# PhET Simulations vs NovaSolve

The clearest difference is price: NovaSolve at Free against PhET Simulations's $0.99. NovaSolve also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (100% vs 66%). PhET Simulations's advantage is ratings volume (49 vs 1) and chart position (#27 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

NovaSolve holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhET Simulations has 49 ratings behind it against 1, 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 NovaSolve's.

PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, NovaSolve every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhET Simulations | NovaSolve |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novasolve/id6763986369/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#27** | — |
| Size | 125 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) | [Anatol Pomazau](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780142024) |

## What reviewers say

### PhET Simulations

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

**Currently charting:** #27 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


### NovaSolve

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novasolve/id6763986369)

This math learning app offers daily practice, flashcards, and quizzes to build student confidence. It features an in-app solver with step-by-step explanations and personalized study plans that adapt to performance.

**Highlights:** Daily practice sets, Spaced-repetition flashcards, Adaptive practice, Timed quizzes, In-app solver with explanations, Personalized study flow, Progress analytics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, 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 NovaSolve free?

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

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

NovaSolve is rated higher. PhET Simulations averages 4.5 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while NovaSolve averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do PhET Simulations or NovaSolve have ads?

Neither PhET Simulations nor NovaSolve shows ads.

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

PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, and NovaSolve every 6 weeks. Most recently, PhET Simulations was updated on October 22, 2026 and NovaSolve on October 1, 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.*