# Distressed FX vs MainframePunch

The clearest difference is price: MainframePunch at Free against Distressed FX's $19.99. MainframePunch also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). Distressed FX's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 12 months). On rating, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

MainframePunch is free to download; Distressed FX costs $19.99 up front. Distressed FX sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. MainframePunch asks for nothing beyond the download.

MainframePunch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Distressed FX has 1.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Distressed FX ships an update every 3 months, MainframePunch every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Distressed FX | MainframePunch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distressed-fx-plus/id1441905750/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mainframepunch/id6751125827/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 72.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#154** | — |
| Size | 51 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [We Are Here](https://appshunter.io/developer/585702634) | [Thomas Gillan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828513781) |

## What reviewers say

### Distressed FX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distressed-fx-plus/id1441905750)

**Currently charting:** #154 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Transform ordinary photos into unique works of art with a vast collection of textures and overlays. This app offers exclusive access to all current and future filters and effects for a single payment, making photo editing accessible and creative.

**Highlights:** Access to all current and future filters, Exclusive new effects and features, Wide range of textured images and overlays, Transform mundane photos into art, Ideal for still life and landscape photography

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beyond Skies | Free | one-time |
| The Heavens | Free | one-time |
| Bokeh Illusions | Free | one-time |
| The Lights | Free | one-time |
| Artist Beginnings | Free | one-time |
| Box of colors | Free | one-time |
| Old World Gallery | Free | one-time |
| Obscure Textures | Free | one-time |
| Painterly Grunge | Free | one-time |
| Sky Beauty | Free | one-time |
| The Neutrals | Free | one-time |
| Vintage Collection | Free | one-time |
| Atmospheric Light | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Creative and artistic photo editing
- 🎨 Excellent texture and overlay options
- 💡 Customizable layers and blending modes
- 🎨 Ability to create unique digital art

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with new iOS versions
- 🐛 Crashing and download errors
- 🐛 Inability to restore previous purchases
- 🤔 Lack of clear instructions and tutorials

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to download or load certain textures/overlays
- App crashing when opening photos
- Saving edited photos at lower resolutions

**Requested features**

- Masking and selective editing tools
- Zoom and precise control for editing
- Ability to use app on Mac devices
- Improved customer support and communication


### MainframePunch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mainframepunch/id6751125827)

Transform your text into animated, retro punch-card videos with authentic hole patterns and sounds. Add custom captions, preview your creations, and share them instantly. All processing is done on your device for maximum privacy.

**Highlights:** Authentic 80-column punch card creation, Live preview and video recording, Customizable bottom caption, Synchronized punch audio, Automatic text flow across multiple cards, Adjustable animation speed and card scale, On-device processing for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Distressed FX free?

Distressed FX costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is MainframePunch free?

MainframePunch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Distressed FX or MainframePunch?

MainframePunch is rated higher. Distressed FX averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while MainframePunch averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Distressed FX or MainframePunch have ads?

Neither Distressed FX nor MainframePunch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Distressed FX or MainframePunch?

Distressed FX ships an update every 3 months, and MainframePunch every 12 months. Most recently, Distressed FX was updated on October 29, 2026 and MainframePunch on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*