Comparison

Chladni Screen vs Cymatica

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

Head to head
About

Chladni Screen

Explore the mesmerizing patterns created by sound vibrations on a digital surface. This app simulates Chladni figures, visualizing how different sounds, including your voice and instruments, create intricate geometric shapes.

Highlights
  • Simulates Chladni figures digitally
  • Visualizes sound vibrations
  • Uses voice and instruments as sound sources
  • Displays geometric patterns
  • Offers multiple display modes
Features
Read full description

Chladni figures were geometric figures first discovered by Robert Hooke in 1680 and was researched and published by Ernst Chladni in 1787. These geometric figures are typically rendered on a rigid, vibrating membrane made from materials such as metal, plastic, glass, or bowl, covered with grains, like salt and sand, and changes shapes in response to different sounds that are transmitted by mediums such as speakers and actuators. The study of such phenomena is also known as cymatics. Chladni is able to simulate the phenomena digitally. A further 3 programs can be displayed by pressing and holding each of the 3 mode buttons. Some texts in this document are taken from the following Wikipedia Creative Commons license (inheritance). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Chladni Explore the wonders and beauty of the Chladni figures as it manifests from varying sound sources such as your voice and instruments!

About

Cymatica

Explore the universe's hidden mathematics by transforming sound into mesmerizing geometric sand patterns. This interactive physics simulation brings scientific principles to life with real-time calculations and haptic feedback.

Highlights
  • Interactive sand pattern simulation
  • Sound wave visualization
  • Haptic feedback
  • Real-time frequency calculations
  • Adjustable pattern complexity
  • Pattern saving
  • Dark mode
Features
Read full description

Transform sound into stunning visual art. Cymatica is an interactive physics simulation that brings Ernst Chladni's 18th-century discovery to life on your iPhone. Watch as invisible sound waves sculpt thousands of sand particles into mesmerizing geometric patterns, revealing the hidden mathematics that shapes our universe. CREATE & EXPLORE - Draw sand with one finger, erase with two - Adjust pattern complexity with the intuitive XY pad - Switch between square and circular plates - Control pattern modes from 1 to 16 - Up to 100,000 particles flowing in real-time - Shake your device to disturb the sand - Tap the plate to cycle display modes AUDIO MODES - Tone — singing bowl synthesis with frequency dial - Mic — patterns react to your voice or environment - Sounds — 9 procedural ambient instruments that never repeat - Music — play from Apple Music with live waveform visualization - Import — load your own audio or video files (advanced) TONE EFFECTS - Noise — adds grit and organic texture - Reverb — spacious, resonant depth - Decay — longer sustain and release - Detune — shimmering chorus effect GENERATIVE SOUNDSCAPES - Singing bowl, drone, pad, sub bass, piano, rain, shakuhachi, cello, flute - Evolving chord progressions that never repeat - Nordic ambient inspired soundscapes APPLE MUSIC - Search and browse your library - Play any song or playlist - Live waveform and particle visualization from speaker audio VIDEO RECORDING - Record and share videos of your patterns - Optimized for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube - Pro subscribers record without watermark FEEL THE SOUND - Synchronized haptic feedback matching visual patterns - Real-time frequency display - 6 color themes with glow effects ADVANCED MODE - Glow — soft bloom on particles - Streak — motion trails behind particles - Stereo 3D — cross-eye stereoscopic view - Open and closed plate boundaries Whether you're a physicist, musician, meditator, or simply someone who appreciates the elegant patterns underlying reality, Cymatica offers a journey into the profound connection between sound and form. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chladni Screen4 screens
Cymatica4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cymatica at Free against Chladni Screen's $1.99. Cymatica also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 49%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 8 months). Chladni Screen's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (81 vs 27). On rating, ads 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

Cymatica is free to download; Chladni Screen costs $1.99 up front. Cymatica sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Chladni Screen asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Chladni Screen against 4.7 for Cymatica. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 81 and 27 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of Chladni Screen's written reviews are positive against 77% of Cymatica's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chladni Screen ships an update every 8 months, Cymatica every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Chladni Screen versus Cymatica: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChladni ScreenCymatica
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (81 ratings)4.7 (27 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.6% of reviews76.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings81 — better27
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNarumi InadaShridhar Gupta

Customer experience

Chladni Screen

All ratings81 ratings
Positive90.1%
Neutral1.2%
Negative8.6%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive48.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative45.7%

Cymatica

All ratings27 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral7.4%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive76.9%
Neutral15.4%
Negative7.7%

In-app purchases

None

Chladni Screen

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Cymatica

Subscriptions2
  • Cymatica Pro$3.991 Month
  • Cymatica Pro$19.991 Year
One-time2
  • Unlock Sounds$4.99
  • Cymatica Pro Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Chladni Screen free?
Chladni Screen costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cymatica free?
Cymatica is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chladni Screen or Cymatica?
Cymatica is rated higher. Chladni Screen averages 4.6 out of 5 from 81 ratings, while Cymatica averages 4.7 from 27 ratings.
Do Chladni Screen or Cymatica have ads?
Neither Chladni Screen nor Cymatica shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chladni Screen or Cymatica?
Chladni Screen ships an update every 8 months, and Cymatica every 6 weeks. Most recently, Chladni Screen was updated on October 25, 2026 and Cymatica on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons