ShaderMania vs yxcode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
ShaderMania
Create, edit, and share Metal shaders with a live coding environment and real-time preview. Explore a database of public and tutorial shaders, connect nodes to build complex effects, and export your creations. A physical keyboard is recommended for optimal use.
- Live coding of Metal fragment shaders
- Real-time preview and playback
- Node-based shader creation
- Public shader database
- Tutorial shaders with video links
- Export shader output to PNG
- Syntax checking and error display
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Create, edit, render, share, and learn Metal shaders with ShaderMania for iPad. ShaderMania is a visual Metal shader editor for iPadOS. Write fragment shaders with realtime preview and playback, organize shaders and images as nodes, connect shader inputs, expose parameters as sliders, and export rendered images. ShaderMania also includes a public shader library with examples and tutorial shaders, including links to explanation videos where available. ShaderMania is free to use. Optional tips are available if you want to support development. A physical keyboard is recommended for coding shaders on iPad. Features โข Live Metal fragment shader editing with realtime preview and playback. โข Visual node graph for shader and image nodes. โข Connect shader nodes to build reusable shader chains. โข Named shader input slots declared directly in shader source code. โข Parameter annotations for sliders and live UI controls. โข Realtime syntax checking, compiler errors, and warnings. โข Render to custom resolutions and export PNG images. โข Undo and redo for common node graph edits. Shader Library โข Browse public shader examples and tutorial shaders. โข Add shaders from the library to your own projects. โข Upload useful, inspectable shader work to the public library.
yxcode
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yxcode turns your iPad into a coding workspace. Edit local files for free, or connect to your Mac, Windows PC, or Linux server to work with the projects and tools you already use. LOCAL EDITING, FREE Browse, edit, and search local files without a subscription. Organize your work with an explorer, tabs, split editors, and project search. YOUR DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT, WHEREVER YOU ARE Review code, investigate a server issue, work on assignments, or run deployment scripts from your iPad. Connect over SSH and keep using the compilers, dependencies, shell settings, and build tools on your remote computer. REMOTE DEVELOPMENT FEATURES โข Remote Projects Browse, edit, and search projects on compatible macOS, Windows, and Linux hosts. โข Integrated Remote Terminal Build projects, run tests, install dependencies, inspect logs, and execute scripts using your familiar remote shell. โข Git Workflows Inspect diffs, stage changes, create commits, review history, manage branches, and synchronize repositories. โข X11 Applications Display compatible remote graphical applications on your iPad. Support depends on the host operating system, application, and X11 configuration. โข Extensions Use compatible extensions for language tooling, themes, and development workflows. Completion, diagnostics, formatting, and navigation depend on the extension and installed tools. โข AI Tools in Your Terminal Run compatible CLI-based AI coding assistants installed on your remote computer. Provider accounts, subscriptions, and usage charges are separate. CHOOSE YOUR REMOTE ACCESS PLAN Local editing is free. Unlock the included remote development features with one of three options: โข yxcode Plus Monthly โ an auto-renewable monthly subscription. โข yxcode Plus Yearly โ an auto-renewable yearly subscription. โข yxcode Core Lifetime โ a one-time purchase for permanent access to the included remote features. Eligible customers may receive an introductory free trial when offered. Trial duration and the subscription price after the trial are shown before purchase. A free trial converts to a paid subscription unless cancelled. Payment is charged to your Apple Account upon confirmation of purchase, except where a free trial applies. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the current period ends. Prices vary by region. Manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple Account settings. View plans and restore eligible purchases from Help > Purchases & Subscriptions. ALREADY PURCHASED YXCODE? Eligible customers who purchased the paid version of yxcode 1.0 retain permanent access to the included remote development features without a subscription. If your purchase is not recognized, use Restore Purchases with the Apple Account used to buy the app before purchasing another plan. LANGUAGE SUPPORT The interface is available in English. Syntax highlighting supports JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C, C++, C#, Swift, Rust, Go, Java, PHP, Ruby, HTML, CSS, JSON, YAML, Markdown, shell scripts, and more. Advanced language features depend on compatible extensions and installed tools. BEFORE YOU CONNECT Remote development requires a reachable computer with SSH enabled, appropriate permissions, and the necessary development tools. Some workflows also require SFTP or additional host configuration. Compilers, runtimes, and terminal commands execute on your remote computer. Free local editing does not include a local terminal. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://yxcode.net/privacy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: yxcode at every 8 days against ShaderMania's every 16 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. ShaderMania sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and yxcode sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ShaderMania ships an update every 16 months, yxcode every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ShaderMania | yxcode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | โ |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | Every 8 days โ better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | โ |
| Devices | iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.6 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 138 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Markus Moenig | ็ๆณ ๅง |
In-app purchases
ShaderMania
- Small Tip$1.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$9.99
yxcode
- Plus Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Plus Yearly14 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Core Lifetime$19.99









