# Sembl vs Sand & Sky

The clearest difference is rating: Sand & Sky at 5.0 against Sembl's 4.2. Sand & Sky also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (100% vs 74%). Sembl's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (21 vs 3). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sembl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sand & Sky asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sand & Sky holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sembl has 21 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Sembl's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sand & Sky's.

Sembl ships an update every 3 weeks, Sand & Sky every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sembl | Sand & Sky |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sembl/id1125056602/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-and-sky/id6761145704/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 73.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 52 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Artgig Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/436414537) | [Nicholas Bianchino](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883398265) |

## What reviewers say

### Sembl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sembl/id1125056602)

Engage in a unique puzzle experience where you create designs through various artistic actions. Master over 190 levels at your own pace or test your speed in timed challenges. Enjoy minimalist graphics and serene music.

**Highlights:** Unique design puzzles, Paint, cut, punch, stencil, spin, 32 levels, Over 190 puzzles, Journey mode, Challenge mode, Minimalist graphics, Serene sound

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove all ads | $1.99 | one-time |


### Sand & Sky

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-and-sky/id6761145704)

Experiment with physics and materials in a creative sandbox. Drop, mix, and ignite various elements to discover surprising interactions and build unique creations. Enjoy a zen-like experience with realistic simulations and a variety of tools.

**Highlights:** Realistic fluid simulation, Gravity manipulation, Wind tool, Adjustable brush and speed, Undo and clear functions, Material interaction guide

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sembl free?

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

### Is Sand & Sky free?

Sand & Sky is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sembl or Sand & Sky?

Sand & Sky is rated higher. Sembl averages 4.2 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Sand & Sky averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Sembl or Sand & Sky have ads?

Sand & Sky shows ads; Sembl does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sembl or Sand & Sky?

Sembl ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sand & Sky every 5 weeks. Most recently, Sembl was updated on October 20, 2026 and Sand & Sky on October 24, 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.*