phyphox vs Aktiv Learning
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
phyphox
Unlock your phone's sensors for scientific exploration. Conduct pre-built experiments or create your own using accelerometers, magnetometers, and more. Analyze and export data in various formats for further study.
- Pre-defined experiments
- Data export (CSV, TSV, Excel)
- Web-based remote control
- Custom experiment editor
- Access to phone sensors
- Advanced analysis functions
Read full descriptionHide full description
Did you know that you are carrying a 3D magnetometer? That you can use your phone as a pendulum to measure earth's local gravitational acceleration? That you can turn your phone into a sonar? phyphox gives you access to the sensors of your phone either directly or through ready-to-play experiments which analyze your data and let you export raw data along with the results for further analysis. You can even define your own experiments on phyphox.org and share them with colleagues, students and friends. Selected Features: • A selection of pre-defined experiments. Just press play to start. • Export your data to a range of widely used formats • Remote-control your experiment through a web interface from any PC on the same network as your phone. No need to install anything on those PCs - all you need is a modern web browser. • Define your own experiments by selecting sensor inputs, defining analysis steps and creating views as an interface using our web-editor (http://phyphox.org/editor). The analysis consists of just adding two values or using advanced methods like Fourier transforms and crosscorrelation. We offer a whole toolbox of analysis functions. Sensors supported: • Accelerometer • Magnetometer • Gyroscope • Pressure • Microphone • Proximity • GPS • Camera • LiDAR/ToF *some sensors are not present on every phone. Export formats • CSV (Comma separated values) • TSV (Tab-separated values) • Excel (if you need other formats, please let us know) This app has been developed at the 2nd Institute of Physics A at the RWTH Aachen University.
Aktiv Learning
This platform offers dynamic problems and interactive tools for college-level chemistry and math. It helps students visualize abstract STEM concepts and provides instructors with real-time insights into class understanding. Features include a mobile-friendly Lewis structure drawing tool and over 250 practice questions.
- Interactive Lewis structure drawing tool
- Dynamic STEM problems
- Real-time class results
- Over 250 built-in practice questions
- Create in-class or homework assignments
- Isoform recognition for answers
Read full descriptionHide full description
Aktiv Learning is an active learning platform built specifically for college-level chemistry and mathematics. Say goodbye to static content and generic multiple choice questions and hello to dynamic problems that are designed to help students learn and visualize abstract concepts in STEM. Aktiv Learning allows chemistry instructors to ask students engaging questions, such as drawing Lewis structures, and receive real-time information on what structures the class is drawing. The app features a custom-built tool that allows students and instructors to quickly and intuitively draw Lewis structures on mobile devices. Additionally, both students and instructors have access to over 250 built-in questions related to Lewis structures, resonance, molecular geometries, VSEPR, hybridization, sigma and pi bonding, and molecular polarity. Features: • Intuitive Lewis structures drawing tool built specifically for mobile devices - Use as engaging demonstration for your students to show example Lewis structures and reinforce concepts such as the octet rule, formal charge, and VSEPR. Students can take advantage of the drawing tool to visualize the relationship between Lewis structures and molecular shapes. • Create in-class or homework assignments - Perfect for clicker, recitation, or review problems. Students receive push notifications to alert and remind them of pending assignments. • Assign or practice with over 250 built-in questions related to Lewis structures, resonance, molecular geometries, VSEPR, hybridization, sigma and pi bonding, and molecular polarity. • Real-time class results - Quickly find common incorrect structures to address student misunderstanding before exams. • Isoform recognition - Aktiv’s technology recognizes correct answers independent of the drawn structure orientation. • Export student activity - Student participation and performance exported in a tap of a button. • Easy sign-up - Students and instructors can create accounts and join courses all within the app in a few steps. • School IT and device independent - Assign, work, and review from any mobile device and over any network connection. More content and features coming soon!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: phyphox at 4.6 against Aktiv Learning's 3.1. phyphox also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#207 vs unranked). Aktiv Learning's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. Aktiv Learning sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. phyphox asks for nothing beyond the download.
phyphox holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 282 and 185 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of phyphox's written reviews are positive against 73% of Aktiv Learning's.
phyphox ships an update every 3 months, Aktiv Learning every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.
| Parameter | phyphox | Aktiv Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (282 ratings) — better | 3.1 (185 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.7% of reviews — better | 72.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 282 — better | 185 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #207 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 112 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RWTH Aachen University | Top Hat Monocle |
Customer experience
phyphox
Aktiv Learning
User reviews
phyphox
From 282 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💡 Access to phone sensors
- 🔬 Useful for physics experiments
- 📊 Data logging and export
- 🆓 Free and no ads
- 🤔 Sparks curiosity
Room to improve
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 📉 Inconsistent performance
- 🔒 App locks/minimizes recording
- ❓ Units not always clear
- ⚠️ Potential for device damage
Aktiv Learning
From 185 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 📱 Works seamlessly on both mobile and desktop
- 💡 Interactive problem-solving tools (Lewis structures, dimensional analysis)
- 🎯 Multiple attempts per question reduce fear of failure
- 📚 Detailed explanations and step-by-step solutions
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- ⏱️ Extremely slow loading times
- 🔐 Login and authentication issues
- 📱 Drag-and-drop functionality malfunctions on iPad
- ❌ Confusing and unclear question directions
Bugs and requests
phyphox
Reported bugs
21 issues- App crashes on older devices
- Barometer not working on iOS 17.4
- Network error: Generic error
- Sound measurement curve disappears
- App crashes frequently
Show 16 moreShow fewer
- Cannot be opened on iPhone 6
- Light sensor not implemented
- Recording stops when phone is locked or app is minimized
- Green lines on screen and faded to black after using barometer sensor
- WLAN not working after using the app
- Pressure no longer displayed on iOS 17.5
- Barometer not working on iOS 17.4
- Latest version cannot be opened on iPhone 6
- Sound chronometer reset button not working
- iPad destroyed after update
- App displays Russian language by default
- Experiments not working on iPhone 7
- Magnetometer not working after update on iPhone 5s
- GPS shows 0 satellites with 6m accuracy
- App claims iPhone 11 is comparable to a low-cost tablet
- App crashes every time
Requested features
33 requests- Add infrasound detector
- More units of measurement (G-force, PSI, feet)
- NFC/RFID support
- In-app bug report feature
- Allow other sensors via USB-C
Show 28 moreShow fewer
- Ability to plug in external sensors
- Slo-mo recording with timestamps
- Add attitude sensor (roll, pitch, yaw)
- Integration with Apple Shortcuts
- Ability to record audio/dB simultaneously with other sensors
- Adjustable sampling frequency for all sensors
- Dark mode option
- Experiment editor integrated into the app
- More documentation for the editor
- Ability to form averages
- Support for older iPhones (iPhone 6)
- Add GPS satellite count display
- Add speedometer functionality
- Add Lux measurement using light sensor/camera
- Ability to play recorded audio
- Limit input for sound analyzers (dB/Hz range)
- Wi-Fi and RF module access for EMF analysis
- iWatch integration
- Improve audio generator capability
- Allow background/screen locked recording
- Add light sensor functionality
- Change units of measurement
- Add more precise measurements for static cases
- Add FFT and spectral generation for accelerometer
- Support for older devices
- Improve UI/UX for new users
- Add support for more languages
- Add a donate option
Aktiv Learning
Reported bugs
10 issues- Pop-up warnings flicker and disappear too quickly
- Drag-and-drop fails 70% of the time on iOS
- App crashes on specific problems with no recovery
- Login errors and password reset failures
- Users locked out of questions permanently
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Window resizing issues on iPad 12.9in
- Questions don't load properly or display incompletely
- Subscripts/superscripts not displaying on Mac
- Split-screen functionality disabled
- Inconsistent performance between app and web versions
Requested features
10 requests- In-app notification system for assignment reminders
- Ability to sign up for courses on mobile app
- Split-screen functionality on iPad
- Zoom capability for periodic table
- Reset button for Lewis structure questions
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Full solutions displayed after using all attempts
- Better hints and guidance for dimensional analysis
- School login integration on mobile app
- Improved question clarity and directions
- Subscript and superscript display on web version
In-app purchases
phyphox
No in-app purchases
Aktiv Learning
- Chem101 Course Activation$29.99
Questions
Is phyphox free?
Is Aktiv Learning free?
Which has better reviews, phyphox or Aktiv Learning?
Do phyphox or Aktiv Learning have ads?
Which is updated more often, phyphox or Aktiv Learning?
Other comparisons















