# Panoply vs Distressed FX

The clearest difference is price: Panoply at Free against Distressed FX's $19.99. Panoply also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 72%). Distressed FX's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Panoply is free to download; Distressed FX costs $19.99 up front. Panoply sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Distressed FX sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Distressed FX holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Distressed FX has 1.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Panoply's written reviews are positive against 72% of Distressed FX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Panoply ships an update every 2 weeks, Distressed FX every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Panoply | Distressed FX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $19.99 |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panoply/id350710492/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distressed-fx-plus/id1441905750/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 72.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#192** |
| Size | 47 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Protolys Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/290001406) | [We Are Here](https://appshunter.io/developer/585702634) |

## What reviewers say

### Panoply

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panoply/id350710492)

Create multimedia projects like business cards, presentations, and music videos with interactive elements. This app allows you to combine text, images, audio, and video, and share your creations in various formats. It also offers tools for capturing panoramic views and managing media resources efficiently.

**Highlights:** Create multimedia projects (cards, presentations, videos), Composite text, images, audio, and video, Interactive 'On Touch Do' directives, Searchable composite library, Share creations via email or Bluetooth, Panoramic photo capture assistance, Portfolio creation and management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Audio Recording | $0.99 | one-time |
| Graphics Bundle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Add iTunes Music to Play on Touch | $0.99 | one-time |
| Maps in composite | $0.99 | one-time |
| Complete bundle. | $3.99 | one-time |
| Complete bundle with automatic future new in-app purchases for free | $3.99 | one-time |


### Distressed FX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distressed-fx-plus/id1441905750)

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Transform ordinary photos into unique works of art with a vast collection of textures and overlays. This app offers exclusive access to all current and future filters and effects for a single payment, making photo editing accessible and creative.

**Highlights:** Access to all current and future filters, Exclusive new effects and features, Wide range of textured images and overlays, Transform mundane photos into art, Ideal for still life and landscape photography

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beyond Skies | Free | one-time |
| The Heavens | Free | one-time |
| Bokeh Illusions | Free | one-time |
| The Lights | Free | one-time |
| Box of colors | Free | one-time |
| Old World Gallery | Free | one-time |
| Painterly Grunge | Free | one-time |
| The Neutrals | Free | one-time |
| Vintage Collection | Free | one-time |
| Atmospheric Light | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Creative and artistic photo editing
- 🎨 Excellent texture and overlay options
- 💡 Customizable layers and blending modes
- 🎨 Ability to create unique digital art

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with new iOS versions
- 🐛 Crashing and download errors
- 🐛 Inability to restore previous purchases
- 🤔 Lack of clear instructions and tutorials

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to download or load certain textures/overlays
- App crashing when opening photos
- Saving edited photos at lower resolutions

**Requested features**

- Masking and selective editing tools
- Zoom and precise control for editing
- Ability to use app on Mac devices
- Improved customer support and communication


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Panoply free?

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

### Is Distressed FX free?

Distressed FX costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Panoply or Distressed FX?

Distressed FX is rated higher. Panoply averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Distressed FX averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Panoply or Distressed FX have ads?

Neither Panoply nor Distressed FX shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Panoply or Distressed FX?

Panoply ships an update every 2 weeks, and Distressed FX every 3 months. Most recently, Panoply was updated on November 1, 2026 and Distressed FX on November 6, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
