# Atkinson vs Artistic String

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Atkinson at 71% against Artistic String's 0%. Atkinson also leads on rating (3.3 vs 1.0) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Artistic String's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Atkinson sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Artistic String sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Atkinson holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Atkinson has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Atkinson's written reviews are positive against 0% of Artistic String's.

Atkinson ships an update monthly, Artistic String every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Atkinson | Artistic String |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atkinson/id1569487124/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artistic-string-string-art/id6444849887/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **71.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tsutomu Koyachi](https://appshunter.io/developer/413497532) | [Kiem Pham Dinh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1657129722) |

## What reviewers say

### Atkinson

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atkinson/id1569487124)

This app processes photos using the Atkinson dithering algorithm, originally used for black and white displays on old Macintosh computers. It creates small file-sized images with options for square cropping, rounded corners, and white borders, offering a real-time preview of the effect.

**Highlights:** Atkinson dithering algorithm processing, Square photo output, Toggleable rounded corners, White border option, Real-time preview

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Standard Year | $9.99 | per year |


### Artistic String

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artistic-string-string-art/id6444849887)

Design intricate string art with monochrome and multicolor drawing modes. This app offers a unique way to create visual art using virtual threads. Explore your creativity with a simple yet powerful interface.

**Highlights:** String art creation, Monochrome drawing mode, Multicolor drawing mode, Unique thread art designs, Intuitive interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Atkinson free?

Atkinson is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Artistic String free?

Artistic String is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Atkinson or Artistic String?

Atkinson is rated higher. Atkinson averages 3.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Artistic String averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Atkinson or Artistic String have ads?

Atkinson shows ads; Artistic String does not.

### Which is updated more often, Atkinson or Artistic String?

Atkinson ships an update monthly, and Artistic String every 2 months. Most recently, Atkinson was updated on June 5, 2026 and Artistic String on June 1, 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.*