# Atomus vs Lava

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Atomus at none against Lava's 1. Atomus also leads on ratings volume (531 vs 9) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). Lava's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lava sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Atomus asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Atomus against 4.7 for Lava. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Atomus has 531 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Atomus ships an update every 2 months, Lava every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Atomus | Lava |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (531 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atomus/id1605327908/reviews)** | [4.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-3d-fluid-art/id6760262582/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **531** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 89.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 92 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SungLab Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1691666995) | [Jarrett Homan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823072176) |

## 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


### Lava

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-3d-fluid-art/id6760262582)

Experience a mesmerizing, interactive 3D lava lamp simulation. Touch and manipulate the fluid art for a calming, visually stunning experience. Customize colors, wax amount, and speed to create your perfect digital mood light.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D fluid physics, Customizable color palettes, Adjustable wax amount and speed, Multiple aesthetic styles, High-performance visuals, Touchscreen interaction

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lava Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Atomus free?

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

### Is Lava free?

Lava is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Atomus or Lava?

Atomus is rated higher. Atomus averages 4.7 out of 5 from 531 ratings, while Lava averages 4.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do Atomus or Lava have ads?

Atomus shows ads; Lava does not.

### Which is updated more often, Atomus or Lava?

Atomus ships an update every 2 months, and Lava every 3 weeks. Most recently, Atomus was updated on November 3, 2026 and Lava on October 31, 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.*