# Blend vs SharpStacker

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SharpStacker at none against Blend's 8. Blend's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Blend sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. SharpStacker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Blend ships an update every 8 days, SharpStacker fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blend | SharpStacker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blend-combine-photo-layers/id975578412/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3.6K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 56.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 174 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Owen Schick](https://appshunter.io/developer/1533526203) | [LUIGI VANNOZZI](https://appshunter.io/developer/6783673110) |

## What reviewers say

### Blend

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blend-combine-photo-layers/id975578412)

Easily merge and layer photos to create unique double exposure effects and stunning collages. This powerful yet simple tool allows for special effects, filters, and frames to enhance your images. Perfect for social media sharing and creating eye-catching content.

**Highlights:** Double exposure editing, Photo layering, Special effects, Filters and frames, Photo collage maker, Carousel post design, Customizable grids

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All 1 Week Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock 1 Month Subscription | $17.99 | per month |
| Blend Photos 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Blend Photos 1 Year | $44.99 | per year |
| Remove Watermark | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Frames | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Filters | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Good blending effects
- 💡 Useful for quick photo projects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall blocks basic features
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 📵 Constant requests for reviews and subscriptions

**Reported bugs**

- Work area reverts to tiny size
- App crashes during editing
- Screenshot function not working as expected

**Requested features**

- More free editing tools and filters
- Ability to resize and reposition layers
- Improved stability and reliability


### SharpStacker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sharpstacker/id6783673108)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blend free?

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

### Is SharpStacker free?

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

### Do Blend or SharpStacker have ads?

Neither Blend nor SharpStacker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blend or SharpStacker?

Blend ships an update every 8 days, and SharpStacker fortnightly. Most recently, Blend was updated on October 22, 2026 and SharpStacker on October 13, 2026.

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