Datacolor Spyder vs SpaceMatch
Datacolor Spyder
datacolor.comSpaceMatch
lightillusion.comSide by side
| Figure | Datacolor Spyder | SpaceMatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Display Calibration Software | 7.8 (#7) | 6.6 (#20) |
| Headquarters | Rotkreuz, Switzerland | The Granary, Throcking, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 9RU, UK |
| Integration | The comparison table says SpyderPro supports syncing with Datacolor LightColor Meter and other meters that measure Lux values; this feature is marked unavailable for Spyder. | SpaceMatch can apply LUTs generated with ColourSpace, and the product page describes using it to enable clean HDMI output for external display profiling and calibration with ColourSpace. |
| Maker | Datacolor says it was founded in 1970 in Switzerland and lists its headquarters as Rotkreuz, Switzerland. | Light Illusion describes itself as a provider of colour-management tools and services for film, TV, broadcast, and home cinema. |
| Purpose | Datacolor Spyder uses a hardware sensor and software to calibrate display color for photo editing. | SpaceMatch manages colour on PC-connected displays through graphics-card VCGTs to avoid ICC profile issues in film and TV workflows. |
Plans
In their own words
Datacolor Spyder
Datacolor Spyder is a paid display-calibration product for professional photographers and advanced photo editing. Its hardware sensor connects through USB-C, with a USB-A adapter included, while software calibrates LCD, mini-LED, OLED and QD-OLED monitors, including Apple XDR and Liquid Retina displays. Room Light Monitoring measures the room’s light and can warn when recalibration is needed or adjust profiles automatically according to the light level. DevicePreview shows how photos may appear on mobile devices while they remain on the calibrated monitor. A full-screen comparison shows the display before and after calibration, with 11 brightness settings. The comparison table lists unlimited supported displays, subject to computer capability. Spyder supports Windows 10 or 11 and macOS 10.14 through macOS 26, and requires internet access for downloading and activating the software. It calibrates monitors only, not phones or tablets. The listed price is $169 as a one-time purchase.
SpaceMatch
SpaceMatch has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.