Comparison

DrakeEQ vs WavesSimulator

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

Head to head
About

DrakeEQ

Explore the possibility of extraterrestrial life with a visually stunning calculator based on the Drake Equation. This app allows you to manipulate the equation's parameters and visualize galaxies in motion, offering an educational and entertaining experience.

Highlights
  • Drake Equation calculator
  • Interactive 7 parameter manipulation
  • Beautiful 3D galaxy visualizations
  • Galaxene Galaxy Engine
  • Educational and entertaining simulator
  • Universe exploration
Features
Read full description

Are we alone? We created DrakeEQ to provide a visually elegant answer to the extraterrestrial question, using the intellectually elegant Drake Equation. We coupled this fun calculator with beautiful, 3D galaxies in motion! To help us celebrate 15 years since the first release in 2009, DrakeEQ 7.0.0 now features our Galaxene Galaxy Engine! Use this fun simulator to graphically quantify the number of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations in our Milky Way Galaxy. Travel the Universe and explore infinitely variable galaxies! Just pinch anywhere and tap the targeting indicator. Perform thought experiments with this unique visual tool; it’s both educational and entertaining. Learn about the famous Drake Equation through direct manipulation of its 7 parameters with DrakeEQ. The Drake Equation states that: N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible where: R* = the average rate of star formation in our galaxy fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets fℓ = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point fi = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space L = the length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space. Drake Equation. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

About

WavesSimulator

Features
Read full description

You can conduct experiments related to waves on the app. In addition to the waves not attenuating unlike the real model, it also has useful functions such as slow playback, pause, and rewinding time. Main features - Pulse wave generation - Freehand wave generation - Generation of sine waves - Free end reflection - Fixed end reflection - Change the length of the string - Change playback speed - History display for up to 5 seconds - Glossary - 60 FPS or 120 FPS (ProMotion compatible devices only)

Screenshots

DrakeEQ4 screens
WavesSimulator3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DrakeEQ at $0.99 against WavesSimulator's $1.99. WavesSimulator's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). On update cadence, ads, 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

DrakeEQ costs $0.99 and WavesSimulator $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DrakeEQ ships an update every 5 months, WavesSimulator every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
DrakeEQ versus WavesSimulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrakeEQWavesSimulator
Price$0.99 — better$1.99
Rating2.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOnomaly LLCTsuyoshi Ohtsuji

In-app purchases

None

DrakeEQ

No in-app purchases

None

WavesSimulator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DrakeEQ free?
DrakeEQ costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is WavesSimulator free?
WavesSimulator costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do DrakeEQ or WavesSimulator have ads?
Neither DrakeEQ nor WavesSimulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DrakeEQ or WavesSimulator?
DrakeEQ ships an update every 5 months, and WavesSimulator every 8 months. Most recently, DrakeEQ was updated on September 30, 2026 and WavesSimulator on October 3, 2026.

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