Comparison

variant vs Nekompass

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

variant

This app generates ever-changing music and imagery based on user input and randomness. Experience a unique audiovisual artwork that evolves with every interaction, enhanced by 3D Touch pressure sensitivity.

Highlights
  • Generative audiovisual artwork
  • Evolving music and imagery
  • 3D Touch pressure sensitivity
  • Multi-finger interaction
  • Interactive controls
  • Screenshot functionality
Features
Read full description

variant:cascade is an audiovisual artwork that creates beautiful, ever-changing music and imagery. The app combines user input and built-in randomness to create images and music that will continually change, grow and evolve, offering a new and different experience every time. For users of all ages, variant:cascade is a chance to explore and experience a unique work of generative art. variant:cascade was specifically designed to take advantage of the 3D Touch sensor on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus: increased pressure on the phone’s screen will intensify and transform the visual and musical experience. To interact with variant:cascade, draw a line with your finger on the screen and the visuals will respond to your drawing. Pressing more deeply on the 3D Touch screen will change the width and speed of the visuals as well as transform the music. (Users on devices without 3D Touch can vary how much of their finger touches the screen to trigger this effect.) You can use multiple fingers to interact with variant:cascade, and each will independently influence the visuals and music. You can view the indeterminate audio engine by tapping the dot in the lower right. The display shows the different elements of the musical composition as they are loaded by the engine through a combination of chance and user input. The center button opens a menu of settings for the app, and the button to the right allows you to take screenshots of the visuals, automatically saving them to your photo library. The Variant apps are a new series of generative audiovisual artworks from Interval Studios featuring visuals by Joshue Ott and music by Kenneth Kirschner. Each Variant features a unique visual composition by Ott based on his superDraw visual performance software, as well as a new indeterminate musical composition by Kirschner. Each Variant app also offers a different set of interactive controls for the user, ranging from the ability to subtly influence the development of the piece to total interactive control over both visuals and sound. All of the Variants are generative artworks: through a varying combination of built-in randomness and user input, each Variant will continually grow and evolve over time without ever directly repeating itself either visually or musically, offering the user an ever-changing, ever-evolving audiovisual experience.

About

Nekompass

This app offers a unique compass experience where a playful cat interferes with your navigation. Interact with a rolling ball of yarn to capture your feline's attention, making accurate readings challenging. Additional cats and rooms can be unlocked through in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Interactive cat gameplay
  • Ball of yarn physics
  • Impractical compass functionality
  • Bubble level tool
  • Ehō compass
  • In-app shop for additional content
Read full description

A compass that cats just won't leave alone! Nekompass is a compass app where you can play with a cat while finding your bearings. On screen, you'll find one cat and a ball of yarn that rolls according to your device's orientation. Tilt your device left and right to roll the yarn around — and see if you can catch your cat's attention. But be warned! Once your cat decides to play with the yarn ball, getting an accurate reading becomes nearly impossible. They'll bat it around, paw it out of place, and refuse to let it go — rendering the compass utterly useless. It's the world's first thoroughly impractical compass. Additional cats and rooms are available for purchase in the in-app shop. Find your favorite feline companion! Also features a level (bubble level) and an Ehō compass — handy for Setsubun!

Screenshots

variant4 screens
Nekompass2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: variant at none against Nekompass's 2. variant also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Nekompass sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. variant asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
variant versus Nekompass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametervariantNekompass
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInterval StudiosAmaitorte

Customer experience

variant

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Nekompass

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

variant

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Nekompass

One-time2
  • Basic Cat Pack$0.99
  • Standard Cat Pack$0.99

Questions

Is variant free?
variant is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nekompass free?
Nekompass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do variant or Nekompass have ads?
Nekompass shows ads; variant does not.
Which is updated more often, variant or Nekompass?
variant ships an update every 3 weeks, and Nekompass every 3 weeks. Most recently, variant was updated on October 5, 2026 and Nekompass on September 30, 2026.

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