Light Strokes vs Phorma
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Light Strokes
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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
Phorma
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Create stunning generative art with Phorma. No coding required and no AI involved. Generate unlimited unique designs with a few simple taps. Features: • 10 Algorithms to choose from: Each offers a unique artistic style. More coming soon! • Customizable parameters: Adjust settings like color, line weight, and tile size for endless combinations. • Pick colors your way: Use a minimal picker or the full system color picker. • Autogenerate designs: Hit play to generate new designs on a timer. • Full screen mode: Hide controls to immerse yourself in your creations. • Save & Share: Easily save your art or share your designs with friends.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Phorma at none against Light Strokes's 2. Phorma also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 10 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Light Strokes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price and 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
Both are free to download. Light Strokes sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Phorma asks for nothing beyond the download.
Light Strokes ships an update every 10 months, Phorma every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 20, 2026.
| Parameter | Light Strokes | Phorma |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Richard Greene | Jose Villegas |
In-app purchases
Light Strokes
- 14-Day Trial of All FeaturesFree
- Unlock All Features$4.99
Phorma
No in-app purchases








