Mantis

Name: Mantis
Brand: Mantis

A Swift image‑cropping library that mimics the iOS Photos app experience

softwareMobile DevelopmentiOSSwiftImage Cropping

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Our Verdict

Best for

iOS developers needing image cropping

Skip if

Server-side processing required

What is Mantis?

Mantis is an open‑source image cropping library for iOS and Mac Catalyst, written in Swift and usable from both UIKit and SwiftUI. It is designed to be embedded directly into host applications, giving developers a native‑look cropping UI without building it from scratch. The library supports freeform and fixed‑ratio crops, custom shapes, rotation, flipping, perspective correction, and full undo/redo stacks, all under a permissive free license. It integrates smoothly with common development tools and version‑control systems, making it ideal for iOS development teams.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentSelf-hosted

open source✅ Yes

github stars1,191

api available✅ Yes

support optionsEmail, Community Forum

key integrationsGit, SVN, MySQL, PostgreSQL

primary languageSwift

Key Features of Mantis

Provides freeform cropping that matches the native Photos app UI for a familiar user experience.

Allows fixed‑ratio cropping with preset aspect ratios for consistent output dimensions.

Supports custom crop shapes, enabling circular, elliptical, or polygonal selections.

Offers rotation, horizontal and vertical flipping, and perspective correction for advanced image adjustments.

Includes unlimited undo and redo capabilities to safely experiment with crop edits.

Designed as an embeddable component, it can be integrated into any iOS or Mac Catalyst app without external dependencies.

Use Cases for Mantis

Photo Editing Apps

Embed Mantis to give users a native‑like cropping experience within your photo editor.

Social Media Posting

Allow users to quickly crop and rotate images before sharing to social platforms.

Document Scanning

Use perspective correction to straighten scanned pages directly in the app.

E‑commerce Product Images

Standardize product photo aspect ratios and shapes for consistent catalog displays.

Pros & Cons of Mantis

Pros

Free and open‑source with no licensing fees
Seamless integration with both UIKit and SwiftUI
Rich feature set including rotation and perspective correction
Designed for easy embedding as a reusable component

Cons

Limited to iOS and Mac Catalyst platforms
No built‑in server‑side processing; all work is client‑side
Documentation may be sparse for advanced custom shape implementations

Frequently Asked Questions

What platforms does Mantis support?

Mantis runs on iOS devices and Mac Catalyst applications.

Can I use Mantis with SwiftUI?

Yes, Mantis provides a SwiftUI wrapper for easy integration alongside UIKit.

Is there a commercial license required for closed‑source apps?

No, Mantis is released under an open‑source license and can be used in both open‑source and proprietary projects without additional fees.

How do I report bugs or request features?

You can submit issues on the GitHub repository or discuss them in the community forum; email support is also available.

Pricing Overview

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Free

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

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