Comparison

Processing & p5.js iCompiler vs ShaderMania

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

Head to head
About

Processing & p5.js iCompiler

Develop and compile Processing and p5.js code directly on your mobile device. Export your creations as standalone apps for offline use. Ideal for students and educators learning creative coding.

Highlights
  • Compose and compile code on mobile
  • Export projects as home screen apps
  • Offline app usage
  • Code highlighting and formatting
  • 3D sketches and games support
  • Error highlighting (Pro feature)
Features
Read full description

Compose and compile your Processing & p5.js projects right on your phone or iPad, wherever your are! Export your Processing projects as App on your home screen: 1. Select an App icon for your Processing project. 2. Add it to your home screen. You can now use the app offline, just like any other app! This app is already being used in high schools and universities to teach and learn Processing & p5.js. Your code is highlighted and formatted for excellent reading-comfort. Processing Pro allows you to see which parts of your code are causing problems. 3D sketches and games are supported. This is not an official app by processing.org or p5.js Available subscription: Processing Pro, offers additional functionalities, such as exporting your sketches as apps. Trailer Music: Circle of Alchemists Privacy and Terms: http://processing-app.org/terms/

About

ShaderMania

Create, edit, and share Metal shaders with a live coding environment and real-time preview. Explore a database of public and tutorial shaders, connect nodes to build complex effects, and export your creations. A physical keyboard is recommended for optimal use.

Highlights
  • Live coding of Metal fragment shaders
  • Real-time preview and playback
  • Node-based shader creation
  • Public shader database
  • Tutorial shaders with video links
  • Export shader output to PNG
  • Syntax checking and error display
Read full description

Create, edit, render, share, and learn Metal shaders with ShaderMania for iPad. ShaderMania is a visual Metal shader editor for iPadOS. Write fragment shaders with realtime preview and playback, organize shaders and images as nodes, connect shader inputs, expose parameters as sliders, and export rendered images. ShaderMania also includes a public shader library with examples and tutorial shaders, including links to explanation videos where available. ShaderMania is free to use. Optional tips are available if you want to support development. A physical keyboard is recommended for coding shaders on iPad. Features • Live Metal fragment shader editing with realtime preview and playback. • Visual node graph for shader and image nodes. • Connect shader nodes to build reusable shader chains. • Named shader input slots declared directly in shader source code. • Parameter annotations for sliders and live UI controls. • Realtime syntax checking, compiler errors, and warnings. • Render to custom resolutions and export PNG images. • Undo and redo for common node graph edits. Shader Library • Browse public shader examples and tutorial shaders. • Add shaders from the library to your own projects. • Upload useful, inspectable shader work to the public library.

Screenshots

Processing & p5.js iCompiler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ShaderMania at 100% against Processing & p5.js iCompiler's 58%. ShaderMania also leads on monetization model (free vs freemium). Processing & p5.js iCompiler's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 16 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Processing & p5.js iCompiler sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and ShaderMania sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Processing & p5.js iCompiler ships an update every 2 months, ShaderMania every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Processing & p5.js iCompiler versus ShaderMania: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProcessing & p5.js iCompilerShaderMania
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (82 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews58.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings82 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 16 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerriedel.wtf apps S.L.Markus Moenig

Customer experience

Processing & p5.js iCompiler

All ratings80 ratings
Positive58.8%
Neutral8.8%
Negative32.5%
Written reviews162 reviews
Positive58.0%
Neutral12.3%
Negative29.6%

ShaderMania

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Processing & p5.js iCompiler

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Code reverts to earlier versions after app sleep
  • Changes lost when phone falls asleep
  • Functions with parameters cause black screen
  • StringList data type not recognized
  • Boolean highlighting shows 'bool' instead of full word
Show 15 more
  • Else statements break code formatting
  • Try/catch blocks don't work properly
  • Cursor position jumps unexpectedly while typing
  • Screen scrolls to bottom when typing mid-file
  • Swipe-to-go-back gesture interferes with drawing
  • mouseClicked() event fires multiple times per click
  • Import folder feature doesn't work
  • Cannot use numbers/underscores in project names
  • blendMode() and other complex functions fail
  • Silent failures with blank screen output
  • Inconsistent error highlighting
  • Typing lag with large projects (700+ lines)
  • Example project code disappeared after updates
  • Dialog boxes appear in German
  • About and new project buttons invisible in light mode

Requested features

20 requests
  • Free basic error messages for all users
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Project renaming capability
  • Project duplication feature
  • Robust auto-save and backup system
Show 15 more
  • GIF animation support for sprites
  • Library import and management system
  • Landscape mode support
  • Find and replace functionality
  • Console output for debugging
  • Settings/preferences menu
  • File organization with folders
  • Project thumbnails
  • Built-in documentation/reference
  • Processing to p5.js conversion tool
  • Ability to import entire project folders
  • Font size customization
  • Fullscreen mode for screenshots
  • PVector class support
  • Pixel density optimization for Retina displays

ShaderMania

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Processing & p5.js iCompiler

Subscriptions2
  • Processing Pro (Monthly)$3.491 Month
  • Processing Pro (Annual)$9.991 Year
One-time3
  • Processing for iOS Tip$4.99
  • Processing Pro Lifetime Unlock$25.99
  • Processing for iOS Tip$99.99
3 purchases

ShaderMania

One-time3
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
  • Large Tip$9.99

Questions

Is Processing & p5.js iCompiler free?
Processing & p5.js iCompiler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShaderMania free?
ShaderMania is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Processing & p5.js iCompiler or ShaderMania have ads?
Neither Processing & p5.js iCompiler nor ShaderMania shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Processing & p5.js iCompiler or ShaderMania?
Processing & p5.js iCompiler ships an update every 2 months, and ShaderMania every 16 months. Most recently, Processing & p5.js iCompiler was updated on October 21, 2026 and ShaderMania on October 2, 2026.

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