ColorBox vs iWantHue

ColorBox is a free web tool and extension for creating color systems and accessible palettes. You can adjust multiple colors in one tab and share a system as a URL or JSON file. Contrast indicators show 3:1, 4.5:1, and 7:1 levels for color sets, while HSV and OKLCH provide color-space modes. Auto Dark Mode creates an inverted set from original inputs; duplicated sets can also be edited manually. Hue progression rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. Export options include Config, Output, Tailwind, CSS, OKLCH, and Swift. The maker describes importing systems into Figma through a plugin and JSON, with custom step names and generated Paint Styles. A Sketch route uses that Figma workflow, then SVG export. The color algorithm can be consumed through NPM with exported JSON for code generation. Custom curves were described as unavailable in ColorBox at the cited time. The free plan is ad-free.

iWantHue generates and refines color palettes for data scientists working with data visualization. Users can set hue, chroma, and lightness constraints, then sort colors by difference, hue, chroma, lightness, or randomly. Its calculations use CIE Lab, with HCL controls, and palette distribution uses either k-means clustering or force-vector repulsion. An option helps improve palettes for colorblind users. The web interface exports HEX, RGB, HCL, and LAB JSON, CSS color lists, and JavaScript settings. Developers can install the JavaScript package with npm for Node.js or browser use; its generator accepts a seed to reproduce a palette from a data attribute. The npm module also includes precomputed palettes from 2 to 15 colors, including colorblind alternatives. Very large palettes may include similar colors when the selected color space is constrained, though the first colors are arranged for the greatest possible distinction. The Fancy preset is limited to generic palettes of up to 10 colors. iWantHue is free.