Comparison

Mao Brush vs MoniCon

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

Head to head
About

Mao Brush

This app offers a realistic digital simulation of Chinese calligraphy, bringing traditional art to the modern age. Experience the unique splash and artistic charm of brushstrokes on rice paper anytime, anywhere. Create and save your own brush calligraphy works.

Highlights
  • Realistic brush and rice paper simulation
  • Adjustable brush size
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Brush flying-white simulation
  • Save works to photo library
  • Replay writing process
Read full description

Mao Brush realistically simulated the writing effect of Chinese brush + rice paper, the focus is on bringing the traditional Chinese calligraphy art to the digital age. Chinese calligraphy is an ancient character writing art, which from oracle bone inscriptions to cursive, calligraphy has always exuded artistic charm. Chinese calligraphy is a very unique visual art, and the unique cultural beauty can be experienced and felt by more people with the help of digital technology! The WebGPU-based (wgpu-rs) brush engine uses fluid simulation to achieve the unique expression of the brush. You can use it to experience the splash of Chinese calligraphy anytime, anywhere, and create brush calligraphy works. Features: * A Chinese traditional calligraphy writing tool; * Adjustable brush size; * Undo / redo; * Brush flying-white simulate; * Write Chinese new year "福"; * Appreciation (replaying the writing process); * Save works to Save your work to the photo library; * Support for iPad Pro; For a more enjoyable calligraphy effect, it is recommended to use on iPhone6s & iPad Air and above.

About

MoniCon

Transform your iPad into an HDMI monitor for console gaming. Features AI-powered super resolution, color filters, and real-time diagnostics. Offers a fluid, nostalgic user interface for an enhanced gaming experience.

Highlights
  • iPad as HDMI console monitor
  • AI-powered super resolution (MagicSR)
  • Customizable color filters
  • Capture and preview video
  • Manage resolution and frame rate
  • Fullscreen immersive style
Features
Read full description

Introducing MoniCon — an app that transforms your iPad into an HDMI monitor! Harness the potent combination of MoniCon’s robust features and a video capture card to effortlessly play your favorite console games on the sleek display of your iPad. MoniCon also brings you mighty utilities such as MagicSR (AI-fueled super resolution), Color Filters, and real-time diagnostic information. All these handy functions are seamlessly packaged into an elegant, fluid, and nostalgically designed user interface that makes your gaming experience even better. Try MoniCon for FREE now! Key Features: • Capture and preview video with UVC compatible capture cards. • MagicSR: AI-powered super resolution enhancing game rendering. • Color Filter: Customize content color to match your taste. • Manage capture resolution and frame rate. • Fullscreen immersive style. Requirements: • An USB-C iPad with iOS 17 or higher. • An UVC compatible capture card. • Any HDMI output device that can work together with the capture card (like gaming console, camera, etc.).

Screenshots

Mao Brush4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MoniCon at 100% against Mao Brush's 50%. MoniCon also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Mao Brush's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MoniCon holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 22 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Mao Brush's written reviews are positive against 100% of MoniCon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mao Brush ships an update weekly, MoniCon every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Mao Brush versus MoniCon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMao BrushMoniCon
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (21 ratings)4.9 (22 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2122 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer金磊 李星佑 李

Customer experience

Mao Brush

All ratings18 ratings
Positive72.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

MoniCon

All ratings19 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral5.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Mao Brush

No in-app purchases

None

MoniCon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mao Brush free?
Mao Brush is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MoniCon free?
MoniCon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mao Brush or MoniCon?
MoniCon is rated higher. Mao Brush averages 4.1 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while MoniCon averages 4.9 from 22 ratings.
Do Mao Brush or MoniCon have ads?
Neither Mao Brush nor MoniCon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mao Brush or MoniCon?
Mao Brush ships an update weekly, and MoniCon every 2 days. Most recently, Mao Brush was updated on October 24, 2026 and MoniCon on October 24, 2026.

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