# Blend vs GradientMaker

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GradientMaker at 100% against Blend's 56%. GradientMaker also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 16.0). Blend's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases 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 and GradientMaker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Blend holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blend has 3.6K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Blend's written reviews are positive against 100% of GradientMaker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Blend ships an update every 8 days, GradientMaker every 32 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blend | GradientMaker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blend-combine-photo-layers/id975578412/reviews)** | [3.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradientmaker-pro-image-fx/id984991828/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.6K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 56.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 32 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 174 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **8.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Owen Schick](https://appshunter.io/developer/1533526203) | [orbosphere](https://appshunter.io/developer/557069087) |

## 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


### GradientMaker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradientmaker-pro-image-fx/id984991828)

Create stunning color gradients and blur effects for photos and wallpapers. Customize colors with an advanced picker and import images to apply unique effects. Save creations in wallpaper or full image sizes.

**Highlights:** Customizable color gradients, Adjustable blur effects, Import photos for customization, Wallpaper creation mode, Random gradient generation, Dual sizing modes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blend free?

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

### Is GradientMaker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blend or GradientMaker?

Blend is rated higher. Blend averages 4.4 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while GradientMaker averages 3.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do Blend or GradientMaker have ads?

GradientMaker shows ads; Blend does not.

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

Blend ships an update every 8 days, and GradientMaker every 32 months. Most recently, Blend was updated on October 22, 2026 and GradientMaker on October 1, 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.*