# Chromatose vs Patchd

The clearest difference is price: Chromatose at Free against Patchd's $4.99. Chromatose also leads on ratings volume (17 vs 1). Patchd's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Chromatose is free to download; Patchd costs $4.99 up front. Chromatose sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Patchd asks for nothing beyond the download.

Patchd holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chromatose has 17 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Chromatose's written reviews are positive against 100% of Patchd's.

Chromatose ships an update every 3 months, Patchd weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chromatose | Patchd |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chromatose-visual-synthesizer/id6578449692/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patchd-video-fx-playground/id6760680171/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **17** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 78.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Size | 45 MB | 133 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Edward Rooth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1738005609) | [Ibrahim Sefa Tuna](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877553788) |

## What reviewers say

### Chromatose

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chromatose-visual-synthesizer/id6578449692)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $5.99 | per month |
| Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Standard  DISCONTINUED | $59.99 | per year |


### Patchd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patchd-video-fx-playground/id6760680171)

Create unique visual art from photos and videos using a vast library of effects. Design custom camera filters by layering modules or let AI generate them from text descriptions. Edit and export for various social media formats.

**Highlights:** Custom camera FX from 100+ layers, AI-generated effects from text prompts, Layered effects for person, background, or frame, Video editor with beat-synced templates, Re-patch existing video clips, Live camera effects reacting to user, Photo editing and composition tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chromatose free?

Chromatose is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Patchd free?

Patchd costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chromatose or Patchd?

Patchd is rated higher. Chromatose averages 4.6 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Patchd averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Chromatose or Patchd have ads?

Neither Chromatose nor Patchd shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chromatose or Patchd?

Chromatose ships an update every 3 months, and Patchd weekly. Most recently, Chromatose was updated on October 22, 2026 and Patchd on October 14, 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.*