# SwirlPaint vs Makanim Light

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SwirlPaint at 100% against Makanim Light's 60%. SwirlPaint also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Makanim Light's advantage is update cadence (every 13 months vs every 38 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Makanim Light sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SwirlPaint asks for nothing beyond the download.

SwirlPaint holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of SwirlPaint's written reviews are positive against 60% of Makanim Light's.

SwirlPaint ships an update every 38 months, Makanim Light every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SwirlPaint | Makanim Light |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swirlpaint/id478622405/reviews)** | [4.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/makanim-light-generative-art/id515128027/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 38 months | **Every 13 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 23 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ChewOnGlass.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/466334216) | [Appakabar](https://appshunter.io/developer/481789852) |

## What reviewers say

### SwirlPaint

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swirlpaint/id478622405)

Create mesmerizing, symmetrical art with a simple swipe. This app generates kaleidoscope-like images by mirroring your strokes across multiple lines. Save your unique creations directly to your device's photo library.

**Highlights:** Kaleidoscope image generation, Adjustable number of lines, Customizable line colors, Multi-touch support, Save drawings to Camera Roll

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Makanim Light

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/makanim-light-generative-art/id515128027)

Create stunning, interactive animations with multi-touch gestures. Explore endless visual effects, shapes, and patterns for relaxation or live performance. Save your creations as wallpapers.

**Highlights:** Multi-touch graphic generator, Real-time preset editing, Up to 3-finger gestures, Multiple animation modes and shapes, Adjustable speed, size, and chaos, Save creations as screenshots/wallpapers

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock everything | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SwirlPaint free?

SwirlPaint is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Makanim Light free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SwirlPaint or Makanim Light?

SwirlPaint is rated higher. SwirlPaint averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Makanim Light averages 4.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do SwirlPaint or Makanim Light have ads?

Neither SwirlPaint nor Makanim Light shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SwirlPaint or Makanim Light?

SwirlPaint ships an update every 38 months, and Makanim Light every 13 months. Most recently, SwirlPaint was updated on November 1, 2026 and Makanim Light on November 10, 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.*