# PhET Simulations vs Science Simulations

The clearest difference is price: Science Simulations at Free against PhET Simulations's $0.99. Science Simulations also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 66%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 14 months). PhET Simulations's advantage is ratings volume (49 vs 4) and chart position (#38 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Science Simulations holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhET Simulations has 49 ratings behind it against 4, 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 Science Simulations's.

PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, Science Simulations every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhET Simulations | Science Simulations |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/science-simulations/id6744251352/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#38** | — |
| Size | 125 MB | 164 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) | [Wikimedia CH](https://appshunter.io/developer/997079562) |

## What reviewers say

### PhET Simulations

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

**Currently charting:** #38 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


### Science Simulations

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/science-simulations/id6744251352)

Explore over 150 interactive chemistry and physics simulations to understand complex science concepts. This app offers an intuitive, game-like environment for learning at home or in the classroom, with offline access to educational resources.

**Highlights:** 150+ interactive simulations, Chemistry and physics concepts, Classroom and home use, Offline access, Game-like learning environment, Creative Commons licensed content

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhET Simulations free?

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

### Is Science Simulations free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PhET Simulations or Science Simulations?

Science Simulations is rated higher. PhET Simulations averages 4.5 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while Science Simulations averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do PhET Simulations or Science Simulations have ads?

Neither PhET Simulations nor Science Simulations shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PhET Simulations or Science Simulations?

PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, and Science Simulations every 3 months. Most recently, PhET Simulations was updated on September 23, 2026 and Science Simulations on August 17, 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.*