Comparison

Portrait String Art Maker vs Genie Crystals

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

Head to head
About

Portrait String Art Maker

Transform your photos into unique string art patterns optimized for portraits. This app enhances facial features for lifelike creations, offering step-by-step guides for DIY projects. Perfect for personalized gifts and home decor.

Highlights
  • Face-optimized algorithm
  • Photo to string art pattern conversion
  • Step-by-step thread placement guide
  • Circular and square frame optimization
  • Offline pattern generation
  • PDF pattern export
Features
Read full description

Create stunning portrait string art using Portrait String Art Maker. It is the only app built exclusively for portraits. Our unique face-optimized algorithm doesn't just convert photos, it enhances eyes, smiles, and facial features so your finished artwork truly captures your loved ones. WHY PORTRAITS NEED A SPECIALIZED APP Generic string art apps treat faces like any other image. The result? Flat, lifeless portraits where eyes disappear and expressions fade. Portrait String Art Maker is different. Our algorithm was specifically tuned to prioritize the features that make a face recognizable—the sparkle in their eyes, the curve of their smile, the unique characteristics that make them who they are. WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT • Face-Optimized Algorithm: Enhanced visibility for eyes and facial features • Portrait Specialist: Built exclusively for face portraits, not generic patterns • Patterns That Work: Tested to ensure beautiful results when you create them physically • 2000 Thread Connections: Professional-quality detail in every portrait KEY FEATURES • Photo to Pattern: Upload any portrait, get a detailed string art pattern in a few seconds • Step-by-Step Guide: Clear, numbered instructions for each thread placement • Circular and Square frame: Optimized for 12”, 24”, 36” frames • Works Offline: No internet required after download • 100% Private: Zero data collection, all processing on your device PERFECT FOR • Personalized gifts that capture someone's true likeness • Memorial portraits of loved ones • Wedding and anniversary gifts • Pet portraits that show their personality • DIY home decor with a personal touch HOW IT WORKS 1. Upload your portrait photo 2. Our algorithm converts it into a string art pattern that can be downloaded as a pdf. 3. Follow the step-by-step instructions 4. Create a string art portrait that truly look like your loved ones PREMIUM FEATURES (Optional) Upgrade to Pro for unlimited pattern generation, high-resolution exports, advanced customization options, and priority support. Download now and create portraits that truly capture the ones you love.

About

Genie Crystals

Features
Read full description

Genie Crystals turns your favorite photos into stunning crystal and half-pearl portrait templates — the kind you see in luxury mosaic artwork, framed portraits, and handcrafted gifts. Simply pick a photo, let the built-in AI analyse it, and watch your image transform into a precise dot-placement template ready to print and bring to life with real crystals. How it works Upload any photo from your gallery. The image editor lets you fine-tune brightness, contrast, sharpness, and saturation before generation. Remove the background with a single tap and set a custom background colour using the built-in colour wheel — great for isolating a face against a clean black backdrop for maximum crystal impact. Once your image is ready, Genie Crystals' AI engine analyses the tonal distribution across every pixel and suggests three key settings automatically: Crystal Density — how many crystals fill the frame overall Contour Separation — how dramatically the crystal density shifts between tonal zones, creating visible depth Contrast Layers — how many distinct brightness bands the AI detected in your photo Tap Apply and generate. The AI suggestions are calibrated to your specific image, not a generic preset — bright portraits get different treatment from dark ones, faces are handled differently from flat graphics. Zoom, pan, and crop Pinch to zoom and drag to reposition your photo inside the canvas before generating. Only the visible portion is used — so you can frame exactly the crop you want without editing the original. Your PDF template After generating, purchase the Unlock Export to download a four-page PDF: Page 1 — your original source image for reference Page 2 — the monochrome working template: black background, white dots at exact physical size Page 3 — a colour-coded version with each crystal size shown in a different colour Page 4 — crystal counts per size, so you know exactly how many to order Print at Actual Size (100%) — not Fit to Page — and the template matches your frame dimensions to the millimetre. Default frame size is A3 (29.7 × 42 cm), the ideal starting size for a crystal portrait. Multiple crystal sizes Choose from ten standard crystal and half-pearl sizes (1.4mm to 5.0mm). The AI-powered placement engine prevents overlap between crystals of different sizes by checking actual physical radii — so a 3.0mm crystal next to a 1.4mm crystal will never touch. Saved templates Every purchased template is saved to iCloud and accessible from My Templates at any time. Genie Crystals is made by the same team behind Genie Strings — the string art portrait generator trusted by crafters around the world.

Screenshots

Portrait String Art Maker4 screens
Genie Crystals4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Portrait String Art Maker at 15.1 against Genie Crystals's 18.4. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Portrait String Art Maker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Genie Crystals sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Portrait String Art Maker ships an update every 5 weeks, Genie Crystals monthly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Portrait String Art Maker versus Genie Crystals: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPortrait String Art MakerGenie Crystals
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.4
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArul PrakashArunesh Dwivedi

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Portrait String Art Maker

One-time1
  • Stayboba$3.49
1 purchases

Genie Crystals

One-time1
  • Genie Crystals$5.99

Questions

Is Portrait String Art Maker free?
Portrait String Art Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Genie Crystals free?
Genie Crystals is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Portrait String Art Maker or Genie Crystals have ads?
Neither Portrait String Art Maker nor Genie Crystals shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Portrait String Art Maker or Genie Crystals?
Portrait String Art Maker ships an update every 5 weeks, and Genie Crystals monthly. Most recently, Portrait String Art Maker was updated on October 25, 2026 and Genie Crystals on October 25, 2026.

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