Coolors vs Palette Maker: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Coolors and Palette Maker comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Coolors wins this matchup. Our overall Graphic Design pick is Adobe Creative Cloud. Our free Graphic Design pick is Keynote. Pick Palette Maker if you need color tools.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Coolors
Color palette generator and design tool
Best for you if:
- • You want great color palette generator
- • You want easy to use
Palette Maker
Generate AI-powered color palettes and preview them live on diverse design examples.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Coolors requires payment)
- • You want completely free to use, now and forever
- • You want allows live testing of color palettes on real design mockups, saving time
| At a Glance | Coolors | Palette Maker |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Graphic Design | Color Tools |
Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.9/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Coolors or Palette Maker?
Choose Coolors if
Color palette generator and design tool
- You want great color palette generator
- You want easy to use
- Your work is graphic design-shaped, not color tools-shaped
Choose Palette Maker if
Generate AI-powered color palettes and preview them live on diverse design examples.
- You want a fully free tool (Coolors requires payment)
- You want completely free to use, now and forever
- You want allows live testing of color palettes on real design mockups, saving time
- Your work is color tools-shaped, not graphic design-shaped
| Feature | Coolors | Palette Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| User Rating | ★4.8/5 14 reviews | ★4.9/5 72 reviews |
| Categories | Graphic DesignUI/UX Design | Color ToolsGraphic Design |
In-Depth Analysis
Coolors
Color palette generator and design tool
Coolors' pricing is quite fair, especially the Pro tier at $3/month (billed annually).
Watch out
Pro tier requires annual commitment for $3/month price.
Strengths
- +Great color palette generator
- +Easy to use
- +Export options
- +Collections
- +Good free tier
Weaknesses
- -Paid plan for best features
- -Limited in free
- -Ads on free
- -Simple tool
- -Many free alternatives
Key features
Palette Maker
Generate AI-powered color palettes and preview them live on diverse design examples.
The pricing for Palette Maker is extremely generous, as it offers a fully-featured 'Free' tier with no apparent paid options.
Strengths
- +Completely free to use, now and forever.
- +Allows live testing of color palettes on real design mockups, saving time.
- +Intuitive and easy to use for both designers and non-designers.
- +Offers diverse export formats for integration with various design workflows.
- +AI-powered suggestions help in discovering new color combinations.
Weaknesses
- -Limited to pre-made design examples, no option to upload custom designs for preview.
- -Does not include black and white in generated palettes (by design choice, but might be a con for some users).
- -No mention of advanced color theory tools beyond basic application.
Key features
Pricing: Coolors vs Palette Maker
| Plan | Coolors | Palette Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $3 month Pro | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Coolors pricing and Palette Maker pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Palette Maker is free. Coolors is freemium.
Go with: Palette Maker
Want the highest-rated option?
Coolors: 4.8/5 (14 reviews). Palette Maker: 4.9/5 (72 reviews).
Go with: Palette Maker
Value user reviews?
Coolors: 14 reviews (4.8/5). Palette Maker: 72 reviews (4.9/5).
Go with: Palette Maker
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Coolors is freemium. Palette Maker is free. Go with Palette Maker if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Coolors is a graphic design tool. Palette Maker is in color tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Palette Maker is rated higher: 4.9/5 vs 4.8/5.
Key Takeaways
Coolors
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Palette Maker
- Completely free
- Higher user rating: 4.9/5 vs 4.8/5
- Larger review base (72 reviews)
- Better fit for color tools
The Bottom Line
Coolors wins this matchup. Our overall Graphic Design pick is Adobe Creative Cloud. Our free Graphic Design pick is Keynote. That said, Palette Maker is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coolors or Palette Maker better?
Coolors is rated in our evaluation. Coolors is freemium and Palette Maker is free.
What are Coolors and Palette Maker used for?
Coolors: Color palette generator and design tool. Palette Maker: Generate AI-powered color palettes and preview them live on diverse design examples..
What does Coolors cost vs Palette Maker?
Coolors is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Palette Maker is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.