Datacolor ColorReader vs Retail Management Hero Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated May 2026 8 min read

Datacolor ColorReader

0.0 (0 reviews)

Datacolor ColorReader is a portable color identification solution that helps painters, designers, and homeowners instantly match any flat surface to the most accurate paint colors from major brands.

Starting at $69/mo
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL
VS

Retail Management Hero

0.0 (0 reviews)

Retail Management Hero is a complete point-of-sale solution that helps small to mid-sized retailers manage inventory, process transactions, and run loyalty programs through an intuitive standalone interface.

Starting at --
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL

Quick Comparison

Feature Datacolor ColorReader Retail Management Hero
Website datacolor.com rmhpos.com
Pricing Model One_time Custom
Starting Price $69/month Custom Pricing
FREE Trial ✘ No free trial ✘ No free trial
Free Plan ✓ Has free plan ✘ No free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment mobile on-premise desktop
Integrations Bluetooth Adobe Photoshop Email Text Messaging Microsoft Dynamics QuickBooks Sage Shift4 CardConnect Heartland NitroSell Modern Retail
Target Users freelancer small-business mid-market small-business mid-market
Target Industries construction real-estate design retail
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 1970 2016
Headquarters Lawrenceville, USA Napa, USA

Overview

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Datacolor ColorReader

Datacolor ColorReader is a precision color-matching system that connects a handheld sensor to your smartphone via Bluetooth. You can scan any flat surface—whether it is a wall, fabric, or decorative accessory—to instantly find the closest paint match from top brands like Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Behr. It eliminates the guesswork of manual color matching and helps you visualize your projects with professional accuracy.

You can create custom color palettes, share them with clients or colleagues, and coordinate entire room schemes directly from your mobile device. The tool is designed for professional painters, interior designers, and DIY enthusiasts who need to maintain color consistency across different materials and lighting conditions. By using the dedicated mobile app, you can save your favorite colors and ensure your final paint selection matches your original vision every time.

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Retail Management Hero

Retail Management Hero (RMH) gives you a powerful way to manage your entire retail operation from a single touch-screen optimized interface. Whether you run a single boutique or a chain of stores, you can process sales quickly, track stock levels in real-time, and manage complex pricing structures without needing a constant internet connection. It serves as the natural successor to Microsoft Dynamics RMS, offering a familiar but modernized experience for your staff.

You can easily look up customers to view their purchase history and apply personalized discounts or loyalty rewards right at the register. The system also simplifies your back-office work by automating purchase orders and providing detailed reports on your best-selling items. Because it is a localized solution, your data stays on your hardware, ensuring your checkout lanes keep moving even if your web connection drops.

Overview

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Datacolor ColorReader Features

  • Instant Color Matching Scan any flat surface to find the most accurate paint match from over 50 leading global brands.
  • Digital Palette Creation Build and save custom color collections for different projects so you can keep your design ideas organized.
  • Color Coordination Find complementary colors, triads, and analogous schemes instantly to create perfectly balanced rooms and designs.
  • Project Sharing Send your saved color palettes to clients, contractors, or paint stores via text, email, or social media.
  • Brand Filtering Toggle between specific paint manufacturers to ensure you only see results from the brands you prefer to use.
  • Quality Control Mode Compare two different colors to check for consistency and see the precise Delta E difference between them.
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Retail Management Hero Features

  • Touch-Optimized POS. Process transactions faster with a highly customizable touch-screen interface that you can tailor to your specific checkout workflow.
  • Advanced Inventory Tracking. Track your stock levels across multiple locations and manage item matrixes like size and color with ease.
  • Built-in Loyalty Programs. Create custom reward schemes and track customer preferences to keep your shoppers coming back for more.
  • Automated Purchasing. Generate purchase orders automatically when stock hits minimum levels so you never run out of your best-sellers.
  • Offline Functionality. Continue ringing up sales and managing your store even when your internet goes down with local data storage.
  • Comprehensive Reporting. Access over 40 pre-built reports to analyze your sales trends, employee performance, and inventory turnover in seconds.

Pricing Comparison

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Datacolor ColorReader Pricing

ColorReader EZ
$69
  • Portable Bluetooth sensor
  • 85% + matching accuracy
  • Access to top paint brands
  • Create and share palettes
  • Free iOS and Android app
R

Retail Management Hero Pricing

Pros & Cons

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Datacolor ColorReader

Pros

  • Extremely accurate matching compared to visual guessing
  • Saves significant time during client consultations
  • Compact design fits easily in your pocket
  • No monthly subscription fees for app usage

Cons

  • Requires flat surfaces for the most accurate scans
  • Bluetooth connection occasionally requires a quick reset
  • Glossy surfaces can sometimes distort the reading
A

Retail Management Hero

Pros

  • Familiar interface makes training new staff quick and easy
  • Works reliably without an internet connection during outages
  • Extensive reporting capabilities provide deep insights into sales
  • Strong support for complex inventory and item variations

Cons

  • Requires a third-party partner for setup and support
  • Initial configuration can be time-consuming for large inventories
  • Hardware requirements may necessitate upgrading older computers
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