Physics Lab AR vs Science Simulations
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Physics Lab AR
Explore physics through interactive virtual experiments and augmented reality. Build and test electrical circuits with over 100 components, visualize electromagnetic fields, and even design your own galaxy. Ideal for students, teachers, and curious minds of all ages.
- Virtual lab with AR mode
- Build 3D electric circuits
- 100+ circuit components
- Precise scientific calculations
- Electromagnetic field visualization
- Design custom galaxies
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Are you a curious student eager to explore deeper into the physics world? Are you a science enthusiast who wants to share your ideas with others? Are you an adventurer bounded by textbook instructions and budget limits? Are you a romantic dreaming of having your own customized galaxy? Are you a teacher who wants to use fun and interactive demonstrations in your physics lessons? Learn science by doing experiments in your virtual lab with Physics Lab. With our new AR mode, you can even bring your experiments to life! In Physics Lab, you can play with various circuit components, build your own 3D electric circuits, and see how they work in real time. With 100+ circuit components to choose from (and more coming soon), the possibilities are endless. Plus, all of our experiments are backed by science and calculated with precise numbers, so you can learn and have fun at the same time. Physics Lab is not only for students, but for teachers too! Use it to demonstrate experiments in class, and help your students learn and explore in a new way. And because it's virtual, you don't have to worry about expensive lab equipment or safety concerns. Explore with freedom - Pick from 100+ circuit components (more coming!) - Drag them from the toolbox to the virtual desk and connect them the way you like - All experiment results are backed by science and calculated in precise numbers - Design your own galaxy or load from our solar system - Electromagnetic experiments with field line visualization Better than real life - Set properties of circuit components to different figures and observe changes of behavior and stats in real time - One-click to turn what you have built into an editable circuit diagram and vice versa - No expenses on lab equipments, no worry about safety issues A lab for everyone - Teachers have been using Physics Lab to demonstrate experiments and assist teaching in class - Students, in primary or high schools, can learn science and explore freely anywhere, anytime - Kids or not, curious minds now have their own virtual lab to learn knowledge by doing experiments Whether you're a teacher, student, or just someone who loves learning about physics, Physics Lab has something for everyone. Connect with us and let us know what you think, and check out our subscription options to access even more experiments and components. We can't wait to see what you create! Email: turtlesim@u.northwestern.edu =========================== Concerning Component Subscription During your subscription period, you will have access to all paid components for free, including future ones. 1) Subscription periods are one month long and will be charged to your iTunes Account at the time of purchase. 2) Your subscription is linked to your Physics Lab account. 3) You will be charged for renewals 24 hours before the end of the current period, and will be notified of the cost. 4) You can manage your subscriptions at any time in your Account Settings. 5) By purchasing a subscription, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Terms of Use: https://static.turtlesim.com/products/Term-Of-Use.txt Privacy Policy: https://static.turtlesim.com/products/Privacy-Policy.txt
Science Simulations
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.
- 150+ interactive simulations
- Chemistry and physics concepts
- Classroom and home use
- Offline access
- Game-like learning environment
- Creative Commons licensed content
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Play and learn with more than 150 interactive chemistry and physics simulations, and dive into a wide range of science concepts. How do acid-base solutions work, what do atomic interactions look like, or what is a regression? Perfect for use in the classroom or at home, these award-winning resources create an intuitive, game-like environment that encourages exploration, discovery, and learning. Powered by Kiwix, this app provides offline access to open educational resources developed by the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder. All content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC-BY), making it freely accessible for everyone. For those who want to support the mission of the PhET project, consider purchasing the official PhET App on this store —a one-time payment for lifetime access. Whatever your level. start your journey into science today with interactive, engaging, and educational simulations!
Screenshots
Verdict
Physics Lab AR and Science Simulations both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Science Simulations's written reviews are positive against 47% of Physics Lab AR's. Science Simulations also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7). Physics Lab AR's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 4) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Physics Lab AR sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Science Simulations asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Physics Lab AR against 4.8 for Science Simulations. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Physics Lab AR has 1.8K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of Physics Lab AR's written reviews are positive against 100% of Science Simulations's.
Physics Lab AR ships an update every 2 months, Science Simulations every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Physics Lab AR | Science Simulations |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.8K ratings) | 4.8 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 47.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 177 MB | 164 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Turtle Sim LLC | Wikimedia CH |
Customer experience
Physics Lab AR
Science Simulations
Bugs and requests
Physics Lab AR
Reported bugs
5 issues- App crashes when opening experiments or circuits
- Wires don't attach properly
- Objects fall through the table
- Camera position issues
- App freezes or becomes unresponsive
Requested features
6 requests- Add more components like transistors and potentiometers
- Improve camera controls and view options
- Implement saving and loading of circuits
- Add more tutorials and explanations
- Support for Vietnamese and other languages
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- Improve stability and reduce crashes
Science Simulations
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Physics Lab AR
- Monthly Component Subscription$1.491 Month
- 60 Diamonds$0.99
- 10 Diamonds$0.99
- 120 Diamonds$1.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- 300 Diamonds$4.99
- 680 Diamonds$9.99
- 1280 Diamonds$19.99
Science Simulations
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Physics Lab AR free?
Is Science Simulations free?
Which has better reviews, Physics Lab AR or Science Simulations?
Do Physics Lab AR or Science Simulations have ads?
Which is updated more often, Physics Lab AR or Science Simulations?
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