# Planet simulation vs Particlescape

The clearest difference is rating: Particlescape at 4.6 against Planet simulation's 3.9. Particlescape also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (86% vs 74%). Planet simulation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 8 months vs every 24 months). On price and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Particlescape sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Planet simulation asks for nothing beyond the download.

Particlescape holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 165 and 76 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Planet simulation's written reviews are positive against 86% of Particlescape's.

Planet simulation ships an update every 8 months, Particlescape every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Planet simulation | Particlescape |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-simulation/id356146219/reviews) | **[4.6 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particlescape/id480584527/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **165** | 76 |
| Positive reviews | 74.3% of reviews | **85.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 months** | Every 24 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DAN-BALL](https://appshunter.io/developer/348592290) | [Edwin Sirko](https://appshunter.io/developer/480585250) |

## 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


### Particlescape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particlescape/id480584527)

This app lets you create stunning visual patterns using interactive particle and gravity simulations. Generate thousands of particles with each touch, with higher resolution in dense areas. Optimized for performance, it supports up to half a million particles on screen.

**Highlights:** Interactive particle and gravity simulation, Generate particles with touch, Apply gravity with double-tap-hold, High-resolution rendering in dense areas, Supports up to 500,000 particles, 3D Touch pressure sensitivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Enable More Touches Without Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Enable Advanced Options | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium options | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Mesmerizing and beautiful visuals
- 🧘 Calming and relaxing experience
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🤩 Highly entertaining and fun
- 💡 Great for distraction and stress relief

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Limited customization options
- 💸 Paid upgrades don't always work
- ❓ Controls can be difficult to use
- ⚫ Black background can be overwhelming
- 👎 Ads can be intrusive

**Reported bugs**

- Controls not working
- Upgrade does nothing
- App doesn't do anything anymore
- Menus don't work on iPad Air 2
- Paid upgrade provides no new features

**Requested features**

- Add meditation music
- Ability to change colors
- More options for drag and radius
- More physics properties
- Ability to remove or dim black background


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Planet simulation free?

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

### Is Particlescape free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Planet simulation or Particlescape?

Particlescape is rated higher. Planet simulation averages 3.9 out of 5 from 165 ratings, while Particlescape averages 4.6 from 76 ratings.

### Do Planet simulation or Particlescape have ads?

Planet simulation shows ads; Particlescape does not.

### Which is updated more often, Planet simulation or Particlescape?

Planet simulation ships an update every 8 months, and Particlescape every 24 months. Most recently, Planet simulation was updated on October 9, 2026 and Particlescape on October 8, 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.*