# Kernel vs Particle

The clearest difference is rating: Kernel at 4.0 against Particle's 3.0. Kernel also leads on ratings volume (229 vs 2) and device support (5 vs 2). Particle's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kernel sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Particle sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Kernel holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kernel has 229 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Kernel ships an update every 2 weeks, Particle every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kernel | Particle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (229 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel-movie-and-tv-tracker/id1452608085/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particle/id1626465585/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **229** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 64.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 37 MB | 701 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nikias Molina](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684791845) | [Particle Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626465587) |

## What reviewers say

### Kernel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel-movie-and-tv-tracker/id1452608085)

This AI-powered app helps you discover, organize, and share movies and TV shows. Describe a title to find it, get recommendations directly from friends, and track upcoming releases. It also shows you where to stream content across various services.

**Highlights:** AI-powered search by description, Direct friend recommendations, Create movie/TV show playlists, Automatic release tracking and notifications, Streaming service availability, Widgets and Apple Watch support

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $15.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Gorgeous, minimalist design
- 🚀 Simple, clean, beautiful and intuitive design
- 💡 Great app to keep track of movies
- 💡 Fantastic UI, looks great and works smooth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Missing key features like rating movies/shows
- 🐛 Notifications don't work, app is unresponsive
- 🐛 Inconsistent, buggy, and crashes often
- 🐛 Annoying notifications prompt on every app launch

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Watch app doesn't work, shows blank screen
- Release dates are sometimes inaccurate
- Can't remove movies from 'Upcoming' playlist after release

**Requested features**

- Add ability to rate movies and shows
- Implement a 'mark all as seen' feature for TV shows
- Allow sorting playlists manually
- Add support for more streaming services
- Integrate Rotten Tomatoes ratings


### 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 Kernel free?

Kernel 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, Kernel or Particle?

Kernel is rated higher. Kernel averages 4.0 out of 5 from 229 ratings, while Particle averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Kernel or Particle have ads?

Neither Kernel nor Particle shows ads.

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

Kernel ships an update every 2 weeks, and Particle every 3 weeks. Most recently, Kernel was updated on November 2, 2026 and Particle on November 3, 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.*