home, Star Tribune and Teen Vogue, among many others. I'm currently living my own how-to story as my husband and I work through a complete gut remodel on our 1921 home—while parenting three tiny tots and dodging our dog and cat, who always seem to be underfoot.

Emily Way is an associate shopping editor for Vernl with experience researching products and recommending the best designs to consumers. She researched and updated this piece. Way interviewed Color Expert and creator of the Color911 app Amy Wax.

How We Found the Best Paint Matching Apps

To find the best paint matching apps, we began by speaking to expert color analysts to discover what features are must-haves. We then determined our top eight picks by testing out each app ourselves, checking for accuracy, ease of use and whether the color catalog offers ample options to choose from.

FAQ

How to match paint color already on wall?

Using an app or colorimeter is the most accurate way to match an existing paint color. If you choose to match paint colors the old-fashioned way, you can cut a paint chip off the surface you're hoping to match and bring it into a department store for professional matching.

Can Home Depot match paint?

Like almost any hardware store, the experts at the Home Depot are readily available to match paint colors via a paint chip or picture. Wax mentions that while this is helpful for those who don't know where to start, it can also be less accurate than other color-matching methods.

"In the store, if they’re looking at a color in 4,000 kelvin lighting, it will appear much differently than on a wall at home," she cautions. She notes that the best way to ensure a perfect match is to pick up three to five sample colors and try them all to find the best fit.

How big of a paint chip do I need to color match?

According to Wax, the larger the better. "A paint chip for color matching should be at least three inches by three inches. As you hold it in your hand you'll see how the light changes the shade depending on where it falls. A larger paint chip will offer a better idea of how the paint looks on a wall or ceiling," she says.