# Diptic vs Distressed FX

The clearest difference is price: Diptic at $2.99 against Distressed FX's $19.99. Diptic also leads on chart position (#36 vs #164) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). Distressed FX's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Diptic costs $2.99 and Distressed FX $19.99 up front. Diptic sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Distressed FX sells 13 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 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3K and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of Diptic'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.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diptic | Distressed FX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $19.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diptic/id377989827/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distressed-fx-plus/id1441905750/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | **74.1% of reviews** | 72.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#36** | #164 |
| Size | 22 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rhia Bucklin](https://appshunter.io/developer/6773141754) | [We Are Here](https://appshunter.io/developer/585702634) |

## What reviewers say

### Diptic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diptic/id377989827)

**Currently charting:** #36 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Create stunning photo and video collages with a vast array of customizable layouts and editing tools. Personalize your creations with text, filters, and borders, then share them across your favorite social platforms.

**Highlights:** Photo and video collage creation, 194+ customizable layouts, Text captions with font/color options, 14 filters and image adjustments, Video editing with music, Import from multiple sources, High-resolution export

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Expandable Layouts | $0.99 | one-time |
| Diamond + Triangles Layout Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Alphabet Layout Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Numbers Layout Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Party Texture Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fun Times Texture Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Video Watermark Removal | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Versatile and creative
- 👍 Useful for various purposes
- 👍 Straightforward interface
- 👍 Great for photo collages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes and crashes
- 🐛 Photos not loading properly
- 🐛 Exporting/saving issues
- 🔒 Watermark removal requires in-app purchase
- 🔒 Paid features not worth the cost

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to select multiple photos
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Inconsistent performance across devices

**Requested features**

- More layout options and flexibility
- Ability to save and edit previous collages
- Improved text editing capabilities
- Direct social media sharing
- Removal of watermark without additional cost


### Distressed FX

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

**Currently charting:** #164 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 (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beyond Skies | Free | one-time |
| The Heavens | Free | one-time |
| Bokeh Illusions | Free | one-time |
| The Lights | Free | one-time |
| Artist Beginnings | Free | one-time |
| Box of colors | Free | one-time |
| Old World Gallery | Free | one-time |
| Obscure Textures | Free | one-time |
| Painterly Grunge | Free | one-time |
| Sky Beauty | 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 Diptic free?

Diptic costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Distressed FX free?

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

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

Distressed FX is rated higher. Diptic averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Distressed FX averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Diptic or Distressed FX have ads?

Neither Diptic nor Distressed FX shows ads.

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

Diptic ships an update every 3 months, and Distressed FX every 3 months. Most recently, Diptic was updated on October 17, 2026 and Distressed FX on October 16, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Diptic or Distressed FX?

Diptic currently peaks at #36 in the App Store charts, and Distressed FX at #164. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*