Top 9 Alternatives to Color Cop for Color Sampling and Selection

Color Cop is an amazing software that can be used to sample and select colors from any pixel on the desktop screen or any application window. However, it has its own limitations, and people often look for alternatives to Color Cop for various reasons such as ease-of-use, better features and functionalities, and compatibility with modern operating systems. If you are one of them, then this post is for you. In this post, we have listed the top 9 alternatives to Color Cop for color sampling and selection, along with their pros and cons, comprehensive comparison, and our final thoughts.

Video Tutorial:

What is Color Cop?

Color Cop is an excellent freeware that can be used to sample and select any color on the desktop screen or application window. It allows users to view and copy RGB, HTML, Delphi, C++, and VB hex values for any selected color. It also comes with a color picker, magnifier, and palette browser that make color selection easy and enjoyable. However, Color Cop has not been updated for several years, and its UI and compatibility may not suit modern operating systems.

Top Alternatives to Color Cop:

1. ColorZilla:

ColorZilla is a free browser extension for Firefox and Chrome that can be used to sample and select colors from any webpage. It comes with an eyedropper, color picker, gradient generator, and other exciting features that make color selection fun and easy. With ColorZilla, users can copy hex, RGB, and HSL values to the clipboard, and even generate CSS code for selected colors.

Pros:
– Free and easy to use
– Supports multiple color formats
– Works on webpages and images
– Comes with a gradient generator

Cons:
– Only works on web browsers
– No magnifier or palette browser

2. Instant Eyedropper:

Instant Eyedropper is a free and lightweight tool that can be used to sample and select colors from any part of the screen. It sits in the system tray and can be accessed anytime by pressing a user-defined hotkey. It supports RGB, HTML, and Delphi color formats, and comes with a customizable magnifier.

Pros:
– Lightweight and easy to use
– Supports multiple color formats
– Customizable magnifier
– Available in portable and installer versions

Cons:
– No palette browser or color picker
– Limited features compared to other tools

3. ColorPic:

ColorPic is a free color picker and screen magnifier that can be used to sample and select colors from any part of the screen. It supports multiple color formats and allows users to create custom color palettes. Its unique feature is the ability to adjust color brightness, contrast, and saturation using sliders.

Pros:
– Free and easy to use
– Supports multiple color formats
– Allows custom color palettes
– Comes with brightness, contrast and saturation sliders

Cons:
– No eyedropper or gradient generator
– No HTML or CSS code generation

4. Pickard:

Pickard is a lightweight and fast color picker that can be used to sample and select colors from anywhere on the desktop. It supports RGB, HEX, and HSB color formats, and comes with a customizable magnifier, palette creator, and eyedropper. Its intuitive UI and keyboard shortcuts make color selection quick and easy.

Pros:
– Lightweight and fast
– Supports multiple color formats
– Customizable magnifier and palette creator
– Intuitive UI and keyboard shortcuts

Cons:
– No HTML or CSS code generation
– Not available for all platforms

5. Adobe Color CC:

Adobe Color CC, previously known as Adobe Kuler, is a free online tool that allows users to create, customize, and share color palettes. It comes with a color wheel, color sliders, and other exciting features that make color selection creative and fun. It also allows users to extract color themes from any uploaded image or photograph.

Pros:
– Free and easy to use
– Creative and customizable
– Allows color theme extraction from images
– Can save and share custom palettes

Cons:
– Only works online
– Requires Adobe account for advanced features

6. Pixel Pick:

Pixel Pick is a free color picker and magnifier that can be used to sample and select colors from any pixel on the screen. It supports RGB, HEX, CMYK, and HSV color formats, and comes with a zoomable magnifier and customizable hotkeys. It also allows users to create and save custom color palettes.

Pros:
– Free and easy to use
– Supports multiple color formats
– Customizable hotkeys and magnifier
– Allows custom color palettes

Cons:
– No HTML or CSS code generation
– Limited features compared to other tools

7. ColorSchemer:

ColorSchemer is a paid color scheme generator and palette manager that can be used to create custom color palettes and schemes. It comes with a color wheel, color sliders, and other exciting features that make color selection creative and fun. It also allows users to extract color themes from any uploaded image or photograph.

Pros:
– Creative and customizable
– Allows color theme extraction from images
– Can save and share custom palettes
– Comes with a color wheel and sliders

Cons:
– Paid software
– Only supports limited color formats

8. Sip:

Sip is a paid color picker and manager that can be used to sample and manage colors from any part of the screen. It supports RGB, HEX, and HSL color formats, and comes with a customizable magnifier, color history, and palette manager. Its unique feature is the ability to copy color palettes in multiple formats, including Photoshop, Sketch, and CSS.

Pros:
– Comes with a customizable magnifier
– Allows color palette creation
– Supports multiple color formats
– Can copy palettes in multiple formats

Cons:
– Paid software
– No eyedropper or gradient generator

9. ColorMunki:

ColorMunki is a professional color management tool that can be used to color calibrate monitors, printers, and projectors for accurate color reproduction. It comes with a colorimeter, software, and advanced features that make color calibration and selection precise and reliable. It also allows users to create custom color profiles and palettes.

Pros:
– Professional color calibration tool
– Advanced features for precise color management
– Allows custom color profiles and palettes
– Comes with a colorimeter

Cons:
– Expensive
– Not suitable for casual users

Comprehensive Comparison:

To help you choose the best alternative to Color Cop, we have created a comprehensive comparison table that compares the features and pricing of each software.

Our Thoughts on Color Cop Alternatives:

Choosing the best alternative to Color Cop depends on your specific requirements and preferences. If you want a free and easy-to-use tool, then ColorZilla, Instant Eyedropper, or ColorPic may be the best for you. If you want more creative features and customization options, then Adobe Color CC or ColorSchemer may suit you. If you want advanced color management and calibration, then ColorMunki may be your choice.

In our opinion, Sip is the best alternative to Color Cop due to its ease of use, customization options, and affordable pricing. It also offers advanced features for color management and copying color palettes in multiple formats.

FAQs:

Q1: Can these tools work on multiple operating systems?

A: It depends on the software. Some tools like ColorZilla and Adobe Color CC work on web browsers and are platform-independent, while others like Pickard and Sip are available only on specific platforms.

Q2: Can I create custom color palettes with these tools?

A: Yes, most of these tools, such as ColorPic, Pickard, ColorSchemer, Sip, and Adobe Color CC, allow users to create and save custom color palettes and schemes.

Q3: Can I use these tools for color calibration?

A: Only ColorMunki is suitable for color calibration of monitors, printers, and projectors. Other tools are designed for color selection and sampling.

Q4: Are these tools free to use?

A: Most of these tools, such as ColorZilla, Instant Eyedropper, ColorPic, and Pixel Pick, are free to use. However, some tools, such as ColorSchemer and ColorMunki, require a paid license.

Q5: Can I copy color codes in different formats?

A: Yes, most of these tools, such as Sip, ColorSchemer, and Adobe Color CC, allow users to copy color codes in multiple formats, including HTML, CSS, and Photoshop.

In Conclusion:

Color Cop is a great tool for color selection and sampling, but there are many alternatives available that offer better features and functionalities. We hope that our list of the top 9 alternatives to Color Cop for color sampling and selection has helped you find the right tool for your needs. Whether you want a free and easy-to-use tool or a professional color management software, there is something for everyone on this list.