Comparison

Physics Lab AR vs Zoptiks

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Virtual lab with AR mode
  • Build 3D electric circuits
  • 100+ circuit components
  • Precise scientific calculations
  • Electromagnetic field visualization
  • Design custom galaxies
Features
Read full description

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

About

Zoptiks

Features
Read full description

Zoptiks is science enrichment for K–12 families. Every week brings a living thing to meet, a mission to do together, virtual field trips to take, and a journal to keep what you find. It works alongside school, for homeschoolers and for any family that likes to wonder. HOME Your day's front page: this week's living thing, the creature of the day, the trip you were in the middle of, and quick links to your projects and pages. SYNAPSE A few minutes a day for your brain. Play today's three drills, take the "Check your instincts" field test across memory, focus, spatial sense, reasoning and numbers, and watch your practice level change over time. LABS This week's missions follow one rhythm: watch, do, record, reflect. They run across seven spines: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth science, Engineering, Creative and Logic, so a learner can follow one thread from kindergarten to senior year. • 3D labs on your phone, like Human Atlas: 2,234 structures across 15 body systems • Hands-on experiments such as Animal Vision, Hearing Range and Species Spot • The Zoptiks XR campus: the Wildlife Clinic, Bio Lab, Chemistry and Physics labs, the Workshop and more, each downloaded when you open it • Play: short games whose results feed back into your projects, journal and missions JOURNAL Pages that nest and grow, one page per project, a board for what's next and a calendar for what's coming. Projects cover pets, plants, the garage, sports, practice and the kitchen, so the long-term work lives next to the weekly missions. PASSPORT The record of the year: report card skills by spine, field trips, classes, a yearbook, your field guide and collections. Progress is shown as mastery and a story, not letter grades. EXPLORE Meet species in Zoopedia, see the Animal of the Day, take virtual field trips from the Great Barrier Reef to the Serengeti, and find zoos, aquariums, gardens and museums near you on the map. Heart the places you love and they gather under Saved. FOR CLASSROOMS AND PLACES Teachers can assign the week's mission to a class. Zoos, aquariums and gardens can publish visitor maps, so a real visit becomes part of the week. SAFE FOR KIDS Accounts hold an age band, never a birthday. Children under 13 start with limited features until a parent or guardian approves, AI chat is off for them, and they never see a price. Parents can create Zoptiks Family to share Plus with up to six people. ALSO ON Apple Watch, home and Lock Screen widgets, and CarPlay for Zoptiks Radio. ZOPTIKS PLUS Zoptiks is free to Get Started. Plus opens the whole library: every field trip, every course session, all of Play and Synapse, the Zoptiks XR labs, unlimited projects and Pip's best model. Choose Plus for one person or Family for up to six. Lifetime Plus is a one-time purchase, and AI credit packs top up Pip. Plus and Family are auto-renewing monthly or yearly subscriptions. New subscribers get the first 7 days (monthly) or 14 days (yearly) at no charge where offered. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel in your App Store account settings. Family supports Family Sharing. Terms: https://app.zoptiks.com/legal/terms-and-conditions Privacy: https://app.zoptiks.com/legal/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Physics Lab AR4 screens
Zoptiks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Physics Lab AR at 1.9K against Zoptiks's 1. Physics Lab AR also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). Zoptiks's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Physics Lab AR sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Zoptiks sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Zoptiks holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Physics Lab AR has 1.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Physics Lab AR ships an update every 2 months, Zoptiks every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Physics Lab AR versus Zoptiks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhysics Lab ARZoptiks
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.9K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.9K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size177 MB677 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperTurtle Sim LLCZoptiks

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
Show 1 more
  • Improve stability and reduce crashes

Zoptiks

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Physics Lab AR

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Component Subscription$1.491 Month
One-time6
  • 60 Diamonds$0.99
  • 10 Diamonds$0.99
  • 120 Diamonds$1.99
Show 3 more
  • 300 Diamonds$4.99
  • 680 Diamonds$9.99
  • 1280 Diamonds$19.99
9 purchases

Zoptiks

Subscriptions5
  • Zoptiks Plus7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Zoptiks Family Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Zoptiks Plus (Annual)14 Days trial$99.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Zoptiks Plus Yearly1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • Zoptiks Family Yearly14 Days trial$199.991 Year
One-time4
  • AI Credits 100$1.99
  • AI Credits 500$7.99
  • Lifetime Plus$99.99
Show 1 more
  • Lifetime Family$199.99

Questions

Is Physics Lab AR free?
Physics Lab AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zoptiks free?
Zoptiks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Physics Lab AR or Zoptiks?
Zoptiks is rated higher. Physics Lab AR averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Zoptiks averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Physics Lab AR or Zoptiks have ads?
Neither Physics Lab AR nor Zoptiks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Physics Lab AR or Zoptiks?
Physics Lab AR ships an update every 2 months, and Zoptiks every 2 weeks. Most recently, Physics Lab AR was updated on November 6, 2026 and Zoptiks on November 6, 2026.

Other comparisons