Ions 2+ vs LumiDrift
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ions 2+
Explore a dynamic particle simulation with extensive customization options. Control ion color, size, shape, and trails. Utilize device motion and advanced grid placement for unique creations. Supports a high particle count for detailed simulations.
- Customizable ion color and size
- Shape and trail effects
- Accelerometer control
- Rectangular and polar grids
- High particle count (up to 100,000)
- Save custom layouts and looks
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Ions is back, recharged and better than ever! The sequel to the staff-favorite particle simulation allows total control over the look and behavior of your creations. Ions 2+ also supports iPhones and iPods as well as iPads! Your ions can now change color and size based on age, speed, direction, and other parameters! Change shape, leave trails, change the background, and more! Use your device’s accelerometer to react to gravity or add turbulence and drag for more variety. You also have both rectangular and polar grids for precise placement. Why stop at only 20,000 particles? With Ions 2+, you can raise the limit up to 100,000 on faster devices. Of course you can still save your favorite layouts, as well as any custom looks you’ve created. Ions 2+. I'm positive you'll love it.
LumiDrift
Create mesmerizing visual art with touch gestures. This app transforms your interactions into flowing particles, glowing light trails, and dynamic digital patterns in real time. Enjoy a calming, distraction-free experience designed for creative exploration.
- Real-time interactive particle motion
- Smooth multi-touch visual effects
- Glowing light trails
- Dynamic colors
- Minimal, immersive interface
- Designed for iPhone and iPad
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LumiDrift is an interactive visual experience that turns simple touch gestures into glowing particles, light trails, and flowing digital art. Move one finger, use multiple fingers, and watch particles drift, gather, scatter, and glow with smooth motion. Explore vivid colors, dynamic light effects, and ambient visual patterns in real time. Whether you want a creative interactive toy, a calming visual companion, or a simple way to enjoy beautiful glow effects, LumiDrift provides a clean and distraction-free experience. Features: • Real-time interactive particle motion • Smooth multi-touch visual effects • Glowing light trails and dynamic colors • Minimal, immersive interface • Designed for iPhone and iPad LumiDrift does not require an account and is designed to be simple, private, and easy to use.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: LumiDrift at Free against Ions 2+'s $1.99. LumiDrift also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 15 months). Ions 2+'s advantage is ratings volume (39 vs 3) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
LumiDrift is free to download; Ions 2+ costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
LumiDrift holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ions 2+ has 39 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Ions 2+ ships an update every 15 months, LumiDrift every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ions 2+ | LumiDrift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (39 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 93.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 39 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 49 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Douglas Applewhite | Guangzhou Leqi Trading Co., Ltd. |
Customer experience
Ions 2+
LumiDrift
In-app purchases
Ions 2+
No in-app purchases
LumiDrift
No in-app purchases









