Comparison

Lucinate vs Chromatose

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

Head to head
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.

About

Chromatose

Create and perform real-time, audio-reactive visuals with a powerful yet intuitive video synthesizer. Connect to external displays and customize your creations with a modular interface, extensive modulation options, and MIDI support. Ideal for live performers, VJs, and content creators.

Highlights
  • Audio-reactive visuals
  • Modular interface
  • MIDI support
  • 4 simultaneous generators
  • Unlimited effect chaining
  • HD/4K+ output
  • Patch saving and export
Features
Read full description

Chromatose is a real-time, audio-reactive visual synth for iPhone and iPad — a modular video synthesizer and visualizer that turns your input and sound into a hypnotic, trippy light show. Create original, generative visuals by hand. No coding, no AI prompts, no bulky hardware. Connect a TV or projector via HDMI or AirPlay to turn any space into an immersive atmosphere — for live performance, meditation, party, or chilling. Learn it in under an hour. Create fresh ideas for years. 〉Perfect for: Live performers, VJs, DJs, music producers, installation artists, concert and stage designers, content creators, music video directors, generative artists, and creative explorers. Works for raves, clubs, afterhours, festivals, ambient galleries, meditation spaces, and live loop sessions. 〉What you can make: A music visualizer for live sets. Audio-reactive video content for social media. Live camera filters. TV screensavers and projector backdrops for installations. Wallpapers, generative art pieces, meditation visuals — or anything else you can imagine. 〉Aesthetic range: From psychedelic, trippy, and surreal to cyberpunk, vaporwave, synthwave, retrowave, futuristic, vintage, nostalgic, dreamcore, weirdcore, liminal, and glitch. Dial in the whole rainbow spectrum of hues, refractions, liquid ripples, electric strobing, cosmic aurora, spiral warps, organic cymatics, kaleidoscope mandalas, and pure abstract procedural geometry. 〉FREE Plan Includes: • Access all generators & effects • No signup required • 100% ad-free • Max output resolution: Full 1080p HD • Saved patches: 2 • Record videos up to: 30 secs 〉Pro Plan Includes: • Access to all features • Saved patches: unlimited • Saved Performance Sets: unlimited • Max output resolution: 4K+ • Record videos up to: 15 mins • Studio-quality ProRes recording • Export Patches 〉Main Features: • Modular, intuitive interface • 4 simultaneous visual generators • Chain unlimited visual effects, filters, and modulation layers • Design Mode to build unique visuals from scratch • Performance Mode: eight hot-swappable patches per Set, Master FX chain, fully modular transitions • Custom color palettes with harmony-based generation • Metal-powered, iOS native graphics engine • 8-bit or 16-bit color (SDR and HDR) with deep gradient fidelity • Built specifically for iPhone and iPad 〉Modulation & Synthesis: • Dedicated LFOs per parameter • Multiple waveshapes, free-running or clock-synced • Nested modulation and feedback loops • Envelope generators and signal followers • Animated visual indicators • Analog-style signal flow — reactive to every nuance 〉Connectivity: • Connect to any screen with HDMI (via USB-C or Lightning adapter) or AirPlay • MIDI Plug & Play with other Hardware and Software via: USB, Bluetooth, Network, Virtual MIDI (other apps on same device) • MIDI 1.0 and 2.0, with CC, note, and NRPN mapping • MIDI mappable Macro Controls and Performance pads • MIDI Clock Sync • Wireless display and dual-screen output 〉Audio Reactivity: • Visuals pulse and react to live audio in real time • Internal mic or any audio interface, with input selection and auto-gain • 3 shapeable audio signal sources • Audio-to-visual translation on any parameter, driven by the full mix or just the lows or highs • Signal followers and envelopes • Turn any sound into a visual trip 〉Sharing and Export: • Import and export patches as files for sharing and remixing • Record HD video (HEVC or ProRes) or screenshots optimized for social media • Save directly to iOS Photos library 〉Patch Library: • Intuitive browsing and organization • Tag, search, sort and filter by mood, genre, or aesthetic • Built-in presets included Chromatose is made entirely by one independent developer in Berlin, with no investors or corporate agenda: a modular video synthesizer and visual instrument in your pocket, aiming to democratize real-time generative visual creation. Terms of Use: https://www.chromatose.app/en/terms/

Screenshots

Lucinate4 screens
Chromatose4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Chromatose at Free against Lucinate's $29.99. Chromatose also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 67%) and ratings volume (17 vs 5). Lucinate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On ads 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

Chromatose is free to download; Lucinate costs $29.99 up front. Chromatose sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Lucinate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lucinate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 17 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Lucinate's written reviews are positive against 79% of Chromatose's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lucinate ships an update monthly, Chromatose every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Lucinate versus Chromatose: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLucinateChromatose
Price$29.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better4.6 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews78.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings517 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
Best chart rank#48 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKymatica ABEdward Rooth

Customer experience

Lucinate

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

Chromatose

All ratings17 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral5.3%
Negative15.8%

In-app purchases

None

Lucinate

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Chromatose

Subscriptions2
  • Pro$5.991 Month
  • Pro$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Lucinate free?
Lucinate costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chromatose free?
Chromatose is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lucinate or Chromatose?
Lucinate is rated higher. Lucinate averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Chromatose averages 4.6 from 17 ratings.
Do Lucinate or Chromatose have ads?
Neither Lucinate nor Chromatose shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lucinate or Chromatose?
Lucinate ships an update monthly, and Chromatose every 3 months. Most recently, Lucinate was updated on November 4, 2026 and Chromatose on November 4, 2026.

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