Comparison

Patternata vs ShiWen

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

Head to head
About

Patternata

Features
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Patterns in perfect harmony. Patternata turns motifs into patterns, and patterns into pieces you can make, print and wear. Build seamless repeating tiles and silk scarf layouts in an intuitive studio created for surface pattern lovers, textile designers, illustrators and curious makers. Begin with curated motif collections or import your own artwork, then arrange, scale, rotate, recolour and layer elements until the composition feels entirely yours. CREATE YOUR WAY - Build straight and mirror repeat layouts - Design seamless tiles, and square or rectangular silk scarf compositions - Explore curated motif collections - Import and combine your own artwork - Adjust scale, position, colour and layers - Export high-resolution designs for print and further creative work - Save favourites and return to developing ideas FROM SCREEN TO SILK Where available, you can order selected designs as made-to-order premium silk scarves or printed silk fabric. Payments for physical products are handled separately from Patternata Pro. PATTERNATA PRO Unlock advanced creative tools and high-resolution exports with a monthly or annual subscription, or a one-time Lifetime purchase, through your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled in your Apple Account settings; Lifetime is a one-time purchase. Restore previous purchases from within Patternata. Designed primarily for iPad and also available on iPhone. An internet connection is required for cloud features, motif collections and account services. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.patternata.com/privacy-policy Patternata Terms & Conditions: https://www.patternata.com/terms-and-conditions

About

ShiWen

Transform any image into unique geometric patterns and seamless designs. This tool offers over 20 pattern styles, real-time previews, and AI-enhanced upscaling for high-resolution exports. Create kaleidoscope art, repeat designs, and transparent assets for various creative projects.

Highlights
  • Create patterns from photos and textures
  • Over 20 geometric and kaleidoscope styles
  • Real-time sampling and preview
  • 70+ color palettes
  • AI HD image enhancement
  • High-resolution PNG export
  • One-tap background cutout
Read full description

Turn any photo into a seamless pattern, mandala, or kaleidoscope design. ShiWen is a pattern maker for designers, illustrators, crafters, and visual creators on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Import a photo, drawing, lettering, or everyday texture, then move the sampling frame to create kaleidoscope art, symmetrical patterns, mandalas, repeats, and seamless tiles. 【Turn Images into Patterns】 Import from Photos or Files, or shoot with the camera. Drag the sampling frame to discover new compositions. Photos, illustrations, traditional motifs, natural textures, fabrics, and handmade artwork can all become patterns. 【20+ Pattern Styles】 Explore more than 20 kaleidoscope and geometric styles based on symmetry, rotation, reflection, interlocking, and repetition. One image can become entirely different mandalas, symmetrical patterns, repeat designs, and seamless textures. 【Real-Time Sampling】 Drag the sampling frame and adjust its width, height, rotation, and output size. Every change appears directly in the preview. 【70+ Color Palettes】 Choose from more than 70 palettes and quickly explore new color combinations. 【Visual Styles】 Switch between the original image, watercolor, oil painting, rubbing, and sand effects to give the same pattern a different texture and mood. 【Layered Mandalas】 Adjust the number of petals and combine up to six concentric layers to create richer mandala compositions from the same source image. 【14 Product Mockups】 Preview the real result on 14 real objects before you download. 【One-Tap Cutout】 Remove the background from a source image or pattern to create a transparent PNG. Refine the result with the brush, eraser, and invert tools while preserving the original colors and details. 【AI HD】 Enhance small or blurry source images on-device, or apply AI HD to the finished pattern, preserving more detail for pattern creation and high-resolution export. 【Print-Ready Export】 Export PNG, JPG, PDF, layered PSD, or TIFF. Supports millimeters, centimeters, inches, and pixels, A-series and US paper sizes, and social image presets. 【Signature Watermark】 Add your own signature watermark to PNG and JPG exports. 【Local Gallery】 Source images, saved patterns, and cutout assets are organized separately. Image processing happens on your device. No account is required, and your images never leave the device. 【Perfect For】 • Pattern design and seamless repeats • Procreate brush and texture assets • Fashion, textile, fabric, and print design • Wallpapers, packaging, and pattern backgrounds • Illustration textures and digital collages • Stickers and transparent elements • Journaling and craft projects 【ShiWen Pro】 ShiWen Pro is available as a one-time purchase, or as a monthly or annual subscription. Pro unlocks all Pro pattern styles, 70+ color palettes, visual effects, AI HD, one-tap cutout, all 14 mockups, print presets and custom sizing, PDF / PSD / TIFF export, and high-resolution tile and full-pattern exports. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled. Manage or cancel your subscription in Settings → Apple Account → Subscriptions. Previous purchases can be restored in ShiWen. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://alinefan.github.io/shiwen-privacy/

Screenshots

Patternata4 screens
ShiWen4 screens

Verdict

The call

Patternata and ShiWen are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Patternata versus ShiWen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPatternataShiWen
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequency—Every 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB74 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCreative Boutique Ltd广俊 张

In-app purchases

None

Patternata

No in-app purchases

None

ShiWen

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Patternata free?
Patternata is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShiWen free?
ShiWen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Patternata or ShiWen have ads?
Neither Patternata nor ShiWen shows ads.

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