Theory vs Impulse Market
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Discover collections
- Shop exclusive styles
- Save items to Wish List
- Check order status
- Find store locations
- Receive sale notifications
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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.
Impulse Market
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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
Verdict
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
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.
Theory ships an update every 2 months, Impulse Market monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Theory | Impulse Market |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (912 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 17.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 912 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | — | #136 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Theory LLC | Christopher 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
Theory
No in-app purchases
Impulse Market
No in-app purchases









