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Setapp VS DroidRef

Compare Setapp VS DroidRef and see what are their differences

Setapp

The one place for trusted apps. Hundreds of high-quality apps for your Mac and iPhone, including AI tools.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Paid Free trial $14.99 / Monthly (1 Mac)
Alternatives Is it good?
DroidRef

Android image reference board app for artists

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
HIVLY.APP
Give Hivly an idea. Get a finished social post. Add a photo and one sentence. Hivly writes the caption, designs the post, and schedules it for Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. sponsored
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Setapp seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 15 times since March 2021.

social mentions
15 vs 0
Project Management popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
93 vs 18

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Setapp
DroidRef
Website setapp.com github.com
Pricing
Paid Free trial $14.99 / Monthly (1 Mac) Official pricing
—
Company 2017 —
Listed in
Project Management No Code Development Low Code +1
Digital Drawing And Painting Image Editing Document Automation Productivity +1

About Setapp and DroidRef

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Setapp
DroidRef

A unified marketplace for Mac and iPhone users to get hand-picked, trusted apps. Get over 260 apps for a flat fee with Setapp Membership, or purchase individual apps on flexible terms through Setapp Marketplace.

Read more about Setapp

No description of DroidRef yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Setapp 5 features
DroidRef 4 features
  • Diverse Application Library
    Setapp provides access to a wide range of high-quality Mac applications across different categories, all from a single subscription service.
  • Cost-Effective
    For a monthly fee, users gain access to multiple paid applications, which can be more cost-effective than purchasing individual app licenses.
  • Updates and Upgrades Included
    All apps within Setapp come with automatic updates and upgrades included in the subscription, ensuring users always have the latest features and security patches.
  • Easy Installation and Management
    The Setapp platform provides a user-friendly interface for browsing, installing, and managing applications, simplifying the overall user experience.
  • Free Trial Available
    Setapp offers a 7-day free trial, allowing potential users to explore and evaluate the service before committing to a subscription.

Possible disadvantages

  • Subscription Model
    Some users may prefer to own their applications outright rather than subscribing to a service, which can feel like an ongoing cost without permanent ownership.
  • Dependent on Continuity
    If Setapp were to ever go out of business or a user decides to cancel their subscription, access to all the apps would be lost.
  • Mac Only
    Setapp is currently only available for Mac users, which excludes Windows and Linux users from the service.
  • Limited Offline Use
    While applications can generally be used offline, Setapp itself requires an internet connection for installation and license verification, which may be inconvenient for some users.
  • Not All Apps Included
    Despite having a diverse range of applications, Setapp does not include every app a user might need or prefer, thus still necessitating separate purchases in some cases.
  • Open Source
    DroidRef is open source, allowing anyone to view, modify, and contribute to the codebase, fostering community collaboration and transparency.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The tool is designed to work across different operating systems, enabling a wider range of developers to utilize it regardless of their preferred platform.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    DroidRef provides extensive documentation, making it easier for new users to understand and utilize the tool effectively.
  • Active Community
    An active community of users and developers helps in quickly addressing issues, sharing knowledge, and improving the tool.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity for Beginners
    For users who are new to similar tools, DroidRef can have a steep learning curve, requiring more time and effort to become proficient.
  • Resource Intensive
    The program may consume a high amount of system resources, potentially leading to slower performance on less powerful machines.
  • Limited Support
    Being an open-source project, DroidRef may not offer professional support, which could be a drawback for users who need immediate assistance.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies and ensuring compatibility with other tools and frameworks might require additional configuration and effort.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Setapp
DroidRef

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Setapp is considered good for users who frequently use multiple Mac apps and value convenience and flexibility. It provides excellent value for money by offering a diverse selection of reliable and well-crafted applications. However, it might not be the best choice for those who only need a few specific applications or prefer to own their software outright.

Why this product is good

  • Setapp is a subscription-based service that provides access to a wide range of Mac applications for a single monthly fee. Users often find it beneficial because it offers a curated selection of high-quality apps without the need to purchase each one individually. It saves time and money for those who require multiple tools, ensuring they always have the latest versions without additional costs. Furthermore, it simplifies software management by centralizing the process of discovering, updating, and accessing various applications.

Recommended for

    Setapp is recommended for professionals, creatives, and productivity enthusiasts who use a variety of Mac applications regularly and appreciate the ease of access to a comprehensive software library without the hassle of individual purchases. It's also suitable for users who enjoy exploring new tools and apps to enhance their workflow.

Overall verdict

  • DroidRef is a solid, free, open-source reference board image viewer for Android that fills a real gap for artists who want a PureRef-like experience on tablets and phones.

Why this product is good

  • It's free and open-source, so there are no costs or licensing restrictions
  • Brings PureRef-style reference board functionality to Android devices, which was previously lacking
  • Lets users arrange, scale, crop, and organize multiple reference images on an infinite canvas
  • Touch-optimized interface designed for tablets and stylus workflows
  • Actively developed on GitHub with community contributions and issue tracking

Recommended for

  • Digital artists and illustrators who use Android tablets for drawing
  • Users who want a PureRef alternative on mobile devices
  • Concept artists and designers who need to organize visual references
  • Anyone looking for a free, open-source reference image board app
  • Stylus and tablet users who prefer working away from a desktop

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Setapp 1 video + Add
DroidRef 0 videos + Add

What's Setapp?

No DroidRef videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Setapp
DroidRef
100% 100%
Project Management
0% 0%
85% 85%
Productivity
15% 15%
0% 0%
Digital Drawing And Painting
100% 100%
100% 100%
No Code
0% 0%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Setapp and DroidRef.

What's the story behind your product?

Setapp's answer

Setapp was created in 2016 by MacPaw, the company behind apps such as CleanMyMac, ClearVPN, and more. The key idea behind Setapp was to give users a simple way to discover high-quality apps for Mac. Over the years, the catalog has grown to over 260 apps and now includes tools for Mac, iOS, and web. Setapp is localized in eight languages and has users all over the world. Here are the key dates:

November 2016: Setapp closed beta is launched for the press, opinion leaders, and influencers. December 6, 2016: Setapp Beta release. January 25, 2017: Setapp public release. August 6, 2020: Setapp let users install iOS apps. August 11, 2021: Setapp arrives on iPhone and iPad. March, 2026: Single app purchase via Setapp Marketplace is introduced. Now, Setapp includes 260+ apps, 50+ iOS apps, and about 10 web apps with more to come.

What makes your product unique?

Setapp's answer

Setapp's key differentiators:

-Curation. Setapp is a curated platform with trusted, hand-picked apps — not a place filled with self-submitted apps.

-Professional focus. Setapp includes apps aimed at improving productivity and workflows for professionals who rely on their Macs. Setapp users range from developers and marketers to educators, healthcare experts, logistics and retail professionals, and more.

-Flexible access. Users have two ways to get apps: a single-fee subscription to 260+ fully unlocked Mac, iOS, and web apps; or individual app purchases via Setapp Marketplace, for those who need just a few apps rather than the full catalog.

-Security. Setapp holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2, and GDPR certifications. Apps are not permitted to display ads or include hidden in-app purchases.

-AI access. AI+ plans give access to all popular LLM models — GPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok — through a single gateway.

Setapp gives users apps they can count on. It’s not an endless store but a curated collection of apps worth users’ time and money.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Setapp's answer

-Quality over volume. The catalog includes only hand-picked, trusted apps. When downloading an app from Setapp, users can be sure it is high quality and safe to use.

-Trusted apps, no fillers. Every app is Apple-notarized, ad-free, fully unlocked, and has no features locked behind additional paywalls. Getting apps through Setapp means avoiding malware and unpleasant surprises.

-Save costs. Setapp Membership offers access to over 260 apps for a flat fee — no need to subscribe to multiple individual apps and juggle subscriptions. In Setapp Marketplace, users can purchase hand-picked, trusted apps individually, with no need to double-check quality or security.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Setapp's answer

Setapp is actively used by professionals who rely heavily on their Macs and want to improve their workflows — including developers, IT specialists, content creators, designers, marketers, writers, educators, students, and specialists in agriculture, logistics, retail, healthcare, and other fields.

User comments

Share your experience with using Setapp and DroidRef. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Setapp 15 mentions
DroidRef 0 mentions
  • Ask HN: How to Sell as a Software Engineer?
    > I've reached the conclusion that software quality and even price matters much less than distribution, especially now. I highly doubt that is true. We don't yet know how end-users will make purchasing decisions now that almost anyone... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Show HN: BoringBar – a taskbar-style dock replacement for macOS
    There could be 4x buyers at $10. I’d be one of the now, the dock is a constant annoyance. The app looks great, downloading the trial now. To the app’s author I’d say get as many licensees as you can fast before you’re Sherlocked or... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Coders Coded Their Job Away. Why Are So Many of Them Happy About It?
    I used a bunch of tools from https://setapp.com/ and no longer subscribe. I used to pay for Linear for all my personal projects, built one with CC that perfectly fits my needs… I also built a myriad of small tools that help me automate... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago

View more

Tracking DroidRef since Jul 2023.

Alternatives to Setapp and DroidRef

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