There are many fractal-generating software to choose from, ranging from user-friendly exploration tools to advanced 3D creation suites. Some of the most popular choices include:
For Windows
- Fractal Explorer (abandonware)
authors: Arthur Sirotinsky and Olga Fedorenko
This generator stopped development two decades ago, but still maintains a loyal following. To download, use Softpedia, and for more information visit its DeviantArt group. - Apophysis (freeware)
author: Mark Townsend - ChaosPro (freeware)
author: Martin Pfingstl - Fractal eXtreme (shareware)
author: Cygnus Software - Incendia (donationware)
author: Ramiro Pérez - Jux (shareware)
author: XenoDream Software - Ultra Fractal (shareware)
author: Frederik J. Slijkerman - Ultimate Fractals (shareware)
author: Fotoview
For Mac
- Fractal Domains (shareware). Important: Doesn’t run on MacOS Catalina or later. Temporarily unavailable.
author: Dennis C. De Mars - FRAX (freeware in Apple Store) – Requires M-series chip (not compatible with Intel chips). For Mac, iPhone & iPads. There’s a PRO version for a fee as well.
author: iter9
For Android
- Fractal Eye
author: Self Similar Tech - MandelBrowser
author: Tomasz Śmigielski - For more Android apps, click HERE.
For various systems
- Apophysis 7x (freeware)
authors: Mark Townsend, Ronald Hordijk, Peter Sdobnov, Piotr Borys & Georg Kiehne - Mandelbulber & Mandelbulb 3D (freeware)
author: Krzysztov Marczak - JWildfire & JWildFire Mini (shareware)
author: Andreas Maschke - FractInt/WinFract/XFract (freeware)
author: The Stone Soup Group - GNU XaoS (freeware)
author: Jan Hubicka - Chaotica (shareware)
author: Thomas Ludwig, Glare Technologies Ltd. - Fragmentarium (freeware)
author: Mikael Hvidtfeldt Christensen - XenoDream (shareware)
author: XenoDream Software
Fractal Music software
- Aural (donationware)
author: Ramiro Pérez - FractMus 2000 (freeware)
author: Gustavo Díaz-Jerez - MusiNum (freeware)
author: Lars Kindermann - Quasi Fractal Music (freeware)
author: Paul Whalley
Online generators
Keep in mind that these are online apps. Several factors can slow them down occasionally, so give them some response time if they become sluggish.
- HTML 5 Fractal Playground
types: many
author: Vivian River Langdon - Fractal Explorer
types: Mandelbrot and Julia
author: James Wilson - Mandelbrot Fractal Explorer
types: Mandelbrot
author: Reinhard Beck - Leshy Fractal Explorer
types: Mandelbrot, Julia, Newton, Burning Ship
author: Leshy Labs - LSystems
types: LSystems
author: Kevin Roast - Online Fractal Generator
types: Mandelbrot, Julia, Newton, Phoenix, Quadratic, Multibrot, Nova, Burning Ship
author: Christopher Williams - IFS Fractal Generator
types: iterated function systems
author: Pim Schreurs (sirxemic) - Nico’s Fractal Machine
types: geometric base-motif fractals
author: Nico Disseldorp - XaoS.app
types: many
authors: Jan Hubička, Thomas Mann and contributors. - Math Site
types: many
author: Malin Christersson - Fractal Everywhere
types: Mandelbrot
author: Gregorie B. Searly - fraktaler 3
types: Mandelbrot and some transformations
author: Claude Heiland-Allen - Mandelbrot & Co
types: various
author: Mandelbrot & Co. (I assume).
Available in French and English.
Fractal software collections
For additional fractal generating software, visit the following software-related sites.
- Fractalware (freeware-oriented, multiplatform)
editor: Juan-Luis Martínez - Chaos Hypertextbook (for Mac users)
editor: Glenn Eler - The Fractal Programs Paradise (multiplatform, with direct download).
editor: Reinhard Ponty - Sound Programming (fractal music, with some direct downloads)
editor: Paul Whalley - SourceForge
List of fractal software of all kinds (some 190 counts for Windows alone)