# PhET Simulations vs NOBOOK Lab

The clearest difference is price: NOBOOK Lab at Free against PhET Simulations's $0.99. NOBOOK Lab also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 14 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). PhET Simulations's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 8). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

NOBOOK Lab is free to download; PhET Simulations costs $0.99 up front. NOBOOK Lab sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. PhET Simulations asks for nothing beyond the download.

PhET Simulations holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhET Simulations has 49 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, NOBOOK Lab monthly. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhET Simulations | NOBOOK Lab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.5 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831/reviews)** | [3.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nobook-lab/id6742533495/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#37** | — |
| Size | 125 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) | [BeiJing LeBu Educational Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/943806906) |

## What reviewers say

### PhET Simulations

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831)

**Currently charting:** #37 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### NOBOOK Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nobook-lab/id6742533495)

This app offers a virtual laboratory experience with over 1000 DIY experimental equipment pieces and a library of 700+ high-quality experiments. It allows for free combination of equipment to observe phenomena and explore scientific concepts in physics and chemistry.

**Highlights:** 1000+ DIY experimental equipment, Interactive learning mode, 8 major engine algorithms for free combination, Observe experimental phenomena instantly, 700+ high-quality experiments, Physics and chemistry modules, Search experiments by knowledge points

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GCSE Chemistry Month Access | $15.00 | one-time |
| A-Level Physics Month Access | $15.00 | one-time |
| GCSE Physics Month Access | $15.00 | one-time |
| A-Level Chem Month Access | $15.00 | one-time |
| A-Level Chem Year Access | $150.00 | one-time |
| GCSE Chemistry Year Access | $150.00 | one-time |
| GCSE Physics Year Access | $150.00 | one-time |
| A-Level Physics Year Access | $150.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhET Simulations free?

PhET Simulations costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NOBOOK Lab free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PhET Simulations or NOBOOK Lab?

PhET Simulations is rated higher. PhET Simulations averages 4.5 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while NOBOOK Lab averages 3.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do PhET Simulations or NOBOOK Lab have ads?

Neither PhET Simulations nor NOBOOK Lab shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PhET Simulations or NOBOOK Lab?

PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, and NOBOOK Lab monthly. Most recently, PhET Simulations was updated on October 19, 2026 and NOBOOK Lab on October 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*