XScreenSaver vs Kinetiform
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.
Kinetiform
This app transforms your doodles into dynamic abstract art. Shapes automatically connect and fill with unique patterns, while kaleidoscopic animations add a mesmerizing visual experience. You can also let the app create art for you with its Auto Draw feature.
- Automatic shape detection and pattern filling
- Auto Draw for generative art creation
- Regenerate patterns
- 36 preset kaleidoscopic effects
- Customizable kaleidoscope settings
- Save and share drawings
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Kinetiform is doodling reimagined. It is a canvas with a mind of its own. Draw abstract shapes that automatically connect and fill with randomly generated patterns. Use Auto Draw to sit back and watch as the app creates a unique random composition right before your eyes. Watch as your drawing is tumbled and twisted through beautiful kaleidoscopic animations. Features: - Automatically detects shapes and fills them with random procedural patterns - Auto Draw creates procedural art as you watch and finishes lines for you - Regenerate any pattern after it’s been drawn - 36 preset kaleidoscopic effects - Advanced kaleidoscope settings let you fully configure the effect - Pan and zoom feature that interacts with kaleidoscope effects - Draw into the kaleidoscope - Customize your drawing experience with several control options - Create a color palette and save it, or load one of 200 preset color palettes - Choose which patterns you want to use and how often they will randomly appear - Save drawings to work on them later - Save images to your photo library or share them on social media - 100 levels of undo
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: XScreenSaver at none against Kinetiform's 1. XScreenSaver also leads on update cadence (every 6 months vs every 22 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Kinetiform sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. XScreenSaver asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for XScreenSaver against 4.9 for Kinetiform. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 104 and 40 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of XScreenSaver's written reviews are positive against 92% of Kinetiform's.
XScreenSaver ships an update every 6 months, Kinetiform every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on August 19, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | XScreenSaver | Kinetiform |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (104 ratings) | 4.9 (40 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews — better | 91.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 104 — better | 40 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months — better | Every 22 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jamie Zawinski | Colordodge Labs |
Customer experience
XScreenSaver
Kinetiform
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
Kinetiform
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
XScreenSaver
No in-app purchases
Kinetiform
- Pro Mode$4.99
