Comparison

Ions 2+ vs Space Particles

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Space Particles

Explore motion, gravity, and light in this touch-driven visual sandbox. Shape particle fields with various tools and presets, or customize your own simulations. Ideal for creative experimentation and generative art.

Highlights
  • Touch-driven particle manipulation
  • Gravity wells and repulsion tools
  • Preset visual themes
  • Customizable particle properties
  • Screenshot capture
  • Shareable scene links
Features
Read full description

Space Particles is a touch-driven visual sandbox for exploring motion, gravity, and light. Start with a live field of glowing particles, then shape it with gravity wells, repulsion, pulses, stir tools, vortices, and erase or freeze interactions. Switch between presets like spiral galaxies, binary systems, collisions, rings, streams, lattices, and nova-style bursts, or tune the simulation yourself. Particle Mode focuses on gravity-driven motion and emergent patterns. Firework Mode turns the same canvas into a configurable spark launcher with adjustable spread, trail length, gravity, drag, color, size, and lifetime. Built for quick experimentation: - Touch and drag directly on the canvas - Choose particle counts, speed, bounds, trails, colors, and visual themes - Toggle between performance and quality settings - Capture screenshots of scenes you create - Share scene links from the web version Space Particles is for anyone who likes visualizers, creative coding, particle systems, physics toys, generative art, or just watching a screen fill with organized chaos.

Screenshots

Ions 2+4 screens
Space Particles4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Space Particles at Free against Ions 2+'s $1.99. Space Particles also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 15 months). Ions 2+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (39 vs 3). On rating, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Space Particles is free to download; Ions 2+ costs $1.99 up front. Space Particles sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ions 2+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Space Particles 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ions 2+ ships an update every 15 months, Space Particles every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Ions 2+ versus Space Particles: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIons 2+Space Particles
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (39 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings39 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDouglas ApplewhiteBrandon Schabel

In-app purchases

None

Ions 2+

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Space Particles

One-time1
  • Space Particles Pro$2.99

Questions

Is Ions 2+ free?
Ions 2+ costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Space Particles free?
Space Particles is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ions 2+ or Space Particles?
Space Particles is rated higher. Ions 2+ averages 4.8 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while Space Particles averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Ions 2+ or Space Particles have ads?
Neither Ions 2+ nor Space Particles shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ions 2+ or Space Particles?
Ions 2+ ships an update every 15 months, and Space Particles every 8 days. Most recently, Ions 2+ was updated on November 1, 2026 and Space Particles on October 31, 2026.

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