Comparison

Pattern Bliss vs Light Strokes

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

Head to head
About

Pattern Bliss

Features
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Pattern Bliss is a unique graphic design tool that generates limitless seamlessly tiling abstract patterns. Create background patterns for brochures, designs for coloring books, custom wrapping paper, and even wrap frames around your own photos. Want instant results? Simply tap the Randomize button to instantly create new beautiful designs. Want to sculpt and play? Adjust those sliders to gently change the patterns to suit your needs: Simple to ornate, Boxy to swirly... it offers limitless possibilities and beauty. These flowing abstract patterns can be simple or complex, colored or Black-and-White lines, single panel or seamlessly repeating. There are so many things you can create with them... here are just a few ideas: * Make unique patterns for brainstorming new artwork ideas. * Make backdrops and add your own artwork over them. * Use the patterns as templates for gilding, electro-plating, silk-screening, or 3D printing. * Generate ornate "Picture Frames" to lay over your own image/photo. * Make seamless tile artwork assets for wall or floor textures in your computer games. * Create abstract artwork for coloring book pages. * Create a variety of striking slide backdrops for presentations. Here are some features that put Pattern Bliss at the top of the list as an outstanding abstract pattern generator. * Quickly create thousands of wildly unique royalty-free patterns. * Share your patterns quickly via e-mail or social media. * Easily export the images as PNG or JPG, in sizes ranging from 100x100 up to 4000x4000 pixels for high resolution publication in your own books, newsletters, social media/blog, or classroom handouts. * Open a "hole" in a pattern to turn it into an ornate border to add over your photos or artwork. * "Bookmark" up to 50 of your favorite patterns for immediately popping back to any time. * Shake your iPhone or iPad to get a new pattern (feature not available on the Macintosh, it is not meant to be shaken!) * Supports Dark Mode and Full-Screen mode. * Work without a net... You can run Pattern Bliss anywhere... you never need an internet connection to create and export patterns. * Includes a comprehensive User Guide that contains over 20 pages of tutorials and tips and describes every option, getting you up-to-speed right away. Advanced features are explained, helping you create high-quality fun patterns.

About

Light Strokes

Features
Read full description

This is the only app that lets you paint with whatever your iPad’s video camera sees. Create artwork instantly by aiming it at people, pets, flowers dancing in the wind, whatever. With Light Strokes, the world is your paintbrush! FEATURES & BENEFITS: • Adjust the camera settings (exposure, zoom, etc.) to paint with just what you want • Choose colors and set transparency, so that paint builds up at the speed you’d like • Blend colors along your “brush”, or use its edges to add texture, or do both at once • Turn on dissolve, so that you can keep on painting without ever filling the screen • Turn on mirroring to give symmetry to everything you paint • Swipe right to pause painting while you line up your next shot • Save your pictures or share them directly from the app EXTRA FEATURES available with in-app purchase or free trial: • Save combinations of colors and effects for quick and easy retrieval later • Automatically make small random color adjustments, to add variety • Import photos or other images to paint on • Undo painted strokes made in error, or redo them DEMO: • See a demonstration of the app (with and without special hardware for more natural painting) at https://youtu.be/S-s2kmsSa9w SUPPORT: • See the user guide at https://lightstrokes.com/Light Strokes for iPad User Guide v3.pdf • Send email to help@lightstrokes.com

Screenshots

Pattern Bliss4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Light Strokes at Free against Pattern Bliss's $4.99. Light Strokes also leads on update cadence (every 10 months vs every 22 months). Pattern Bliss's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#190 vs unranked). On ads 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

Light Strokes is free to download; Pattern Bliss costs $4.99 up front. Light Strokes sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Pattern Bliss asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pattern Bliss ships an update every 22 months, Light Strokes every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and May 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 1 level
Pattern Bliss versus Light Strokes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPattern BlissLight Strokes
Price$4.99Free — better
Update frequencyEvery 22 monthsEvery 10 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Best chart rank#190 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEduard SchwanRichard Greene

In-app purchases

None

Pattern Bliss

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Light Strokes

One-time2
  • 14-Day Trial of All FeaturesFree
  • Unlock All Features$4.99

Questions

Is Pattern Bliss free?
Pattern Bliss costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Light Strokes free?
Light Strokes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pattern Bliss or Light Strokes have ads?
Neither Pattern Bliss nor Light Strokes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pattern Bliss or Light Strokes?
Pattern Bliss ships an update every 22 months, and Light Strokes every 10 months. Most recently, Pattern Bliss was updated on September 12, 2026 and Light Strokes on May 16, 2026.

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