Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Swatches VS CSS Scan

Compare Swatches VS CSS Scan and see what are their differences

Swatches logo Swatches

A fun and accurate color picker for the real world

CSS Scan logo CSS Scan

Instantly check or copy computed CSS from any element for only ~95$
  • Swatches Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-13
  • CSS Scan Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-14

Swatches features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Swatches provides an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it simple for users of all skill levels to create and manage color palettes.
  • Collaborative Features
    Allows multiple users to collaborate and share color palettes in real-time, enhancing teamwork and productivity for design projects.
  • Compatibility
    Swatches integrates smoothly with popular design tools like Adobe Suite and Sketch, allowing for a seamless workflow.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being a cloud-based application, Swatches ensures that palettes are always accessible from any device with internet connectivity.
  • Wide Range of Pre-Set Palettes
    Offers a vast library of pre-set color palettes that can be used as inspiration or starting points for new projects.

Possible disadvantages of Swatches

  • Subscription Cost
    The premium features of Swatches require a subscription, which might be a deterrent for freelance designers or small businesses with limited budgets.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    Since it is a cloud-based application, Swatches offers limited functionality when offline, which can be restrictive for users without consistent internet access.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, some advanced features may require additional time to learn and utilize effectively.
  • Performance Issues
    Users have occasionally reported performance issues such as lag or slow loading times, especially with larger palettes or high demand.
  • Dependence on Internet Browsers
    Being a web app, its performance and user experience can be significantly affected by browser compatibility and version issues.

CSS Scan features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    CSS Scan offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for developers of all skill levels to inspect and copy CSS styles directly from the browser.
  • Time-Saving
    It significantly reduces the time needed to debug and replicate styles by allowing quick copying of well-structured CSS rules from any element on the page.
  • Accuracy
    The tool ensures that the copied CSS maintains the exact styling, including computed styles and vendor prefixes, providing high accuracy in replication.
  • Live Edits
    CSS Scan enables live editing of styles, allowing developers to make real-time changes and see the results instantly, which is beneficial for testing and adjustments.
  • Visual Representation
    The extension visually displays how CSS rules are applied, making it easier to understand complex styling hierarchies and cascades.

Possible disadvantages of CSS Scan

  • Cost
    CSS Scan is a paid tool, so there is a financial investment required, which might not be feasible for all developers, especially those working on personal or non-commercial projects.
  • Browser Compatibility
    As a browser extension, its functionality may be limited to supported browsers, potentially excluding users of less common or unsupported browsers.
  • Limited Scope
    While CSS Scan is powerful for copying and analyzing CSS, it does not offer features for editing or managing CSS files directly, requiring another tool or manual intervention for those tasks.
  • Dependency
    Relying on a third-party tool can be a downside if the tool experiences downtime, changes its pricing, or ceases development, leaving users in a difficult position.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Using browser extensions can raise privacy concerns, as they typically have access to the pages you visit; ensuring the trustworthiness of the extension is crucial.

Analysis of Swatches

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Swatches is considered a good application for anyone who needs a reliable and efficient way to manage color palettes. It is praised for its intuitive design, robust functionality, and seamless sharing capabilities.

Why this product is good

  • Swatches is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features that make it easy to create, organize, and share color palettes. It is a valuable tool for designers, artists, and developers who need to work with consistent color schemes. Its ability to import, export, and sync palettes across devices enhances its usability and practicality.

Recommended for

  • Graphic designers
  • Web developers
  • Artists
  • UI/UX designers
  • Brand developers

Analysis of CSS Scan

Overall verdict

  • CSS Scan is considered a valuable tool for web developers, particularly for those who frequently work with CSS. Its user-friendly interface and time-saving features make it highly effective for both learning and practical development needs.

Why this product is good

  • CSS Scan is popular among developers because it provides a fast and easy way to inspect and copy CSS styles from any website. It enhances productivity by simplifying the process of understanding and replicating complex styles without manually digging through source code.

Recommended for

  • Front-end developers seeking to understand and replicate existing styles.
  • Web designers aiming to improve their CSS skills through real-world examples.
  • Developers needing to quickly prototype or analyze website designs.
  • Teams looking for an efficient tool to streamline CSS workflows.

Swatches videos

MAYBELLINE SUPERSTAY MATTE INK CRAYON | Swatches & Review | BeautiCo.

More videos:

  • Review - Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick || Lip Swatches + Review
  • Review - Oh-KAY BEAUTY Review | All Product Swatches | BeautiCo.

CSS Scan videos

Chrome CSS Viewer CSS Scan 2.0 - All Your CSS Secrets Revealed

More videos:

  • Review - CSS Scan and Microthemer are buddies

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Swatches and CSS Scan)
Design Tools
45 45%
55% 55
Developer Tools
26 26%
74% 74
Color Tools
100 100%
0% 0
CSS Framework
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CSS Scan seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Swatches mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Swatches yet. Tracking of Swatches recommendations started around Mar 2021.

CSS Scan mentions (13)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Swatches and CSS Scan, you can also consider the following products

Sketch Palettes - Sketch plugin to save and load colors into the color picker

CSS Scan Pro - The easiest way to get and edit the CSS of any website, live

Chroma - Welcome to Chroma Cutlery Cnife - Manufacturer of kitchen knives, includes products and contact information.

Hoverify - All-in-one browser extension to improve your web dev experience.

ColorSnapper - The missing color picker for Mac.

CSS Peeper - Smart CSS viewer tailored for Designers.