Comparison

Theory vs Impulse Market

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

Head to head
About

Theory

Explore the latest fashion collections and shop exclusive styles from a renowned contemporary brand. Save desired items with a one-tap Wish List and receive timely updates on new arrivals and sales through push notifications.

Highlights
  • Discover collections
  • Shop exclusive styles
  • Save items to Wish List
  • Check order status
  • Find store locations
  • Receive sale notifications
Features
Read full description

Discover Theory's collections, shop exclusive styles, and receive early access to sales. Convenient: Easier than ever to browse, shop, check order status, find a store, and more. Personalized: Our new Wish List function allows you to save items in just one tap. In the Know: Push notifications allow you to stay up to date on new arrivals, sales and App exclusive products. In 1997 Theory revolutionized the contemporary fashion market with its concept of the urban uniform. Headquartered in New York City and a leader in Fast Retailing Group’s brand portfolio, the brand balances luxury with accessibility in collections that are known for their exceptional fits, innovative fabrics, and enduring styles.

About

Impulse Market

Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Impulse Market is an online shopping simulator and spending outlet with no real spending. It's built for those moments when the urge something to buy hits... you can browse, fill a cart, and check out, except the balances, the credit, and the deliveries are all pretend. Nothing is ever purchased, charged, or shipped. The feeling gets somewhere to go, it's fun, and your real money stays where it belongs. A simple, harmless way to sit with the impulse instead of acting on it and spend less where it actually matters. What you can do: "Buy" anything in the store. Open fake/simulated credit cards (yes, with limits you will absolutely ignore, just like real life.) Track fake deliveries like you’re waiting for emotional closure Purchase cars and watch them immediately depreciate (relatable) See your monthly spending. Build a collection of expensive regret… safely DISCLAIMER: This app is purely for entertainment. This is not a real marketplace No real money is used No credit is issued No real items exist No deliveries will ever arrive Everything you see is fictional and just for fun Basically: you can’t go broke here, this is your shopping safe-space. We double checked.

Screenshots

Theory4 screens
Impulse Market4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Theory at Free against Impulse Market's $9.99. Theory also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). Impulse Market's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#136 vs unranked). On update cadence, 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

Theory is free to download; Impulse Market costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theory ships an update every 2 months, Impulse Market monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Theory versus Impulse Market: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheoryImpulse Market
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating4.6 (912 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews17.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings912 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank—#136 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTheory LLCChristopher Elliott

Bugs and requests

Theory

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Cart items disappearing or unable to remove
  • Inability to complete purchases due to app issues
  • Inconsistent behavior when navigating between screens
  • Compatibility problems with newer devices and OS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improve account management and sync across devices
  • Enhance search and filtering capabilities
  • Optimize performance and reduce loading times
  • Provide a more seamless and reliable checkout process
  • Offer more personalization and customization options

Impulse Market

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Theory

No in-app purchases

None

Impulse Market

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Theory free?
Theory is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Impulse Market free?
Impulse Market costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Theory or Impulse Market have ads?
Theory shows ads; Impulse Market does not.
Which is updated more often, Theory or Impulse Market?
Theory ships an update every 2 months, and Impulse Market monthly. Most recently, Theory was updated on October 22, 2026 and Impulse Market on October 6, 2026.

Other comparisons