# Mandala Studio vs ShiWen

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ShiWen at none against Mandala Studio's 3. ShiWen also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mandala Studio sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ShiWen asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mandala Studio ships an update every 2 months, ShiWen every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mandala Studio | ShiWen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiwen-pattern-maker/id6797526633/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Notake Shoji](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876543367) | [广俊 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893564914) |

## What reviewers say

### Mandala Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandala-studio-art-creator/id6759249408)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mandala+ Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Mandala+ Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads & Support | $1.99 | one-time |


### ShiWen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiwen-pattern-maker/id6797526633)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mandala Studio free?

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

### Is ShiWen free?

ShiWen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Mandala Studio or ShiWen have ads?

Mandala Studio shows ads; ShiWen does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mandala Studio or ShiWen?

Mandala Studio ships an update every 2 months, and ShiWen every 9 days. Most recently, Mandala Studio was updated on October 28, 2026 and ShiWen on October 31, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*