# Planet simulation vs Physics Box

The clearest difference is rating: Physics Box at 4.7 against Planet simulation's 3.9. Physics Box also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 7 months). Planet simulation's advantage is ratings volume (164 vs 14). 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.

Physics Box holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Planet simulation has 164 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Planet simulation's written reviews are positive against 83% of Physics Box's.

Planet simulation ships an update every 7 months, Physics Box fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Planet simulation | Physics Box |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (164 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-simulation/id356146219/reviews) | **[4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-box/id1390864442/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **164** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 74.3% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 15 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DAN-BALL](https://appshunter.io/developer/348592290) | [Les Bird](https://appshunter.io/developer/398917210) |

## What reviewers say

### Planet simulation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-simulation/id356146219)

Design and build your own solar system with various stars. Explore the fascinating world of gravity and recreate celestial bodies. A relaxing game for your spare time.

**Highlights:** Create your own solar system, Simulate gravity, Design with various stars, Reproduce celestial bodies, Relaxing gameplay

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic gravity simulation
- 👍 Fun to mess around with
- 🎨 Visually appealing
- 🤖 Good for learning about planetary motion

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Planets often crash into the sun
- 🔍 Limited features and customization options
- 📢 Distracting ads
- 🤯 Confusing controls and UI

**Reported bugs**

- Planets sometimes disappear or behave erratically
- App crashes or freezes occasionally
- Scaling and scrolling issues

**Requested features**

- Add more celestial objects (black holes, supernovas, etc.)
- Allow for more complex orbits and binary systems
- Implement a save/load feature for solar systems
- Add a tutorial or help section
- Integrate with educational resources on astronomy


### Physics Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-box/id1390864442)

Experiment with physics in a digital sandbox. Combine various objects and tools like thrusters, magnets, and antigravity to create unique contraptions and observe their interactions. Unleash your creativity to build complex machines and challenge yourself with scoring objectives.

**Highlights:** Add thrusters, ropes, magnets, and antigravity, Explode objects and apply forces, Toggle gravity on/off, Place static anchors, Link pieces together, Build scoring machines and pinball games

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Planet simulation free?

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

### Is Physics Box free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Planet simulation or Physics Box?

Physics Box is rated higher. Planet simulation averages 3.9 out of 5 from 164 ratings, while Physics Box averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.

### Do Planet simulation or Physics Box have ads?

Planet simulation shows ads; Physics Box does not.

### Which is updated more often, Planet simulation or Physics Box?

Planet simulation ships an update every 7 months, and Physics Box fortnightly. Most recently, Planet simulation was updated on September 19, 2026 and Physics Box on September 9, 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.*