Comparison

PhET Simulations vs Num Trainer

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

Head to head
About

PhET Simulations

Explore science and math concepts through interactive simulations. This app provides over 75 HTML5 simulations for learning about atoms, energy, multiplication, and more. It's ideal for students, parents, and educators, offering offline access and multiple language support.

Highlights
  • Interactive science and math simulations
  • Offline play capability
  • Multiple language support
  • Customizable favorites collection
  • Automatic simulation updates
  • Easy simulation sorting
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Engage in learning science and math with the award-winning PhET simulations! Whether understanding atoms, exploring energy, or mastering multiplication, there is a sim for every learner. Perfect for at home, in class, or on the road, this app delivers all PhET HTML5 sims (over 75 sims) in one easy-to-use package. Developed by experts at the University of Colorado Boulder, PhET sims are used by millions of students every year. The PhET iPad app delivers these exclusive features: • Offline play: learn on the bus or at the park without a WiFi connection. • Multiple languages: app translate in many languages (great for bilingual learners). • Favorites: pick your favorite sims and create your own custom collection. • Automatic updates: get the latest HTML5 sims as soon as they are released. • Easy sorting: find the right sims for you. • Fullscreen: maximize your screen real estate for optimal sim exploration. PARENTS: Engage your child in science and math discovery. TEACHERS: Your favorite HTML5 sims at your fingertips, even without internet access. ADMINISTRATORS: Optimized for school use, so your teachers will be seamlessly up to date. STUDENTS: Tell your parents there’s an exciting app for learning science and math. Note: The app does not include PhET’s Java or Flash sims. In addition, although we are currently working on improving the accessibility of our sims, most of the sims included in this app do not include keyboard navigation or screen reader access. As accessible sims become available, they will be updated within the app. Proceeds from the app support the development of more HTML5 sims. On behalf of the PhET team and the students whose lives you have helped improve — Thank you!

About

Num Trainer

This app offers quick, engaging number-based exercises to sharpen your mind. Improve focus, memory, and mental math skills with short training sessions that can be adjusted for difficulty.

Highlights
  • Improve reflection and focus
  • Enhance attention and memory
  • Develop mental math skills
  • Boost logic abilities
  • Multiple training modes
  • Adjustable difficulty levels
Read full description

Num Trainer is a brain training app for faster number skills. Four focused games build attention, memory, reaction speed, mental math and logic in short sessions you can fit into any day. NEW: GLOBAL LEADERBOARDS Sign in to Game Center and your fastest times are ranked worldwide. There is a leaderboard for every game and every difficulty, so you always compete on equal rules. Not signed in? Everything still works and your records stay on your device. FOUR TRAINING GAMES • Mental Math – solve addition, subtraction, multiplication and division against the clock, from Beginner to Expert. • Number Pairs – memorise card positions and match every identical pair. • Tap in Order – a Schulte-table style challenge: find and tap numbers from smallest to largest as fast as you can. • Digit-by-Digit Math – remember a number, then transform each digit with the same step. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Training History charts your latest, best and median time for every game and difficulty. Open the record list to review each session and the exact settings you played. SIMPLE AND FOCUSED Clean, distraction-free design, light and dark appearance, English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish and Japanese. No ads, no in-app purchases and no account required.

Screenshots

PhET Simulations3 screens
Num Trainer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Num Trainer at Free against PhET Simulations's $0.99. Num Trainer also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 66%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). PhET Simulations's advantage is ratings volume (48 vs 2) and chart position (#47 vs unranked). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Num Trainer is free to download; PhET Simulations costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Num Trainer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhET Simulations has 48 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of PhET Simulations's written reviews are positive against 100% of Num Trainer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, Num Trainer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
PhET Simulations versus Num Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhET SimulationsNum Trainer
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (48 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings48 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#47 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of Colorado BoulderYang Wang

Customer experience

PhET Simulations

All ratings49 ratings
Positive87.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews145 reviews
Positive65.5%
Neutral4.1%
Negative30.3%

Num Trainer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

PhET Simulations

No in-app purchases

None

Num Trainer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PhET Simulations free?
PhET Simulations costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Num Trainer free?
Num Trainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PhET Simulations or Num Trainer?
Num Trainer is rated higher. PhET Simulations averages 4.5 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while Num Trainer averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do PhET Simulations or Num Trainer have ads?
Neither PhET Simulations nor Num Trainer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PhET Simulations or Num Trainer?
PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, and Num Trainer monthly. Most recently, PhET Simulations was updated on October 26, 2026 and Num Trainer on October 27, 2026.

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