# XScreenSaver vs Plasma!

The clearest difference is rating: XScreenSaver at 4.8 against Plasma!'s 3.8. XScreenSaver also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 54%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Plasma!'s advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Plasma! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. XScreenSaver asks for nothing beyond the download.

XScreenSaver holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 109 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of XScreenSaver's written reviews are positive against 54% of Plasma!'s.

XScreenSaver ships an update every 6 months, Plasma! fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | XScreenSaver | Plasma! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xscreensaver/id539014593/reviews)** | [3.8 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plasma/id1449127483/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **109** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | **92.9% of reviews** | 53.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jamie Zawinski](https://appshunter.io/developer/368900426) | [Carl Gorringe](https://appshunter.io/developer/390391754) |

## What reviewers say

### XScreenSaver

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xscreensaver/id539014593)

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.

**Highlights:** Historic graphics demos, Educational visual content, Interactive demo playback, Large collection of visuals, Cross-platform heritage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ No ads or data collection
- 🎨 Extensive variety of screensavers
- 📱 Works seamlessly across multiple platforms (iOS, Mac, iPad)
- 🆓 Completely free application
- 🕰️ Nostalgic and retro aesthetic appeal

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes with certain screensavers
- 🎯 Difficult to tap small exit button on larger devices
- 🔋 High battery consumption on some devices
- ⚠️ Photo library screensaver crashes on iOS 13
- 🎪 Limited practical use on iOS devices

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Plasma!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plasma/id1449127483)

Experience a mesmerizing visual display resembling a lava lamp on your mobile device. Enjoy a free color palette or unlock additional options with a one-time purchase. The app runs continuously, making it a dynamic background for your device.

**Highlights:** Lava lamp simulation, Smoothly morphing colorful blobs, Free blue-green color palette, Unlockable color palettes, Continuous background operation, Apple Watch compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| More Colors! | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XScreenSaver free?

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

### Is Plasma! free?

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

### Which has better reviews, XScreenSaver or Plasma!?

XScreenSaver is rated higher. XScreenSaver averages 4.8 out of 5 from 109 ratings, while Plasma! averages 3.8 from 30 ratings.

### Do XScreenSaver or Plasma! have ads?

Neither XScreenSaver nor Plasma! shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, XScreenSaver or Plasma!?

XScreenSaver ships an update every 6 months, and Plasma! fortnightly. Most recently, XScreenSaver was updated on October 24, 2026 and Plasma! on October 24, 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.*