# GradientMaker vs Colourtone

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GradientMaker at 100% against Colourtone's 53%. GradientMaker also leads on iOS requirement (8.1 vs 15.0). Colourtone's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GradientMaker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Colourtone sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Colourtone holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Colourtone has 7.1K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of GradientMaker's written reviews are positive against 53% of Colourtone's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

GradientMaker ships an update every 32 months, Colourtone every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GradientMaker | Colourtone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradientmaker-pro-image-fx/id984991828/reviews) | **[4.3 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colourtone-photo-editor/id1383338239/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **7.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 53.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 32 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 599 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [orbosphere](https://appshunter.io/developer/557069087) | [Bonnie Curtis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1383338238) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Colourtone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colourtone-photo-editor/id1383338239)

Transform your photos and videos with a vast collection of aesthetic filters inspired by analog film and cinematic styles. Offers pro editing tools, grain, texture, and glow effects for a premium, cohesive look across your content. Edit quickly and achieve professional results without a steep learning curve.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of aesthetic film-inspired filters, Photo and video editing capabilities, Film grain, texture, and overlays, Bloom and halation glow effects, Pro editing tools (HSL, curves, etc.), Batch editing for photos, Save custom looks

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Colourtone Pro Legacy Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Colourtone Weekly Pro | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Pro Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| City Lights Collection | $1.99 | one-time |
| Classic Collection | $2.99 | one-time |
| Wanderlust | $3.99 | one-time |
| Island Escape Collection | $3.99 | one-time |
| Cali Summer Collection | $3.99 | one-time |
| Beach Bronze Collection | $3.99 | one-time |
| Summer Daze | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💫 Aesthetic and high-quality filters
- 🎨 Versatile editing tools
- 🤳 Supports both photos and videos
- 💰 Affordable paid filter packs
- 🎨 Customizable presets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Locking popular free filters behind paywall
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and export issues
- 🔋 High storage usage
- ⏱️ Slow loading and processing times
- 💸 Too many paid features

**Reported bugs**

- Photos not showing up during editing
- Filters not applying correctly
- Inability to save edited videos
- App crashing on launch or during use

**Requested features**

- Bring back free Palm Beach filter
- Add more free filter options
- Improve export and saving functionality
- Reduce app storage footprint
- Enhance video editing capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GradientMaker free?

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

### Is Colourtone free?

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

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

Colourtone is rated higher. GradientMaker averages 3.7 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Colourtone averages 4.3 from 7.1K ratings.

### Do GradientMaker or Colourtone have ads?

GradientMaker shows ads; Colourtone does not.

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

GradientMaker ships an update every 32 months, and Colourtone every 4 days. Most recently, GradientMaker was updated on November 1, 2026 and Colourtone on November 3, 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.*