# PicCollage vs Gradient Shape, Mask Editor

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PicCollage at 91% against Gradient Shape, Mask Editor's 0%. PicCollage also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (1.8M vs 1). Gradient Shape, Mask Editor's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PicCollage sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Gradient Shape, Mask Editor sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Gradient Shape, Mask Editor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PicCollage has 1.8M ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of PicCollage's written reviews are positive against 0% of Gradient Shape, Mask Editor's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PicCollage ships an update every 3 weeks, Gradient Shape, Mask Editor every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PicCollage | Gradient Shape, Mask Editor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piccollage-magic-photo-editor/id448639966/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradient-shape-mask-editor/id1046974468/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8M** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **91.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#24** | — |
| Size | 211 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cardinal Blue](https://appshunter.io/developer/381057842) | [Nadejda Toma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1046778627) |

## What reviewers say

### PicCollage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piccollage-magic-photo-editor/id448639966)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #45 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Create personalized photo collages, cards, and video slideshows. Easily edit photos and videos with filters, cutouts, and animations. Personalize your designs with fonts, stickers, and backgrounds for any occasion.

**Highlights:** Create collages and cards, Edit photos and videos, Use ready-to-use layouts and templates, Personalize with fonts and stickers, Add videos to collages, AI-powered background removal, Curved text editor

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual | $35.99 | per year |
| Annual VIP for Collage Makers | $35.99 | per year |
| Party | $0.99 | one-time |
| Christmas Pattern Backgrounds | $0.99 | one-time |
| Words | $0.99 | one-time |
| Accessories | $0.99 | one-time |
| XOXO shape pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| *Bling Bling* | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Watermark and Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Glitter Party Backgrounds | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Easy to use
- 🎨 Lots of creative features
- 🤳 Great for making collages and cards
- 🌟 Awesome app overall
- 🎉 Fun and inspiring

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Too many premium features
- 🔒 Frustrating to be limited by VIP access
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Difficult to find specific stickers/backgrounds
- 🙄 Annoying pop-ups about VIP subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Collages randomly disappearing or getting deleted
- Layered text elements getting hidden
- Slow performance and crashes on certain devices
- Issues with restoring in-app purchases

**Requested features**

- More free stickers and backgrounds
- Ability to change text outline color
- Underline text option
- In-app camera with filters
- Easier layer management


### Gradient Shape, Mask Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradient-shape-mask-editor/id1046974468)

Easily transform your photos by cropping them into over 400 unique shapes, symbols, and letters. Customize foreground colors, transparency, and size. Enhance your images with filters, frames, and text editing tools before sharing.

**Highlights:** Crop photos into 400+ shapes, Customize foreground color and transparency, Adjust shape size, Apply photo filters and frames, Add text and stickers, Meme generator

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shape Maker - Basic | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - Cities | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - Cool | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - Grunge | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - Horror | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - I love | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - Letters | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - Random | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - Splatter | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shape Maker - Pro version | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PicCollage free?

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

### Is Gradient Shape, Mask Editor free?

Gradient Shape, Mask Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PicCollage or Gradient Shape, Mask Editor?

Gradient Shape, Mask Editor is rated higher. PicCollage averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.8M ratings, while Gradient Shape, Mask Editor averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do PicCollage or Gradient Shape, Mask Editor have ads?

Neither PicCollage nor Gradient Shape, Mask Editor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PicCollage or Gradient Shape, Mask Editor?

PicCollage ships an update every 3 weeks, and Gradient Shape, Mask Editor every 4 months. Most recently, PicCollage was updated on October 26, 2026 and Gradient Shape, Mask Editor on October 6, 2026.

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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.*