# Atomus vs Grating Simulator

The clearest difference is ads: Grating Simulator at none against Atomus's shown. Grating Simulator also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). Atomus's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Atomus ships an update every 2 months, Grating Simulator every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Atomus | Grating Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (524 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atomus/id1605327908/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **524** | — |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 91 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SungLab Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1691666995) | [Mark Barclay](https://appshunter.io/developer/1779667710) |

## What reviewers say

### Atomus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atomus/id1605327908)

This app is an interactive visualizer that creates beautiful, dynamic art inspired by natural phenomena and abstract concepts. It offers customizable particle effects, multi-touch interaction, and music integration, designed to inspire creativity or provide a relaxing visual experience.

**Highlights:** 10-Finger Multi-touch Display, 5 Music Choices, Fastest Speed (60 FPS), 12,000 Particles, Customizable Particle Length, Number, & Size, 3-Color Modes

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Relaxing and calming experience
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 💡 Customizable particle effects
- 🔒 No ads or in-app purchases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or performance issues
- 💡 Limited color and customization options
- 🔋 Drains battery life quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when using more than 10 fingers
- Inconsistent ad frequency

**Requested features**

- More color and particle effect options
- Ability to turn off sound/music
- Haptic feedback support


### Grating Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grating-simulator/id6759843063)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Atomus free?

Atomus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Grating Simulator free?

Grating Simulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Atomus or Grating Simulator have ads?

Atomus shows ads; Grating Simulator does not.

### Which is updated more often, Atomus or Grating Simulator?

Atomus ships an update every 2 months, and Grating Simulator every 5 days. Most recently, Atomus was updated on September 25, 2026 and Grating Simulator on September 13, 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.*