# Fractal Architect

> Powerful mobile app for creating and designing 2D and 3D flame fractals. (iPhone/iPad app by Centcom.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fractal-architect/id1445109024 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Centcom](https://appshunter.io/developer/412724554)
- Category: Graphics & Design, Photo & Video
- Price: $9.99
- Rating: 4.10/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 28 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2020-03-19
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fractal-architect/id1445109024/reviews.md

## What is Fractal Architect?

Fractal Architect is a very powerful flame fractal creation and design app for iPhones and iPads. 

It makes 2D and 3D fractal images of great beauty. A huge variety of beautiful and unique fractals can be created with tools that are both simple and advanced.

Flame fractal images can be awesome images of exquisite beauty. The eye is drawn to symmetry and color patterns, which fractal images possess in abundance.

ULTRA FAST RENDERING

Metal GPU Accelerated. 10 to 20x faster rendering than on the device's CPU, an option which is also included. We have over 10 years of experience making fractal apps supporting GPU rendering.

BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP FOR MOBILE TOUCH 

Fractal Architect works great with touch and supports iPad features like Multitasking, Multiple app windows, Split View, & Slide Over and Drag & Drop. It has a GUI that works well on both iPad and the smaller iPhone.

THE FRACTAL ARCHITECT FAMILY 

Fractal Architect is available on iOS, iPadOS and MacOS. It has been on the Mac for many years and is now available there as Fractal Architect 5 and Fractal Architect X. But the iOS and iPadOS app is not a *lite* app. It has the same rendering engine as its counterpart on MacOS and the files and the Lua scripts are 100% compatible between the different platforms. 

SHARING BETWEEN PLATFORMS

It supports the Apple Files app, with image thumbnails and Quicklook previews, and you can easily share files with your Mac or iOS devices through iCloud.

TOOLS

The app has 2 random fractal creation tools. Configured fractals, where you can make your own mixes of 374 different variations (the stuff that builds fractals) both for 2D and 3D flame fractals. The other random tool is Scripted fractals, where you can choose from 46 factory scripts or write your own, by simply saving a good Configured variation mix as a new script.

LUA SCRIPTS

The script language in FA is Lua. It is used both as Random Fractal Scripts and as Tweak Scripts. Tweak Scripts let you easily make variants of an existing fractal by adding variations and doing different tasks in the app. With Tweak Scripts you can mangle a fractal totally beyond recognition. A basic script editor is included in the app. Compatible with iOS text editing apps like Textastic and GoCoEdit.

TRANSFORM EDITOR

In the Transform Editor, you can change the very building blocks of the fractal or build your fractal from scratch. If you have used a flame fractal app before you will recognise the system with transforms that contain variations and are controlled by manipulating a triangle for 2D fractals. FA also lets you do the same with 3D fractals but with a 3D Tetrahedron instead of a flat triangle, editing fractals in real 3D space. FA also uses a unique system of serial and parallel groups of variations.

THE VARIANTS EDITOR

Here you can make very controlled random variants of a fractal by randomizing colors, symmetry, transform and variation weights, parameters, matrix, xaos and more. In this editor, you can take a good fractal and make a multitude of new great fractals from it. There is also a Target function that lets you decide exactly what part of a fractal to randomize. 

All fractals you like can be saved in the Favourites, to build collections or making sure you don’t lose all the good ones you find. You can add fractals to Favourites from all parts of the app. 

LAYERS

You can easily layer fractals. Simply select the fractals you want to layer and use a menu command to layer them. Layered fractals can also be randomized in the Variants Editor and edited in the Transform Editor.

WHAT IT DOES NOT SUPPORT

Fractal Architect for iOS and iPadOS supports most of the features of the Mac version but not all. There is no animation and it lacks the advanced Animation Sequencer found on Mac.

Notice:

GPU rendering may not work with all fractals. Render performance depends on the power of the iOS device's CPU & GPU.

## Key features

- 2D and 3D fractal image creation
- Ultra-fast Metal GPU accelerated rendering
- Touch-optimized interface for iPhone and iPad
- Cross-platform file compatibility (iOS, iPadOS, macOS)
- Random fractal creation tools (Configured & Scripted)
- Lua scripting for advanced customization
- Transform and Variants Editors for detailed control

## Chart rankings

- #140 in Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (5 of 5)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fractal-architect/id1445109024/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Make beautiful flame fractals

*2025-10-27*

I bought this hoping it would easily allow me to tweak different transforms in flame fractals.  And it does!  Make your own flames every bit as beautiful as what you would get from apophysis, chaotica or wildfire, except far easier, on your phone or ipad

It is a great time to be a fractal fan

### 5/5 — Excellent Fractals

*2022-09-11*

The interface is simple and intuitive to use. Using the default scripts, beautiful fractals can be created in minutes and with the variations options, finely honed to perfection!

### 3/5 — Not quite user-friendly

*2021-11-30*

The program makes incredible quality fractals, if you know what you’re doing.

If you’re like me, and you thought you could get this program and just “learn the ropes” over time… You’re probably wrong. It will overwhelm you, and if you don’t seek guides, you’ll burn yourself out very quickly and it will demotivate you in the future.

My advice? Even if you don’t have a computer to use, watch guides on how Apophysis works. It’s very similar to FA, and there should be enough guides to get most people started.

### 5/5 — Fun

*2020-11-17*

I have FA on my iPad Pro, iPad AIR and my MacBook Air because I like the program so much. If it was available for my pc I would get it also.   I have several fractal programs but FA IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE!

### 4/5 — I like it but it’s rather complex to use

*2020-11-14*

I like it similar to an app called ImageSynth Pro but both of these programs are rather difficult for me I think they both could be made to be more intuitive so I don’t have to memorize what what things are gonna look like with certain parameters… Oh I don’t know - good work ; glad I spent the 10 bucks.... of course I haven’t even looked at the help file yet if such a thing exist this is just a first impression from my first half hour

## Frequently asked questions about Fractal Architect

### What is Fractal Architect?

Fractal Architect is a powerful application for creating 2D and 3D flame fractal images on iPhones and iPads. It offers advanced tools for customization and fast rendering.

### How fast is the rendering in Fractal Architect?

Fractal Architect features ultra-fast rendering powered by Metal GPU acceleration, making it 10 to 20 times faster than CPU rendering. The app leverages over 10 years of experience in GPU rendering for fractal applications.

### Is Fractal Architect compatible with other devices?

Yes, Fractal Architect is available on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Files and Lua scripts are 100% compatible across these platforms, and it supports iCloud sharing.

### What kind of tools are available in Fractal Architect?

The app includes random fractal creation tools (Configured and Scripted), a Transform Editor for manipulating fractal building blocks in 2D and 3D, and a Variants Editor for controlled randomization of fractal properties.

### Can I create my own fractal scripts?

Yes, Fractal Architect uses Lua scripting for both Random Fractal Scripts and Tweak Scripts. You can write your own scripts or save configured variations as new scripts, with a basic script editor included.

### What is the price of Fractal Architect?

Fractal Architect is a paid application, priced at $9.99. It is not a free app and does not offer a free trial period based on the provided information.

### Does Fractal Architect have ads?

No, Fractal Architect is an ad-free application. It does not contain advertisements, allowing for an uninterrupted creative experience.

### What is the age rating for Fractal Architect?

Fractal Architect has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users of all ages, with no mature content restrictions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.3.4 — 2023-04-07

Hot fix for inability to create and save new fractals on the most recent updates of iOS and iPadOS.

### 1.3.3 — 2021-07-04

For iPads, you can now show larger fractal images while previewing and editing. This looks great on the largest 12.9" iPads as well as on smaller iPads.
You can select from 5 different sizes: Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large.
For interactive editing, you want the images to render fast, so select a smaller editing image size that allows fast renders.
Users with older iPads should select either Small or Medium for editing. For editing, select @1X Retina.
Preview fractal images can be larger since real time editing is not required.

### 1.3.2 — 2021-02-07

Optimized for users who love using Apple Pencil.
You can set Restrict the Context Menu Activation Region to just the fractal image in the fractal editor.
This prevents accidental context menu preview activation when holding the Apple Pencil down over a slider.
Go to the Options Tab, and scroll down through the settings table to find the setting for this new feature.
This option is turned off by default, as it is not needed for user that don't use Apple Pencil.

### 1.3.1 — 2021-01-02

Fixed undo/redo handling in Transform editor

### 1.3.0 — 2020-12-17

Transform editor has a new Sliders/Fields toggle button for choosing between showing either sliders or text fields.
You can also tap on each table row's right edge disclosure icon to reach the row's Quick Spin editor, 
 which also presents a slider, its min/max values, and a separate text field.
This gives you the ultimate control on setting values.

Transform editor has a new Focus/Unfocus toggle button that allows you to select any Layer, Transform, or VarGroup and focus on it.
Only the table rows belonging to that focused item are shown, when in Focused mode.
Tapping on the Unfocus button reverts the table back to its normal all rows visible mode.

## Apps similar to Fractal Architect

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [starryai - AI Photo Generator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starryai-ai-photo-generator/id1580512844) | 4.6 (22,237) | Free | Graphics & Design |
| [Fonts for DIY Space](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fonts-for-diy-space/id1512231330) | 4.6 (12,375) | Free | Graphics & Design |
| [StoryFont for Instagram Story](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyfont-for-instagram-story/id1506975314) | 4.9 (34,958) | Free | Graphics & Design |
| [UNUM — Layout & Feed Preview](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unum-layout-and-feed-preview/id1057252115) | 4.5 (12,192) | Free | Graphics & Design |
| [piZap: Design & Edit Photos](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pizap-design-and-edit-photos/id642936943) | 4.7 (14,950) | Free | Graphics & Design |
| [Picsart Color: Draw & Paint](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picsart-color-draw-and-paint/id1183817887) | 4.5 (22,325) | Free | Graphics & Design |

## Related topics

[fractal graphics](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fractal-graphics) · [fractal designer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fractal-designer) · [fractalscapes fractal designer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fractalscapes-fractal-designer)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-24.*