Comparison

Luminancer vs DU

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

Head to head
About

Luminancer

Create abstract video art with this powerful app inspired by analog synthesizers. Ideal for live performances, music videos, or artistic expression. It uses a luminance threshold filter and a unique video processing pipeline to generate stunning visual effects.

Highlights
  • Analog synth-inspired video effects
  • Live performance ready
  • Luminance threshold filter
  • Abstract video processing pipeline
  • Enhance VJ rigs
  • Create music videos
Features
Read full description

Luminancer is a powerful one of a kind video effects app. It's modeled after classic analog synth hardware and is designed for live performances . It could be just the app you need to enhance a live VJ rig, create a music video, or just spend a moment manifesting yourself in the Luminiferous aether This is the app for masters of lightwave painting. Luminancer has been in the app store for 5 years and has been recognized for it’s early innovation and high performance. Skilled artists have utilized Luminancer in the flow arts of poi, fire, and hoop dancing. Luminancer can be found in use on the stage for headliner bands at major musical festivals and at the most underground rave parties. How it works: By overloading the luminance channel with strobing colors and video feedback, Luminancer defines itself as an instrument of abstract video. Luminancer starts with a luminance threshold filter and sends it’s signal down a video processing pipeline modeled after the early innovations and machines of the pioneers of video art. Luminancer is a truly independent app. It was conceived, developed, and designed by a single real person without any sort of external help or funding. The money raised from this app quite literally goes towards feeding my 2 children thank you and God bless.

About

DU

Transform videos into extreme digital art with 37 unique filters. This experimental app allows you to digitally mangle and twist footage, creating unique visual effects. Save any frame as a still image or export the entire glitched-out video.

Highlights
  • 37 exclusive video filters
  • Apply filters in infinite combinations
  • Arrange video effects stack manually
  • Blend glitched video with original
  • Randomize filters for unique chaos
  • Save affected video frames as stills
Features
Read full description

:: DESTROY MOTION GRAPHICS ::: Transform any video into extreme digital art. Play on the intoxicating fringes of glitch video with 37 exclusive video filters. Be creative. Push the boundaries. Legendary music label Detroit Underground presents a totally new tool by the creator of DECIM8, designed to digitally mangle and twist your videos. DU-VFX is an experimental app for experimental people. The line-crossers, the button-pushers, the ones who don’t fit into basic boxes. Load up any video from your camera roll. Tap the randomize effects button. Find a VFX filter combination that makes your content POP - or explode into digital fragments of its former self. Scan through the frames of your video and export any affected frame as a still image. Activate and arrange the effects stack manually or rely completely on the nature of chaos - the choice is yours. • Load any video from your camera roll as source material • Apply 37 insane video filters in infinite combinations • Arrange and activate a video effects stack manually • Blend the glitched-out version with the original in 22 blend modes • Randomize filters for unique chaos • Optionally, parameters can drift and change over time • Save any effected video frame as a still image WARNING! THIS APP IS CAPABLE OF COMPLETELY DESTROYING A VIDEO. (You keep the original, of course!) If this doesn't appeal to you, there are LOTS of apps out there to provide all the "safe" effects you could ever want. If you're looking for something more, something new and unpredictable.. capable of making art that's challenging yet beautiful, then you are in the right place. Note : Currently video rendering must happen while the app is in the foreground. iOS may kill the app if backgrounded during render. We're looking into the best way around this.

Screenshots

Luminancer2 screens
DU4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DU at Free against Luminancer's $2.99. DU also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.9). Luminancer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 4 months). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

DU is free to download; Luminancer costs $2.99 up front. DU sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Luminancer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DU holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Luminancer's written reviews are positive against 71% of DU's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Luminancer ships an update every 6 days, DU every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Luminancer versus DU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLuminancerDU
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (16 ratings)4.5 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.9% of reviews70.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1632 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#187 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB17 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperTron QuixoteKris Collins

Customer experience

Luminancer

All ratings16 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral18.8%
Negative18.8%
Written reviews108 reviews
Positive63.9%
Neutral9.3%
Negative26.9%

DU

All ratings32 ratings
Positive81.3%
Neutral9.4%
Negative9.4%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative23.5%

Bugs and requests

Luminancer

Reported bugs

55 issues
  • Camera won't work
  • Video import crops/squeezes image
  • App zooms in on videos
  • Switches back to square video size
  • Paid features don't work
Show 50 more
  • App is unusable
  • Videos zoomed in and cannot zoom out
  • App crashes and exits
  • App glitches and deletes videos
  • App freezes
  • Video not loading/saving/rewatching
  • App stuck on loading screen or crashes
  • App doesn't like videos over a minute
  • App ends up stuck on loading screen after recording
  • App crashes altogether
  • Videos are compressed and stretched
  • Settings are confusing
  • App crashes and exits the app
  • App crashes and doesn't save videos
  • App crashes after a minute or two
  • Video comes out upside down
  • Error saving to phone library
  • App crashes when putting video from camera roll
  • App saves videos upside down
  • App is slow at exporting videos
  • Update has broken the app
  • App force closes
  • App won't save edited versions
  • App shows error message and won't save recordings
  • App not loading videos taken
  • App loads indefinitely, not allowing playback
  • Videos save upside down
  • App stops recording when phone auto-locks
  • App crashes as soon as phone auto-locks
  • App crashes 3 times on first use
  • App says error and won't save to phone
  • App crashes or tells error while processing
  • App crashes regularly
  • App doesn't let user set phone down and record
  • Phone goes black and video doesn't save
  • App gets stuck on loading screen until it crashes
  • Cannot save anything longer than about 2 minutes
  • Cannot save uploaded videos
  • App crashes on auto lock
  • App crashes when phone auto locks
  • App freezes upon opening
  • App doesn't work at all
  • Camera shows dark screen
  • App crashes on auto lock
  • App crashes when phone auto locks
  • App crashes and doesn't always save videos
  • App crashes regularly
  • App doesn't load images from library
  • App doesn't record audio on video capture
  • Swap button does not appear on iPhone 4

Requested features

17 requests
  • Add scales to Decay and Threshold controls
  • Add more modules/effects
  • Allow importing videos from library
  • Add a dark mode option
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard
Show 12 more
  • Improve video import/cropping behavior
  • Add ability to save presets
  • Add input/output feature for external ins and outs
  • Add a specific DATA-MOSH filter
  • Add sound to light feature
  • Make UI hideable
  • Add landscape mode support
  • Add exposure slider and locker
  • Allow selection of main color for effects
  • Add ability to record audio
  • Add ability to upload pictures
  • Add ability to use AirPlay

DU

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Luminancer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

DU

One-time1
  • Still Image Export$0.99

Questions

Is Luminancer free?
Luminancer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DU free?
DU is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Luminancer or DU?
DU is rated higher. Luminancer averages 3.9 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while DU averages 4.5 from 32 ratings.
Do Luminancer or DU have ads?
Neither Luminancer nor DU shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Luminancer or DU?
Luminancer ships an update every 6 days, and DU every 4 months. Most recently, Luminancer was updated on September 29, 2026 and DU on September 23, 2026.

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