XScreenSaver vs Path Tracer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
XScreenSaver
Explore a vast collection of historic and educational graphics demos originally designed for Linux and Unix systems. This application allows you to interact with hundreds of these visual demonstrations, ported from the classic screen saver collection.
- Historic graphics demos
- Educational visual content
- Interactive demo playback
- Large collection of visuals
- Cross-platform heritage
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The XScreenSaver application is a large collection of historic and educational graphics demos. XScreenSaver is the standard screen saver collection shipped on most Linux and Unix systems. I released the first version in 1992. In 2006, I ported it to MacOS, and in 2012 I ported it to iOS. This application is not a screen saver, of course, since iOS doesn't have those. But it does let you play with the hundreds of graphics demos that are a part of the XScreenSaver collection.
Path Tracer
Experience real-time, photorealistic computer graphics on your iPhone. This application leverages Apple's Metal graphics platform to render complex lighting effects and scenes instantly, allowing you to create and manipulate stunning visuals directly on your device.
- Real-time path tracing
- Realistic global illumination
- 30 FPS rendering
- Pre-built and custom scenes
- Adjustable lighting and camera
- Multiple surface texture types
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This app does real time path tracing on your iPhone. A path tracer is software which traces light in order to create realistic looking computer generated graphics. While usually this process takes hours, even days, utilizing the power of Apple's Metal graphics platform this app is able to make the process happen in real time. Key features: -Create realistic computer generated images on your phone. - Realistic lighting effects (global illumination) -Watch the images render in real time at 30 frames per second. -View 5 pre-built scenes, or create your own. -Insert up to 5 spheres in your scene. -Move the camera, adjust lighting and change the wall colors. -Supports three different texture types: diffuse surfaces, mirror surfaces, and glass surfaces.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: XScreenSaver at 4.8 against Path Tracer's 4.5. XScreenSaver also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 79%) and update cadence (every 6 months vs every 13 months). Path Tracer's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
XScreenSaver holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 108 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of XScreenSaver's written reviews are positive against 79% of Path Tracer's.
XScreenSaver ships an update every 6 months, Path Tracer every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | XScreenSaver | Path Tracer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (108 ratings) — better | 4.5 (31 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews — better | 78.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 108 — better | 31 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months — better | Every 13 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jamie Zawinski | People Tech |
Customer experience
XScreenSaver
Path Tracer
Bugs and requests
XScreenSaver
Reported bugs
5 issues- Photo library screensaver crashes on iOS 13
- GLText reveals password when system info is selected
- Framebuffer loading failures requiring app restart
- Crashes on certain devices or configurations
- Difficult UI for exiting screensavers on larger phones
Requested features
11 requests- Favorites or bookmarking system to save preferred screensavers
- Hide or exclude unwanted screensavers from rotation
- Ability to select specific channels in XAnalogTV screensaver
- Widget support for iOS standby mode
- Prevent auto-lock feature to keep screen on
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- Apple TV version
- Windows port of the application
- Larger hit areas for corner icons
- Faster scrubbing through screensavers
- Donate button for supporting development
- Screensavers featuring pentagons
Path Tracer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
XScreenSaver
No in-app purchases
Path Tracer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is XScreenSaver free?
Is Path Tracer free?
Which has better reviews, XScreenSaver or Path Tracer?
Do XScreenSaver or Path Tracer have ads?
Which is updated more often, XScreenSaver or Path Tracer?
Other comparisons
