FracTree vs PatternLab
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FracTree
Explore the fascinating world of fractal trees with this intuitive iOS app. Experiment with different shapes and appearances using touch gestures and sliders. Save your creations and export them as high-quality images or PDFs.
- Intuitive touch controls for shape manipulation
- Sliders to alter tree appearance
- Manual value input for controls
- Random tree generation
- Save favorite fractal trees
- Export art as PNG, JPG, or PDF
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FracTree is the most "fun" you can have exploring fractal trees on your iOS device! FracTree is a fun and intuitive way to discover the magic of branching and algorithms. Drag, tap, and pinch to find your favorite one! Nifty features: • drag the control targets to easily change the tree shape • use the sliders to alter the tree appearance • tap and double-tap controls to manually enter values • tap the dice for a completely random one; surprise! • save your favorites for later retrieval • export your fractal tree art as png/jpg or resolution-independent pdf • super-handy guide Seriously though, I really dig stuff like this and I hope you'll like it too. That's why I made it!
PatternLab
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Discover the beauty of patterns. PatternLab is a creative sandbox for exploring cellular automata — simple rules that give rise to endless complexity. Inspired by Conway’s Game of Life, PatternLab lets you draw, experiment, and watch living patterns unfold in real time. Whether you’re curious about math, love puzzles, or just want to relax and watch mesmerizing shapes evolve, PatternLab makes science playful and accessible. Features: • Multiple rule sets: Conway, Seeds, Maze, Day & Night • Pre-built patterns: Glider, Blinker, Pulsar, and more • Custom drawing tools to create your own designs • Adjustable grid size and simulation speed • Color themes including high contrast & accessibility modes • Undo/redo support for fast experimentation Why you’ll love it: • Relax and watch infinite patterns evolve • Spark creativity with mathematical art • Learn about complex systems in a hands-on way PatternLab is perfect for students, creators, and anyone who enjoys interactive experiments. Dive in, play with rules, and see how small changes create surprising results.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: FracTree at 9.0 against PatternLab's 18.4. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | FracTree | PatternLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 18.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jeff Menter | CARLOS ANTONIO MURRIETA STEINMAN |
In-app purchases
FracTree
No in-app purchases
PatternLab
No in-app purchases









