# Isotopolis vs Sandbox

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Isotopolis at none against Sandbox's 1. Isotopolis also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (63% vs 47%). Sandbox's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 37 months) and ratings volume (8.8K vs 10). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sandbox sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Isotopolis asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sandbox holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sandbox has 8.8K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Isotopolis's written reviews are positive against 47% of Sandbox's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Isotopolis ships an update every 37 months, Sandbox monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Isotopolis | Sandbox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isotopolis/id1051370087/reviews) | **[4.4 (8.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-physics-simulator/id1563185441/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **8.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **62.5% of reviews** | 47.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 37 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 189 MB | 204 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brian Winn](https://appshunter.io/developer/487088992) | [Tran Dinh Hung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475879763) |

## What reviewers say

### Isotopolis

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isotopolis/id1051370087)

Explore particle physics by accelerating, steering, and colliding particles to create new isotopes. Learn about the fragmentation process and the table of nuclides through engaging gameplay. This educational game is developed by scientists and students.

**Highlights:** Particle acceleration and steering, Isotope creation and discovery, Learn about fragmentation process, Explore the table of nuclides, Educational gameplay, Developed by scientists and students

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sandbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-physics-simulator/id1563185441)

Explore a creative sandbox world where you can mix elements to discover their reactions and create dynamic environments. Experiment with physics, build structures, and witness exciting events like explosions and growth. New modes allow for planet destruction and life cycle simulation.

**Highlights:** Element mixing and reaction discovery, World building with plants and weather, Physics experiments (fire, explosions), Planet destruction mode, Life cycle simulation mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Unique and creative concept
- 🔬 Interesting physics and chemistry experiments
- 🕹️ Fun and addictive gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🤖 Lack of customization and control options
- 🔍 Difficulty finding certain elements

**Reported bugs**

- Certain elements not functioning as expected
- Saved files becoming corrupted
- Inconsistent performance and stability issues

**Requested features**

- Add more elements and materials to experiment with
- Implement a pause/speed up time feature
- Introduce a sandbox mode without any ads
- Allow users to save and load custom creations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Isotopolis free?

Isotopolis is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sandbox free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Isotopolis or Sandbox?

Sandbox is rated higher. Isotopolis averages 4.2 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Sandbox averages 4.4 from 8.8K ratings.

### Do Isotopolis or Sandbox have ads?

Sandbox shows ads; Isotopolis does not.

### Which is updated more often, Isotopolis or Sandbox?

Isotopolis ships an update every 37 months, and Sandbox monthly. Most recently, Isotopolis was updated on October 3, 2026 and Sandbox on October 15, 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.*