Comparison

Thrivestone vs Atkinson

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

Head to head
About

Thrivestone

Explore a universe of interactive camera filters that tap into abstract and chaotic visual realms. This application generates unique, dynamic imagery for your photos and videos. Be aware of potential photosensitive warnings due to light flashes.

Highlights
  • Interactive camera filters
  • Chaos-inspired visuals
  • Dynamic photo effects
  • Unique video generation
  • Photosensitive warning
Read full description

Interactive camera filters that draw from the great seas of chaos. Photosensitive warning: This app creates flashes of light that could trigger seizures for people with visual sensitivities.

About

Atkinson

This app processes photos using the Atkinson dithering algorithm, originally used for black and white displays on old Macintosh computers. It creates small file-sized images with options for square cropping, rounded corners, and white borders, offering a real-time preview of the effect.

Highlights
  • Atkinson dithering algorithm processing
  • Square photo output
  • Toggleable rounded corners
  • White border option
  • Real-time preview
Features
Read full description

Transform your photos with the iconic Atkinson dithering algorithm — the same technique used on the original Macintosh by Bill Atkinson. Create stunning retro-style images with a single tap. # What is Atkinson Dithering? Atkinson dithering was the algorithm behind the classic 1-bit graphics of early Macintosh computers. It converts photos i nto beautiful two-tone pixel patterns, producing images with a distinctive vintage charm and remarkably small file sizes. # Features - Real-time Atkinson dithering preview through your camera - 7 retro-tech color palettes: Terminal Green, Amber Monitor, Original Macintosh, Game Boy, Apple II Green, White Phospho r, and classic black & white - 5 iconic frames inspired by computing history: MacPaint, Classic Mac window, Terminal, White Frame, and frameless - Adjustable brightness control - Rounded corner option - Square photo output optimized for social media - Lightweight PNG output with tiny file sizes # Color Palettes Go beyond black and white. Choose from color palettes inspired by legendary displays — the green glow of VT100 terminals, the warm amber of IBM monitors, the creamy screen of the original Macintosh, and more. # Retro Frames Wrap your dithered photos in frames inspired by classic software. The MacPaint frame features pixel-perfect tool palettes and menu bars, just like Bill Atkinson's legendary paint program. The Classic Mac frame recreates the iconic window chrome of early Macintosh. # Perfect for - Retro and vintage photo enthusiasts - Pixel art lovers - Social media posts with a unique aesthetic - Anyone who appreciates the beauty of 1-bit graphics

Screenshots

Thrivestone4 screens
Atkinson4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Thrivestone at 4.8 against Atkinson's 3.3. Thrivestone also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (96% vs 71%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Thrivestone sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Atkinson sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Thrivestone holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of Thrivestone's written reviews are positive against 71% of Atkinson's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thrivestone ships an update every 3 weeks, Atkinson monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Thrivestone versus Atkinson: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThrivestoneAtkinson
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (26 ratings) — better3.3 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews96.0% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings26 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael LemmonTsutomu Koyachi

Customer experience

Thrivestone

All ratings26 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral7.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive96.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative0.0%

Atkinson

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Thrivestone

One-time2
  • Season 0: Filter Pack #1$3.99
  • Season 0: Filter Pack #2$3.99
2 purchases

Atkinson

Subscriptions2
  • Standard Month$0.991 Month
  • Standard Year$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Thrivestone free?
Thrivestone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Atkinson free?
Atkinson is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Thrivestone or Atkinson?
Thrivestone is rated higher. Thrivestone averages 4.8 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Atkinson averages 3.3 from 6 ratings.
Do Thrivestone or Atkinson have ads?
Atkinson shows ads; Thrivestone does not.
Which is updated more often, Thrivestone or Atkinson?
Thrivestone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Atkinson monthly. Most recently, Thrivestone was updated on September 25, 2026 and Atkinson on June 5, 2026.

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