About
PaintVault is a dedicated inventory and color management tool built for miniature painters, tabletop gamers, scale modelers, and hobby collectors. At its core, it solves the frustrating problem of tracking which paints you own and finding equivalent colors across different brands — without guessing. Using Delta E 2000 color science, PaintVault calculates perceptually accurate color matches across a database of 20,000+ paint references from 50+ manufacturers including Citadel, Vallejo, and Army Painter. You can search for a color and instantly discover the closest matches from any supported brand. Beyond color matching, PaintVault lets you group paints into project lists, so you can document the exact colors and recipes used on any miniature and retrieve them months later. The gradient planner helps you map out highlight and shading steps with paint suggestions for each transition, enabling smoother blends and more consistent results. A color harmony explorer lets you visualize palette relationships, while stock tracking keeps your inventory current. The app runs on both web and Android with a shared account and synchronized data, so you can check your inventory at a hobby store or find color matches at a club night from your phone. PaintVault offers a free tier with unlimited inventory and full catalog access. Paid tiers unlock color matching, project tools, gradient planning, PDF export, and full web access — making it a comprehensive companion for any miniature painting hobby.
Key Features
- Cross-Brand Color Matching: Uses Delta E 2000 color science to find the closest perceptual color matches across 20,000+ paints from 50+ miniature paint brands instantly.
- Paint Inventory Management: Catalog your entire collection with brand, range, and stock tracking so you always know what you own and what you're running low on.
- Project Paint Lists: Group paints into reusable project lists to document the exact colors and recipes used on any miniature, retrievable months later.
- Gradient & Highlight Planner: Generate smooth color transition gradients and receive paint suggestions for each highlight or shading step in your painting process.
- Color Harmony Explorer: Visually explore color relationships and organize your palette to plan cohesive color schemes before you paint.
Use Cases
- Cataloging and tracking a large miniature paint collection across multiple brands and product lines
- Finding equivalent paints from a different brand when a specific color is discontinued or unavailable
- Documenting paint recipes and color schemes for miniature projects to replicate them months later
- Planning highlight and shading gradients before starting a new miniature painting project
- Checking your paint inventory from your phone while shopping at a hobby or game store
Pros
- Generous Free Tier: The free plan offers unlimited inventory and full catalog access with no credit card required, making it accessible for all hobbyists.
- Scientifically Accurate Color Matching: Delta E 2000 is the gold standard for perceptual color difference, ensuring matches feel accurate in real life rather than just on screen.
- Cross-Device Sync: A single account syncs data across web and Android, so your inventory is always available whether you're at home or at the hobby store.
- Massive Brand Coverage: With 50+ supported brands and 20,000+ references, it covers virtually every major miniature paint manufacturer on the market.
Cons
- No iOS App: Only an Android mobile app is currently available; iPhone users are limited to the mobile web browser experience.
- Advanced Features Behind Paywall: Color matching, gradient planning, project lists, and full web access require a one-time or monthly paid plan upgrade.
- Niche Use Case: The tool is purpose-built for miniature painting hobbies and won't serve general color management or broader creative workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which paint brands does PaintVault support?
PaintVault supports 50+ miniature paint brands including Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, and many more, with a database of over 20,000 paint references.
Is there a free version of PaintVault?
Yes. The free plan includes unlimited paint inventory and full catalog access with no credit card required. Paid plans (Mobile at €9.99 one-time or Pro at €3/month) unlock color matching, project tools, gradient planning, and PDF export.
Is there a mobile app for PaintVault?
Yes, PaintVault has an Android app available. There is currently no dedicated iOS app, though the web version is accessible on mobile browsers.
How does the color matching work?
PaintVault uses Delta E 2000, a perceptual color difference formula, to calculate how similar two colors look to the human eye and rank matches from other brands accordingly.
Can I access my data across multiple devices?
Yes. PaintVault uses a shared account system that keeps your inventory and project data synchronized between the web app and the Android app in real time.
