Comparison

Particle Generator vs Layer

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

Head to head
About

Particle Generator

Features
Read full description

Particle Generator is an interactive particle visualizer with a video capturing option. You can create your own custom particle visual effects and record them in video mode. Lastly, you can use the video for creative purposes. Features: • 9 particle textures available for selection • Ability to set a custom texture by loading an image from the library • Touch to set particle emission position • Adjustable particle emitter options: Position, Angle, Speed, Alpha, Scale, and Rotation • Ability to set particle color gradient • Ability to set background color • Save/load particle presets • Save particle effect snapshots to the camera roll • Save particle effect videos to the camera roll Particle Settings Quick Explanation Emitter Birthrate = [100] particles born per second Maximum = [0] is infinite. If set to a specific number, e.g., [1000], particles will stop once the limit is reached Lifetime Start = [20] each particle lives for [20] seconds before disappearing Range = [5] each particle lives for 20 ± [5] seconds Position Range X = [80] particle birth range in width Y = [80] particle birth range in height Angle Start = [0] particle starting angle in degrees Range = [60] particle starts at 0 ± [60] degrees Speed Start = [50] moves at [50] velocity Range = [10] moves at 50 ± [10] velocity Acceleration X = [0] negative for acceleration to the left, positive for right Y = [0] negative for acceleration downward, positive for upward Alpha Start = [0.5] initial alpha value ([0] = transparent, [1] = opaque) Range = [0.3] alpha range: 0.5 ± [0.3] Speed = [-0.05] animates particle transparency (negative = more transparent, positive = more opaque) Scale Start = [0.5] initial scale Range = [0.2] scale range: 0.5 ± [0.2] Speed = [-0.05] animates particle size (negative = smaller, positive = larger) Rotation Start = [30.0] starting rotation angle in degrees Range = [120.0] rotation range: 30 ± [120] degrees Speed = [-0.02] animates rotation (negative = clockwise, positive = counterclockwise) Create distinctive, beautiful particle effects with plenty of customization options. You can create rain effects, fireworks, or any abstract art effect and enjoy the colorful particle show. This particle show brings joy and a cheerful atmosphere to your device. Thanks for your support, and do visit nitrio.com for more apps for your iOS devices.

About

Layer

Features
Read full description

Layer Art- is a studio for layered paper art. Choose a colour, place a shape, and watch a shadow fall exactly where it should. Every piece you place is remembered. When you're finished, play the whole build back as a stop-motion film — pieces springing into place, sliding into position, the artwork assembling from a blank page. It isn't a screen recording. Nothing is captured while you work, so there's no quality loss and no wasted space. The film is drawn fresh from your artwork, which means it's razor sharp at any size and you choose the pace afterwards. Save it, share it, or just watch it. Pick a piece up again next week and the film keeps growing with it. REAL DEPTH, NOT A DROP SHADOW Layer Art works because of light. Every shape you place sits at its own height above the page — measured in millimetres, like foam tape behind real card. • One light source for the whole piece, so nothing ever looks pasted on • A soft depth shadow and a tight contact shadow, the way paper actually behaves • Move the sun and every shadow in the artwork turns to follow it • Three depth styles: Soft, Crisp and Flat • Fine control over shadow size, distance and opacity when you want it HUNDREDS OF SHAPES Nearly 400 pieces to cut from, all vector, all recolourable, all sharp at any size. Ferns, leaves, split leaves, grass, tendrils, branches • Trunks, sticks, logs, driftwood • Flowers, clover, mushrooms • Mountains, hills, pebbles • Clouds, suns, moons • Waves, fish, whales • Birds, butterflies, cats, owls, bunnies • Arches, frames, rings • Stars, blobs, hearts, sparkles WORDS, CARDS AND MESSAGES The full alphabet and numbers, cut from paper in two styles. Not typed text — real letterforms you colour, rotate, layer and lift like any other piece. Which makes something rather good possible: build a card, spell a message, and the timelapse becomes the reveal. The words appear one letter at a time. BUILD FROM A PHOTO Bring in a photo two ways. Trace mode sits it faintly underneath as a guide and never appears in the export. Frame mode makes it part of the artwork, so you can build a paper frame around a photo you love. A GALLERY WORTH SCROLLING Your work lives on a wall, not in a list. Cards keep each piece's real proportions and carry the same paper shadow the artwork does. Tap one and it grows into full screen, where the background takes on that artwork's own colour. THE WALL, USER SHOWCASE Users can submit there artwork for display on the wall, All artwork submitted is moderated for approval before going on the wall, all images uploaded, are kept 100% private and never shared anywhere besides inside the App. Users can report images, all reports are moderated as well, and reviewed. Then action taken. Users can also add there social media link, if maybe they are doing creative tutorials, any form of art channels. Users may wish have a look. Artwork in the Showcase, can be tapped and then watched how that user put it all together. Showcase is designed for showing of created artwork and also a great way for other users to see how it was made. PRIVACY All artwork images , created in the App stay on your device, only exception is if you choose to have your work displayed in the show case then that is submitted to a secure database as a file not an image, all images are sent by file and encrypted. For privacy. MADE FOR MAKING • Curated tonal palettes, because five greens beat five hundred • Merge pieces into one and move them together • Layers you can drag, lock, reorder and unlock • Snapping to centre lines and angles, switchable • Full undo and redo • Autosaves constantly — nothing is ever lost • Send an artwork to a friend as a file they can open and keep building • Export a picture or a film straight to your photos

Screenshots

Particle Generator4 screens
Layer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Layer at every 3 weeks against Particle Generator's every 38 months. Layer also leads on price ($0.99 vs $2.99). Particle Generator's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.6). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Particle Generator costs $2.99 and Layer $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Particle Generator ships an update every 38 months, Layer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
Particle Generator versus Layer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterParticle GeneratorLayer
Price$2.99$0.99 — better
Update frequencyEvery 38 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHeng Jia Liangadam rogan

In-app purchases

None

Particle Generator

No in-app purchases

None

Layer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Particle Generator free?
Particle Generator costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Layer free?
Layer costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Particle Generator or Layer have ads?
Neither Particle Generator nor Layer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Particle Generator or Layer?
Particle Generator ships an update every 38 months, and Layer every 3 weeks. Most recently, Particle Generator was updated on October 10, 2026 and Layer on October 9, 2026.

Other comparisons