# iColorama vs Distressed FX

The clearest difference is price: iColorama at Free against Distressed FX's $19.99. iColorama also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months). Distressed FX's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and chart position (#78 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

iColorama is free to download; Distressed FX costs $19.99 up front. iColorama sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Distressed FX sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Distressed FX holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 256 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of iColorama's written reviews are positive against 72% of Distressed FX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

iColorama ships an update every 4 days, Distressed FX every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iColorama | Distressed FX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $19.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (256 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icolorama/id490528854/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distressed-fx-plus/id1441905750/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 256 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **79.6% of reviews** | 72.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#78** |
| Size | 1.1 GB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [talonsodev](https://appshunter.io/developer/490528857) | [We Are Here](https://appshunter.io/developer/585702634) |

## What reviewers say

### iColorama

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icolorama/id490528854)

Enhance photos and digital art with over 1000 effects, from simple adjustments to complex transforms. Repaint images with various brushes, and import custom Photoshop brushes, curves, and fonts to create unique artistic pieces.

**Highlights:** Over 1000 image effects, Image adjustments, Math transforms, Repainting with brushes, Import custom brushes, Import custom fonts, Import custom curves

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iColorama PRO | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| iColorama PRO | $9.99 | per year |
| iColorama PRO | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Incredibly deep app
- 👍 Fantastic app
- 👍 Best app ever
- 👍 Brilliant app
- 👍 Superb app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes constantly
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Quality reduced when uploading photos
- 🐛 Doesn't work with newer iOS versions
- 💰 Moved to subscription model

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing issues
- Unable to load photos
- Watermark overlay issues
- Incompatibility with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to save in full quality
- Improved stability and performance
- Support for latest iOS versions
- Restore previous free version


### Distressed FX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distressed-fx-plus/id1441905750)

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Transform ordinary photos into unique works of art with a vast collection of textures and overlays. This app offers exclusive access to all current and future filters and effects for a single payment, making photo editing accessible and creative.

**Highlights:** Access to all current and future filters, Exclusive new effects and features, Wide range of textured images and overlays, Transform mundane photos into art, Ideal for still life and landscape photography

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beyond Skies | Free | one-time |
| The Heavens | Free | one-time |
| Bokeh Illusions | Free | one-time |
| The Lights | Free | one-time |
| Box of colors | Free | one-time |
| Old World Gallery | Free | one-time |
| Painterly Grunge | Free | one-time |
| The Neutrals | Free | one-time |
| Vintage Collection | Free | one-time |
| Atmospheric Light | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Creative and artistic photo editing
- 🎨 Excellent texture and overlay options
- 💡 Customizable layers and blending modes
- 🎨 Ability to create unique digital art

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with new iOS versions
- 🐛 Crashing and download errors
- 🐛 Inability to restore previous purchases
- 🤔 Lack of clear instructions and tutorials

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to download or load certain textures/overlays
- App crashing when opening photos
- Saving edited photos at lower resolutions

**Requested features**

- Masking and selective editing tools
- Zoom and precise control for editing
- Ability to use app on Mac devices
- Improved customer support and communication


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iColorama free?

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

### Is Distressed FX free?

Distressed FX costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iColorama or Distressed FX?

Distressed FX is rated higher. iColorama averages 4.5 out of 5 from 256 ratings, while Distressed FX averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do iColorama or Distressed FX have ads?

Neither iColorama nor Distressed FX shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iColorama or Distressed FX?

iColorama ships an update every 4 days, and Distressed FX every 3 months. Most recently, iColorama was updated on November 1, 2026 and Distressed FX on November 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.*