Comparison

NIR Color vs Gradient Color miniArtSoft

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

Head to head
About

NIR Color

Transform ordinary photos into surreal, ethereal landscapes with near-infrared technology and color filters. This app adds unique hues and dramatic contrast, making everyday objects appear otherworldly. Explore a different light and create magical, mysterious atmospheres in your images.

Highlights
  • Near infrared technology
  • Infrared color filters
  • Surreal and ethereal effects
  • Dramatic contrast adjustments
  • Preset library
  • Custom preset saving
  • Hi-Res image support
Features
Read full description

Photography is the art of capturing light. Infrared photography, on the other hand, is the art of capturing invisible light. If your looking for something new and unique to add to your photography arsenal then you came to the right place NIR Color is truly beautiful, surreal and will transform ordinary landscapes into something magical and ethereal. NIR Color uses “near infrared” light technology, along with infrared “color” filters to add violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red colors, and all their combinations back into your image. The combination creates stunning imagery with otherworldly and mysteriously atmospheres. When using “NIR” everyday objects differ sharply from those of visible light. A blue sky can sometimes appear very dark, while foliage often turns light to create an amazing and chilling contrast. Not only will the contrast make your photo ‘pop’, it will also transform the original color to ones that are dreamy and surreal using our infrared “color” filters. The decision is in your hands to tone down the color to ones that are classy, clean, and contrasted. Or boost them to a dramatic color of your choosing taking your infrared photography to a completely different level. With NIR Color you can quickly see how incredibly beautiful the world can be in a different light. The world as seen using NIR Color is at once familiar and strange, using hues that are entirely different than those we actually see in reality. The eerie but seductive effects that NIR photographs bring to the table consist mostly of landscape shots, but on occasion portraits can be completely converted from what we recognize as normal into ones where skin tones turn pale and cold and eyes that go dark. This may lead you to shift gears from a normal pose into something that is wildly terrestrial. So give NIR Color a try and transcend your photo into a world where you and your viewer will be offered a chance to encounter a deeper connection to the story behind your photograph. NIR Color … • Works best on colorful landscape images • “Near Infrared” technology turns blue-sky dark and foliage light to make your image ‘pop’ • Infrared “Color” filters add violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red colors, and all their combinations back into the image to create a dreamy and surreal appearance. • Works with Hi-Res images and saves Hi-Res for top-quality results • Gets you started fast with a variety of presets • Creates personal-favorite custom presets using the "Save Preset" menu • Has the addictive JixiPix Randomizer – so much fun! • Easy-to-use slider controls to adjust light, contrast and texture just how you want it • Superfast preview mode to immediately see edit results, with large image rendered at save • You can save to the photo roll and/or email or post to Facebook. Share your masterpieces! •Superior customer support and updates – we're committed to your long-term satisfaction

About

Gradient Color miniArtSoft

Easily add gradient color layers to your photos for unique artistic effects. Create custom gradient masks to enhance your digital art creations with intuitive controls for color selection, arrangement, and angle adjustment.

Highlights
  • Add gradient color layers to photos
  • Create gradient color masks
  • Intuitive color selection and arrangement
  • Adjust gradient angle
  • iOS and macOS versions available
Read full description

Add gradient color layer on photo and make it with a special effect. Create gradient color mask for your art creation. Quick Guide: .Tap on Plus button to add colors .Tap on empty zone of image to show or hide buttons .Tap on color tile to select or deselect .Pan selected color-tile(s) onto another tile to rearrange colors .Pan selected color-tile(s) onto Trash-can icon to delete .Pan selected color-tile(s) onto Dropper icon to change color(s) .Drag the blue or red point to adjust angle of gradient color The iOS/macOS version of this app are both available in App Store.

Screenshots

NIR Color4 screens
Gradient Color miniArtSoft4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Gradient Color miniArtSoft at Free against NIR Color's $2.99. Gradient Color miniArtSoft also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). NIR Color's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.3 vs 4.0). On ads, monetization model and device support 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

Gradient Color miniArtSoft is free to download; NIR Color costs $2.99 up front. Gradient Color miniArtSoft sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NIR Color asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NIR Color holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NIR Color has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NIR Color ships an update every 10 months, Gradient Color miniArtSoft every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
NIR Color versus Gradient Color miniArtSoft: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNIR ColorGradient Color miniArtSoft
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (21 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews82.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings21 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJixiPix, LLC奇志 熊

Customer experience

NIR Color

All ratings21 ratings
Positive81.0%
Neutral9.5%
Negative9.5%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive82.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative15.0%

Gradient Color miniArtSoft

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

NIR Color

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Gradient Color miniArtSoft

One-time1
  • Unlimit Colors$7.99

Questions

Is NIR Color free?
NIR Color costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gradient Color miniArtSoft free?
Gradient Color miniArtSoft is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NIR Color or Gradient Color miniArtSoft?
NIR Color is rated higher. NIR Color averages 4.3 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Gradient Color miniArtSoft averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do NIR Color or Gradient Color miniArtSoft have ads?
Neither NIR Color nor Gradient Color miniArtSoft shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NIR Color or Gradient Color miniArtSoft?
NIR Color ships an update every 10 months, and Gradient Color miniArtSoft every 4 months. Most recently, NIR Color was updated on October 13, 2026 and Gradient Color miniArtSoft on October 10, 2026.

Other comparisons