Comparison

The Grid vs AC Matrix

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

Head to head
About

The Grid

Features
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The Grid is a magic app that will allow you to perform an INTERACTIVE MAGIC TRICK using images. You can perform The Grid on the phone of all your spectators at the same time, without limit of spectators. The Grid is ideal to amaze small or large groups of people on the real world and also is amazing for streaming platforms like zoom, meet, etc. Also you can perform The Grid on your phone, without an internet connection, showing your screen to a small group of spectators. Welcome to The Grid the INTERACTIVE MAGIC APP!

About

AC Matrix

Features
Read full description

AC Matrix turns your phone into a magic instrument. Everything an audience sees looks like an ordinary phone doing ordinary things. Everything you do to control it is invisible. SLIDE EFFECTS Flash through your own screenshots and clips, full-screen. Because the media is yours, the effect can be anything a phone screen can show โ€” a home screen where the icons gather into one corner, a photo that changes when you turn the phone around, a lock screen that shouldn't exist yet. โ€ข Cut instantly, or cross-dissolve over a length you choose โ€ข Hold a slide for a set delay before it changes โ€ข Let a slide advance itself, so a beat lands on time and not a moment late โ€ข Name your slides so a long routine stays readable while you build it TRIGGER IT HOWEVER YOU LIKE Every slide chooses its own way in: a tap anywhere on the screen, a shake of the phone, or a hand gesture seen by the camera. Mix them inside one routine โ€” tap, tap, shake, pinch โ€” so no single tell repeats. AI CLEANUP, ON DEVICE Box out a clock, a notification, a status bar, anything that gives the game away. An inpainting model rebuilds the area from its surroundings, on your phone, and stores the cleaned copy alongside the original. One toggle switches between them. Works on stills and on video, either as a single patch or frame by frame. Cleanup runs in the background with a Live Activity, so you can watch a long job finish from the Lock Screen instead of holding the app open. BUILT FOR PERFORMING โ€ข Two-finger swipe down to leave โ€” there is no visible quit button, and that is the point โ€ข Swipe right to step back a slide if you need to โ€ข The screen stays awake and the status bar stays hidden โ€ข Open the app straight into a performance, so nothing is ever seen but the effect LEARN IT BY WATCHING IT Every setting that describes a behaviour over time is shown as a small looping animation, not a paragraph. A "?" next to any control opens the tutorial already scrolled to the right topic. There is a filmed clip of one routine being performed, start to finish, if you would rather just watch one first. PRIVATE BY CONSTRUCTION AC Matrix has no network code functionality. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is analysed, no account is required. Camera frames are read for hand detection and discarded โ€” never recorded, never saved, never sent. The AI cleanup model runs entirely on your device. Requires iOS 17 or later. Camera gesture triggers need a physical iPhone.

Screenshots

The Grid3 screens
AC Matrix4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Grid at none against AC Matrix's 1. The Grid also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). AC Matrix's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. AC Matrix sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. The Grid asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Grid ships an update every 3 months, AC Matrix every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences ยท 2 level
The Grid versus AC Matrix: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe GridAC Matrix
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 4 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size38 MB261 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJavier FrancoFeiyu Chang

In-app purchases

None

The Grid

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

AC Matrix

One-time1
  • AC Matrix Pro$4.99

Questions

Is The Grid free?
The Grid is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AC Matrix free?
AC Matrix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do The Grid or AC Matrix have ads?
Neither The Grid nor AC Matrix shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Grid or AC Matrix?
The Grid ships an update every 3 months, and AC Matrix every 4 days. Most recently, The Grid was updated on October 28, 2026 and AC Matrix on October 26, 2026.

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