# Square FX with Shape Overlay vs Distressed FX

The clearest difference is price: Square FX with Shape Overlay at Free against Distressed FX's $19.99. Square FX with Shape Overlay also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). Distressed FX's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Square FX with Shape Overlay is free to download; Distressed FX costs $19.99 up front. Square FX with Shape Overlay sells 10 one-off in-app purchases 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 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Distressed FX has 1.2K ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Square FX with Shape Overlay'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.

Square FX with Shape Overlay ships an update every 9 months, Distressed FX every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Square FX with Shape Overlay | Distressed FX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $19.99 |
| Rating | [3.0 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/square-fx-with-shape-overlay/id620268869/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distressed-fx-plus/id1441905750/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 72.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#74** |
| Size | 12 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ki Tat Chung](https://appshunter.io/developer/294170919) | [We Are Here](https://appshunter.io/developer/585702634) |

## What reviewers say

### Square FX with Shape Overlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/square-fx-with-shape-overlay/id620268869)

Easily fit full-size photos into a square format for social media without cropping. Customize your images with a variety of background options, including colors, gradients, and patterns, and fine-tune your photos with intuitive editing tools.

**Highlights:** Fit full-size photos without cropping, Move, rotate, scale, and flip photos, Customizable color backgrounds, Gradient and pattern backgrounds, Automatic full-size fitting, Touch and drag editing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Love Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Animal Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Frame Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Art Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Flag Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Arrow Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Letter Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Weather Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Nature Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pro Feature Pack | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast processing
- ✨ Simple interface
- ✅ Does what it says
- 🖼️ Good for Instagram

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Ads after purchase
- 💸 Paid upgrade ineffective
- 🔗 Broken support link
- 📉 Low resolution saves
- 🚫 Video cropping not supported

**Reported bugs**

- Ads still present after purchase
- Black line appears on saved photos
- App no longer allows picking photos after iOS upgrade
- Random black line on bottom and right side of pictures
- Green line next to photo after cropping

**Requested features**

- Make Settings gear icon do more
- Options for sizing (pinch & zoom, vectors, pixels, percentages)
- Add holiday shape pack
- Allow selecting background image from camera roll
- Use eyedropper tool for background color selection


### Distressed FX

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

**Currently charting:** #74 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 Square FX with Shape Overlay free?

Square FX with Shape Overlay 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, Square FX with Shape Overlay or Distressed FX?

Distressed FX is rated higher. Square FX with Shape Overlay averages 3.0 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Distressed FX averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Square FX with Shape Overlay or Distressed FX have ads?

Square FX with Shape Overlay shows ads; Distressed FX does not.

### Which is updated more often, Square FX with Shape Overlay or Distressed FX?

Square FX with Shape Overlay ships an update every 9 months, and Distressed FX every 3 months. Most recently, Square FX with Shape Overlay was updated on November 1, 2026 and Distressed FX on November 2, 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.*