Comparison

benoît M vs Lucinate

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

Head to head
About

benoît M

Explore the infinite complexity of the Mandelbrot set with real-time rendering. Dive into a universe of self-similar structures, customize colors, and export stunning high-resolution images.

Highlights
  • Interactive Mandelbrot set exploration
  • Real-time Metal rendering
  • Pseudo-3D relief mode
  • Customizable color gradients
  • High-resolution PNG export (up to 8K)
  • Saved app state
Features
Read full description

benoît M is a visual exploration of the Mandelbrot set — one of the most iconic and fascinating shapes in mathematics. Named in homage to Benoît Mandelbrot, who discovered this fractal-set named after him in 1979. The mathematician introduced the world to fractal geometry. This app lets you dive into a universe created from one deceptively simple formula: repeat z² + c, again and again. From that small rule emerge endless spirals, islands, valleys, coastlines, and self-similar structures that continue to reveal new detail as you zoom deeper. With real-time Metal rendering, benoît M turns fractal exploration into a smooth, visual experience. Pinch to zoom, pan to move, and double-tap to dive into interesting regions. Switch between classic Mandelbrot rendering and a beautiful pseudo-3D relief mode that gives the fractal a sculptural, almost metallic depth. Customize the look with image gradients, procedural palettes, inverted or flipped color styles, and adjustable iteration quality. When you find a scene worth keeping, export it as a square high-resolution PNG — up to 8K — directly to your Photo Library. Features: - Explore the Mandelbrot set interactively - Smooth Metal-based rendering - Classic Mandelbrot and pseudo-3D relief modes - Image-based and procedural color gradients - Adjustable iteration depth - Pinch, pan, and double-tap navigation - High-resolution PNG export: 2K and 8K - Saved app state, so you continue where you left off A compact tribute to Benoît Mandelbrot and the beauty of fractal geometry Whether you are fascinated by mathematics, generative art, abstract visuals, or simply beautiful patterns, benoît M invites you to explore infinity — one zoom at a time.

About

Lucinate

Create algorithmic art, generative visuals, and video synthesis with a modular graphics studio. Explore the intersection of math and graphics for intricate stills, evolving patterns, and interactive shader art. Turn abstract ideas into visual form for creation, play, and performance.

Highlights
  • Algorithmic art creation
  • Generative visuals
  • Video synthesis
  • Modular flexibility
  • Parametric shaders
  • Custom shader coding
  • MIDI and audio modulation
  • Beat-synced visuals
Features
Read full description

A creative environment for generative art, live visuals, and video synthesis. Blend layers, modulate any parameter with audio, MIDI, and LFOs, sync to the beat, and code your own shaders in the built-in MSL editor. Perform live or record to video. One purchase, no subscription. Use it for shader art, beat-synced visuals, audio/MIDI-reactive VJ sets, image processing, or exploring the aesthetics of algorithms. METAL SHADER ENGINE • Universal app built on Metal for Mac, iPad and iPhone • 16-bit color HDR rendering pipeline • MSL shader editor to learn, tweak, or code your own shaders using the bundled Metal Shading Language library • Includes parametric shaders for image adjustments, effects, patterns, gradients, texture utilities, coordinate space transforms, shader art examples, and more MODULAR ARCHITECTURE • Any number of Tracks, Layers, and Modulators • Advanced layer blending and masking • Deep modulation with MIDI, CV, LFOs, audio reactivity, and more • Route modulation and image signals between Tracks • Use live camera, imported video clips, and image assets as visual input CONNECTIVITY & OUTPUT • Syphon and NDI® real-time video output (Mac only) • Beat-synchronization via Ableton Link or MIDI clock • Receive audio from other apps via Ableton Link Audio • Record your results to video or export still images • Supports external displays and projectors BUY ONCE, OWN FOREVER • No subscriptions, in-app purchases, or ads • One purchase covers Mac, iPad and iPhone NOTE: On Mac, this app requires Apple Silicon or Intel with integrated GPU. NDI® is a registered trademark of Vizrt NDI AB.

Screenshots

benoît M4 screens
Lucinate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lucinate at 67% against benoît M's 0%. Lucinate also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and chart position (#49 vs unranked). benoît M's advantage is price (Free vs $29.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

benoît M is free to download; Lucinate costs $29.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lucinate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of benoît M's written reviews are positive against 67% of Lucinate's.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
benoît M versus Lucinate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterbenoît MLucinate
PriceFree — better$29.99
Rating4.2 (5 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings55
Update frequency—Monthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#49 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhilippe ZayKymatica AB

Customer experience

benoît M

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Lucinate

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

benoît M

No in-app purchases

None

Lucinate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is benoît M free?
benoît M is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lucinate free?
Lucinate costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, benoît M or Lucinate?
Lucinate is rated higher. benoît M averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Lucinate averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do benoît M or Lucinate have ads?
Neither benoît M nor Lucinate shows ads.

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