# Sandbox vs Particle

The clearest difference is rating: Sandbox at 4.7 against Particle's 3.0. Sandbox also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (978K vs 2). Particle's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sandbox sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Particle sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sandbox holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sandbox has 978K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Sandbox ships an update every 2 days, Particle every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sandbox | Particle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (978K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-pixel-art-coloring/id1237405816/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particle/id1626465585/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **978K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 71.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 10 MB | 701 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alexey Grigorkin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023358977) | [Particle Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626465587) |

## What reviewers say

### Sandbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-pixel-art-coloring/id1237405816)

Engage in a pixel art coloring experience with a vast library of images. This app offers a fun and educational activity for children and families, promoting creativity and skill development. Turn your own photos into pixel art or explore a free drawing mode.

**Highlights:** Pixel art coloring by number, Photo to pixel art conversion, Free drawing mode, Searchable art library, Magic Round Button for similar art, Art collections, Hints for interesting art

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gorgeous Sandbox | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Sandbox. | $3.49 | per month |
| Pandy's Sandbox | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual Sandbox. | $19.49 | per year |
| Handsome Sandbox | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Relaxing and addictive
- 👍 Wide variety of pictures
- 👍 No ads
- 👍 Animated pictures
- 👍 Ability to create own drawings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many good pictures locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Issues with color palette not showing completed colors
- 🐛 Glitches with zooming and panning
- 🔋 Battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Palette not showing completed colors correctly
- Zooming and panning issues
- Offline mode issues

**Requested features**

- Add search bar to find specific pictures
- Separate completed pictures from unfinished ones
- Ability to import and color own photos
- Progressive difficulty levels
- Collaborative coloring with friends


### Particle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particle/id1626465585)

Explore art, heritage, and culture through curated stories and interactive digital and phygital exhibitions. Discover new artists and galleries, and engage with artworks in a unique way.

**Highlights:** Curated art stories, Explore events and exhibitions, Phygital and digital exhibition experiences, Interact with artworks, Discover niche galleries and artists, Support art institutions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Off-site Route | $0.99 | one-time |
| Experience Page | $0.99 | one-time |
| Route | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sandbox free?

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

### Is Particle free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sandbox or Particle?

Sandbox is rated higher. Sandbox averages 4.7 out of 5 from 978K ratings, while Particle averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Sandbox or Particle have ads?

Neither Sandbox nor Particle shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sandbox or Particle?

Sandbox ships an update every 2 days, and Particle every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sandbox was updated on October 21, 2026 and Particle on October 6, 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.*