Comparison

Lucinate vs GlassVFX

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

GlassVFX

Create real-time visual effects, shaders, and interactive experiences using a node graph editor. This tool leverages Apple technologies for a seamless workflow on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, offering over 170 nodes and GPU-powered rendering without requiring any coding.

Highlights
  • Node graph editor
  • Real-time preview
  • 170+ nodes
  • GPU-powered rendering
  • Live camera input
  • Video export up to 4K
Features
Read full description

One ecosystem. One canvas. Connect everything. GlassVFX is a real-time visual effects tool for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, built entirely on Apple technologies. Create visual effects, shaders, and interactive experiences through a node graph editor with a beautiful Liquid Glass interface. Connect nodes, see results instantly. No code required. NODE-BASED WORKFLOW - 170+ nodes: math, effects, rendering, particles, geometry, camera, transforms, and more - Real-time preview — see every change as you make it TAP INTO YOUR DEVICE - Live camera feed as a texture input (front or back) - Audio input with frequency band analysis for reactive visuals - MIDI controller support with note, CC, and pitch bend - CoreML model inference GPU-POWERED - Metal rendering with real-time shader compilation - GPU particle system with gravity, drag, turbulence, and emission shapes - Video export in H.264, HEVC, ProRes 422, and ProRes 4444 up to 4K CREATE AND SHARE - 50+ sample projects to learn from and remix - Subgraphs for organizing complex graphs into reusable components - Export presets for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube aspect ratios - Portable .subjective project format PLATFORMS - Mac: macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later. Apple Silicon recommended. - iPad: iPadOS 18 or later. - iPhone: iOS 18 or later. iPhone 12 or newer. One-time purchase. No subscription. No ads.

Screenshots

Lucinate4 screens
GlassVFX3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lucinate at 67% against GlassVFX's 0%. Lucinate also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). GlassVFX's advantage is price (Free vs $19.99). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

GlassVFX is free to download; Lucinate costs $19.99 up front. GlassVFX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Lucinate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lucinate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lucinate has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Lucinate's written reviews are positive against 0% of GlassVFX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lucinate ships an update monthly, GlassVFX every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Lucinate versus GlassVFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLucinateGlassVFX
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better2.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#69 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.2
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKymatica ABSXP Studio

Customer experience

Lucinate

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

GlassVFX

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Lucinate

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

GlassVFX

One-time1
  • Subjective Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Lucinate free?
Lucinate costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GlassVFX free?
GlassVFX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lucinate or GlassVFX?
Lucinate is rated higher. Lucinate averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while GlassVFX averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Lucinate or GlassVFX have ads?
Neither Lucinate nor GlassVFX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lucinate or GlassVFX?
Lucinate ships an update monthly, and GlassVFX every 3 months. Most recently, Lucinate was updated on October 30, 2026 and GlassVFX on October 18, 2026.

Other comparisons