Comparison

Complex Map vs Epicycles

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

Head to head
About

Complex Map

This app visualizes complex variable functions by transforming images mapped to the complex plane. It allows users to import their own images or use predefined ones, and export the results.

Highlights
  • Complex function parser
  • Predefined and custom image import
  • Image export and sharing
  • Supports standard functions and constants
Features
Read full description

Complex Map visualizes functions of a complex variable by transforming an image mapped to the complex plane. Features: * complex function parser that handles all standard functions and constants * chose a base image from a set of predefined images or import your own images from your photo library * export the resulting image back to your library or share it with others

About

Epicycles

Explore the visualization of complex Fourier series through interactive epicycles. Create and analyze approximations of parametric curves and complex functions. Save animations and export custom terms for later use.

Highlights
  • Visualize Fourier series of 2D functions
  • Create epicycles from drawn curves
  • Save custom terms to documents
  • Export animations as GIFs
  • Adjust time and number of terms
  • Interactive graphic elements
Features
Read full description

The Epicycles app is a tool for exploring the visualization of complex Fourier series. It allows users to interactively create and visualize epicycles based on sampled parametric curves or predefined Fourier series terms. The app provides a visual representation of the complex Fourier series and demonstrates the approximation of complex-valued functions using epicycles. It can be used to study the properties of Fourier series, understand the concept of epicycles, and explore the visualization of complex functions in a fun and interactive way. • Visualizes Fourier series of 2D functions parameterized by time that are built-in, your own drawn 2D curves, or custom frequency components using the terms editor. • Custom terms can saved by exporting them to 'epi' documents in Files, and then later restored by importing them. • Cyclic animations can be saved to GIFs or snapshots saved to PNGs in the Photos library, with sizes 480x480, 720x720 or 1080x1080. • The main view consists of several functional items: Graphic Menu, Time Slider (t), Number of Fourier series terms slider (N), Current Function Menu. Graphic Menu: In the main view use the menubar in the graphic view to select options to hide or show the following graphic elements of the Fourier series visualization: • Circle: The blue circles that are the paths traced by the epicycles. These illustrate Euler’s formula for the complex valued terms of the Fourier series, expressing each complex exponential term as a pair (r cos(n t), r sin(n t)) that trace a circle of radius r, n times as time t varies in the period of length 2π. • Eye: The green circle that represents the value of the Fourier series at the current time. • Lightning: The red line segment path that consists of the joined radii of the epicycles circles, from the origin to the value of the Fourier series at the current time. • Pencil: The orange path that traces the current 2D function. • Star: The black path that traces the Fourier series 2D approximation of the current 2D function. Additionally in the menubar: • Magnify: Hide some views to make room for the expanded display the graphic. • Share: Save the graphic as an animated GIF or snapshot PNG in Photos library. • Play: Animate the graphic by periodically advancing the current time. • Info: Display internet resources conveniently in the app about Fourier series, epicycles and Euler’s formula. Time Slider (t): Adjust the time slider to see the state of all the graphic elements at any time within the time period [-π,π] on which the current 2D function is defined. Number of Fourier series terms slider (N): Adjust the number of terms included in the Fourier series approximation to the current 2D function. Frequency components in a partial Fourier series range from -N to N. The maximum value is limited to 100. As a guide tap the wand icon to set the number of terms to a value whose corresponding highest frequency can theoretically be reproduced with the given number of samples, based on the concept of Nyquist frequency with uniform sampling. For the built-in sample functions that sample count is fixed. The number of samples of your own drawn curve is variable, and displayed in the drawing view. The custom Fourier series using the term editor has known frequency components, limited to the range -20 to 20. The number of samples generated is sufficient for any selection in that range. Therefore in this case the wand sets N to the highest absolute frequency value of the terms. Current Function Menu: Use the segmented control to select from a variety of built-in 2D parametric curves or select the `?` item. Then you can either draw a 2D curve in the Draw tab view, or edit custom Fourier series terms in the Term tab view. In the latter case the app will numerically generate the Fourier series of a Fourier series, by sampling the summation of the series terms.

Screenshots

Complex Map3 screens
Epicycles4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Epicycles at none against Complex Map's 1. Epicycles also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). Complex Map's advantage is iOS requirement (7.1 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Complex Map sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Epicycles asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Complex Map against 5.0 for Epicycles. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Complex Map ships an update every 2 months, Epicycles every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Complex Map versus Epicycles: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterComplex MapEpicycles
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.1 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTinkaTinkaLimit Point Software

Customer experience

Complex Map

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Epicycles

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Complex Map

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
None

Epicycles

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Complex Map free?
Complex Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Epicycles free?
Epicycles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Complex Map or Epicycles?
Complex Map and Epicycles are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Complex Map or Epicycles have ads?
Neither Complex Map nor Epicycles shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Complex Map or Epicycles?
Complex Map ships an update every 2 months, and Epicycles every 5 days. Most recently, Complex Map was updated on September 24, 2026 and Epicycles on September 21, 2026.

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