# GradientMaker vs Red

The clearest difference is rating: Red at 4.7 against GradientMaker's 3.7. Red also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 32 months). GradientMaker's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 90%) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 15.0). 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 Red sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Red holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Red has 191 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 90% of Red'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, Red every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GradientMaker | Red |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradientmaker-pro-image-fx/id984991828/reviews) | **[4.7 (191 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/red-dark-filters/id1482551197/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **191** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 90.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 32 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [orbosphere](https://appshunter.io/developer/557069087) | [Anatoly Lapshin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1331102741) |

## 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 |


### Red

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/red-dark-filters/id1482551197)

Create atmospheric night and abstract designs with dark, neon-inspired filters and effects. Add stylish text, geometric shapes, and draw or erase elements to transform your photos into unique posters or magazine covers.

**Highlights:** Vintage duotone filters, Neon and abstract effects, Customizable text and fonts, Vector shape editor, Drawing and erasing tools, Geometric shape masks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-month Premium Access | $4.99 | per month |
| 1-year Premium Access | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $24.99 | per year |
| Red PRO | $9.99 | one-time |
| Custom Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Aurora Pack | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Great color filters
- 👍 Perfect for red filters
- 👍 Affordable pro version
- 👍 Good for quick edits

**What reviewers complain about**

-  anúncios Constant ads
- 🐛 Picture quality degrades
- 🐛 Zoom not visible with filters
- 🐛 Only works on existing photos
- 🐛 Confusing interface

**Reported bugs**

- App only works on pre-existing photos
- Cannot see zoom when viewing photos with filters
- Constant ads interrupting usage
- Picture quality degrades after applying filters
- Cannot download videos for editing

**Requested features**

- Ability to select multiple photos
- Better control over filter brightness
- Video editing support
- Zoom visibility when viewing photos with filters


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GradientMaker free?

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

### Is Red free?

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

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

Red is rated higher. GradientMaker averages 3.7 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Red averages 4.7 from 191 ratings.

### Do GradientMaker or Red have ads?

GradientMaker shows ads; Red does not.

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

GradientMaker ships an update every 32 months, and Red every 6 weeks. Most recently, GradientMaker was updated on October 1, 2026 and Red on October 6, 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.*