# Simply HDR vs Spiral Painter

The clearest difference is rating: Simply HDR at 4.8 against Spiral Painter's 3.8. Simply HDR also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 13). On review sentiment, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Simply HDR costs $2.99 and Spiral Painter $3.99 up front. Spiral Painter sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Simply HDR asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simply HDR holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simply HDR has 1.5K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Simply HDR's written reviews are positive against 78% of Spiral Painter's.

Simply HDR ships an update every 2 months, Spiral Painter every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simply HDR | Spiral Painter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-hdr/id438948516/reviews)** | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spiral-painter/id485097475/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **81.2% of reviews** | 78.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 51 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JixiPix, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/380605671) | [Anatoly Weinstein](https://appshunter.io/developer/385589772) |

## What reviewers say

### Simply HDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-hdr/id438948516)

Transform ordinary photos into vibrant HDR images with exceptional light and detail. This app offers a powerful HDR engine, presets, and adjustable controls to create stunning, artistic, or realistic HDR effects easily.

**Highlights:** Powerful HDR engine, Adjustable controls for HDR, color, vignette, and grain, HDR presets for one-click results, Save custom presets for consistent workflow, Six HDR styles (Realistic, B&W, Contrasted, etc.), Library of artistic color gradients

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Great photo effects
- 💫 Produces stunning results
- 🔥 Addictive app
- 🌟 Excellent HDR app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes/doesn't work
- 🚫 Not true HDR
- 📉 Poor image quality
- 🔍 Limited features
- 🔧 Needs more customization

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iOS 15 update
- Buttons/controls not working properly
- Compatibility issues with newer devices
- Slow save times
- Screen controls get corrupted

**Requested features**

- Ability to merge multiple exposures
- More filters and editing options
- Improved performance and stability
- Rotate image before saving
- Higher export resolution


### Spiral Painter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spiral-painter/id485097475)

Create unique spiral art with a specialized brush tool. This app allows for intricate curve designs on your photos and drawings, with features like layers, custom brushes, and gradient support. Achieve impressive results quickly and easily.

**Highlights:** Spiral brush tool, Multiple layers, Customised brushes, Gradient support, Transparency support, Multiple undo/redo

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| From 3 to 5 layers | $1.99 | one-time |
| From 5 to 8 layers | $2.99 | one-time |
| From 3 to 8 layers | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simply HDR free?

Simply HDR costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Spiral Painter free?

Spiral Painter costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Simply HDR or Spiral Painter?

Simply HDR is rated higher. Simply HDR averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Spiral Painter averages 3.8 from 13 ratings.

### Do Simply HDR or Spiral Painter have ads?

Neither Simply HDR nor Spiral Painter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simply HDR or Spiral Painter?

Simply HDR ships an update every 2 months, and Spiral Painter every 6 months. Most recently, Simply HDR was updated on October 26, 2026 and Spiral Painter on October 23, 2026.

---

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