# Magic Fluids Lite vs Lava

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Magic Fluids Lite at none against Lava's 1. Magic Fluids Lite also leads on ratings volume (3.2K vs 9) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). Lava's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lava sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Magic Fluids Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Magic Fluids Lite against 4.7 for Lava. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic Fluids Lite has 3.2K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Magic Fluids Lite ships an update every 4 months, Lava every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magic Fluids Lite | Lava |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-fluids-lite/id1437514764/reviews)** | [4.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-3d-fluid-art/id6760262582/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 90.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mad Scientist](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437510557) | [Jarrett Homan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823072176) |

## What reviewers say

### Magic Fluids Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-fluids-lite/id1437514764)

Experience a calming and creative fluid simulation that helps relieve stress and anxiety. Interact with mesmerizing, colorful swirls and patterns that evolve on your screen. Ideal for relaxation, meditation, or creating unique digital art.

**Highlights:** Hypnotizing fluid motion, Stress and anxiety relief, Aesthetic digital art creation, Configurable fluid behavior, Save custom presets, Smoke, water, and jello animation, Light and shadow effects

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌈 Mesmerizing visuals
- 🧘‍♀️ Calming and relaxing
- 👍 No ads in free version
- 🎨 Variety of fluid presets
- 🤩 Satisfying and fun to play

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited customization in free version
- 💰 Paid version required for more features
- 🔁 Needing to watch ads to unlock presets
- 🔌 Potential battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional screen freezing or glitches
- Inconsistent ad availability

**Requested features**

- Option to change fluid colors
- Live wallpaper support
- More preset options in free version
- Sound/music integration


### Lava

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-3d-fluid-art/id6760262582)

Experience a mesmerizing, interactive 3D lava lamp simulation. Touch and manipulate the fluid art for a calming, visually stunning experience. Customize colors, wax amount, and speed to create your perfect digital mood light.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D fluid physics, Customizable color palettes, Adjustable wax amount and speed, Multiple aesthetic styles, High-performance visuals, Touchscreen interaction

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lava Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magic Fluids Lite free?

Magic Fluids Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lava free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Magic Fluids Lite or Lava?

Magic Fluids Lite is rated higher. Magic Fluids Lite averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Lava averages 4.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do Magic Fluids Lite or Lava have ads?

Magic Fluids Lite shows ads; Lava does not.

### Which is updated more often, Magic Fluids Lite or Lava?

Magic Fluids Lite ships an update every 4 months, and Lava every 3 weeks. Most recently, Magic Fluids Lite was updated on November 2, 2026 and Lava on October 31, 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.*