Comparison

Meditative Pendulum vs Physarum

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

Head to head
About

Meditative Pendulum

Explore the mesmerizing motion of a double pendulum with this physics-based interactive application. Adjust various parameters like mass, drag, and visual elements to create unique simulations. You can also directly interact with the pendulum by grabbing and throwing it.

Highlights
  • Double pendulum simulation
  • Elastic pendulum simulation
  • Adjustable physics parameters
  • Customizable graphics
  • Interactive pendulum control
Features
Read full description

Contemplate the chaos of the double pendulum and elastic pendulum with this physics based interactive app. In this elegant app, you can edit the physics parameters (mass, drag, time scale) and graphics parameters (trail size, second pendulum visibility/color...) as well as grab and throw the pendulum.

About

Physarum

Explore the fascinating emergent behavior of slime molds through a visually rich simulation. Adjust agent parameters, influence growth with intuitive controls, and discover complex, mesmerizing patterns.

Highlights
  • Slime mold behavior simulation
  • Autonomous agent control
  • Adjustable agent parameters
  • Maze solving and network formation
  • Vibrant color modes
  • Interactive system manipulation
Read full description

Explore artificial life through a living, flowing simulation inspired by Physarum polycephalum, the slime mold famous for forming networks, solving paths, and showing intelligence without a brain. Physarum turns simple local rules into complex motion. Thousands of agents sense trails, turn, move, and deposit new traces. As the field evolves, branching networks, waves, and organic textures emerge in real time. Use Physarum to: - Tune sensor distance, turn angle, movement, and trail strength - Paint into the field and guide the simulation by touch - Explore chaotic, branching, and self-organizing patterns - Save and restore interesting agents, fields, and rules - Create vivid generative visuals with color controls It is part science toy, part generative art studio, and part meditative visual instrument. Whether you study emergent systems, teach artificial life, or simply enjoy hypnotic motion, Physarum gives you a hands-on way to watch complexity grow from simple behavior.

Screenshots

Meditative Pendulum3 screens
Physarum4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Physarum at 4.8 against Meditative Pendulum's 4.2. Physarum also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 86%) and ratings volume (32 vs 5). Meditative Pendulum's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Physarum sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Meditative Pendulum asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Physarum holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Physarum has 32 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Meditative Pendulum's written reviews are positive against 100% of Physarum's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Meditative Pendulum ships an update every 2 weeks, Physarum every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Meditative Pendulum versus Physarum: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMeditative PendulumPhysarum
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings)4.8 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings532 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEliott MorgenszternGEORGY OSTROBROD

Customer experience

Meditative Pendulum

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

Physarum

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Meditative Pendulum

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Physarum

One-time3
  • Small developer tip2 variants$1.99
  • Medium developer tip2 variants$3.99
  • Big developer tip2 variants$5.99

Questions

Is Meditative Pendulum free?
Meditative Pendulum is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Physarum free?
Physarum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Meditative Pendulum or Physarum?
Physarum is rated higher. Meditative Pendulum averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Physarum averages 4.8 from 32 ratings.
Do Meditative Pendulum or Physarum have ads?
Neither Meditative Pendulum nor Physarum shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Meditative Pendulum or Physarum?
Meditative Pendulum ships an update every 2 weeks, and Physarum every 5 weeks. Most recently, Meditative Pendulum was updated on October 30, 2026 and Physarum on October 30, 2026.

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