SPARKvue 4 vs Vernier Video Physics
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SPARKvue 4
Collect, visualize, and analyze real-time sensor data for STEM education. Wirelessly connect sensors, capture images for analysis, and build custom displays. Share live data and create electronic lab journals for collaborative learning.
- Live sensor data collection
- Wireless Bluetooth sensor connection
- Multiple data display options
- Built-in statistical analysis tools
- Interactive lab activities
- Electronic student lab journals
- Live data sharing
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SPARKvue is a popular data collection, visualization and analysis application for STEM learning. SPARKvue enables wireless data collection and live data sharing with anyone in the world to unleash the learning experience. Capture data from the world around you: ● Graph live sensor data from the world around you in real time—pH, temperature, force, carbon dioxide and much more! ● Connect PASCO’s new wireless Bluetooth Smart sensors directly to your iPad or iPhone—just turn on the sensor and connect right in the app. Nothing could be easier! ● Connect any of 80+ PASCO sensors via our Bluetooth interfaces ● Capture images with the integrated cameras and use SPARKvue’s image analysis capabilities ● Collect and display live data using the onboard accelerometer and sound sensors Key features: ● Measure and display sensor data in real time ● Display data in a graph, bar graph, analog meter, digits or table ● Build custom displays--mix display types, images, videos, text and assessments (Build feature not available on iPhones due to screen size) ● Analyze data with built-in statistical tools (min, max, mean, standard deviation, count and area) ● Select from 8 different curve fits including linear and quadratic ● Pinch and zoom manipulation of graphs ● Capture and annotate images ● Add videos, photos and GIFs ● Includes 14 preloaded SPARKlab interactive lab activities, plus over 80 more available free online ● Create and export electronic student lab journals ● Integrated with cloud-based file sharing services such as Dropbox and more ● Add assessments including multiple choice, drop down lists, and free text response (not available on iPhones) ● Live data sharing and session sharing across devices--with each student capturing the shared data on their own device for further analysis. Share with the class or even across geographies-in real time. Designed for science learning: ● Convenient annotation, snapshot and electronic journaling are among the features supporting peer dialogue, classroom presentations, and assessment. ● With SPARKlab interactive lab activities, teachers can blend instructional content, live data collection & analysis, reflection prompts and more, all completely within the SPARKvue environment. Use PASCO free SPARKlabs or build your own! Common user experience across platforms: SPARKvue is a member of PASCO’s SPARKscience family, providing the same user experience across all technology environments: ● tablets ● phones ● computers ● interactive whiteboards No matter what the mix of technology is in the classroom or the school, teachers and students all share the same user experience--placing the learning experience in the forefront and simplifying classroom management. Where do I get sensors? PASCO offers over 80 sensors to measure almost anything in the world around you in life, earth and physical sciences plus out in the field exploring the environment. See our newest wireless sensors to measure Temperature, pH, Pressure and Force/Acceleration—all with no need for an expensive interface or wires. Just turn them on and collect data! For purchasing information, see http://pasco.com/sparkvue Languages: SPARKvue supports 28 languages. See http://pasco.com/sparkvue for details. Support: SPARKvue has an integrated help system, just a touch away with the help icon. Further assistance with SPARKvue or any PASCO product is available free from PASCO Teacher Support. About PASCO Scientific: PASCO Scientific brings a rich history of innovation and support for science education, with over 50 years of service to educators around the world.
Vernier Video Physics
Analyze motion with automated object tracking and video analysis. Capture video, tap to track, and instantly generate trajectory, position, and velocity graphs. Ideal for science students and educators to measure and study motion.
- Automated object tracking
- Video capture and import
- Trajectory, position, and velocity graphs
- Scale video with known object
- Export video with points
- Email data for further analysis
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Video Physics brings automated object tracking and video analysis to iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Capture video of an object in motion, then tap to track automatically. Video Physics instantly creates trajectory, position, and velocity graphs for the object. Video Physics is perfect for science students and instructors. Perform on-the-go analysis of interesting motion. Measure the velocity of a child's swing, a roller-coaster, or a car. Or, take a video of a basketball free throw shot. Video Physics will display the path of the ball and provide graphs of y vs. x as well as the x and y position and velocity as a function of time. Features of Video Physics: • Capture a new video using the built-in camera, choose a video from your Photo Library, or use one of our sample videos • Track an object automatically or manually add points to the video frame • Set the scale of the video using an object of known size • Optionally set coordinate system location and rotation • View graphs of trajectory and x/y position and velocity • Export video with points • Email the video and data for further analysis in Vernier's Logger Pro software for OS X and Windows • Open data files directly in Vernier's Graphical Analysis app Quotes from physics teachers: "Just played with new Vernier video physics app on iPhone - it ROCKS! I remember the day when this would've cost thousands of dollars to do ." Mark Hines @mhines, teacher "You should check out Vernier's Video Physics app. Students can email video analysis data to Logger Pro; very cool!!" @willkomme, physics teacher Vernier’s Video Physics app is slick. - Ryan Bretag @ryanbretag, teacher and administrator App Store featured: Staff Favorite, New and Noteworthy, and What's Hot! 2012 CODiE Awards Finalist - Best Educational Use of a Mobile Device Hints for taking useful videos: • Objects that are very different than their background (black/white) work best for automated tracking. It is also helpful to use a background with uniform color and shading. See our sample videos for examples. • Do not move the camera. Analysis assumes the camera is fixed in position. • The object in motion should remain approximately in a plane perpendicular to the viewing direction. • Place an object with known dimensions, such as a meter stick, in the same plane as the motion. Use this to scale the video. Video Physics is intended for use in science education. The video analysis done in Video Physics provides a useful technique for studying two-dimensional kinematics. You can do even more with Vernier's Graphical Analysis app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch or with Logger Pro software for Mac OS X and Windows.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SPARKvue 4 at Free against Vernier Video Physics's $4.99. SPARKvue 4 also leads on ratings volume (629 vs 33). Vernier Video Physics's advantage is rating (2.5 vs 1.9) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
SPARKvue 4 is free to download; Vernier Video Physics costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Vernier Video Physics holds the better App Store score, 2.5 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SPARKvue 4 has 629 ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of SPARKvue 4's written reviews are positive against 49% of Vernier Video Physics's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SPARKvue 4 | Vernier Video Physics |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 1.9 (629 ratings) | 2.5 (33 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | 49.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 629 — better | 33 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 91 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PASCO scientific | Vernier Software & Technology |
Customer experience
SPARKvue 4
Vernier Video Physics
Bugs and requests
SPARKvue 4
Reported bugs
5 issues- Caused spontaneous combustion
- Erased all my data
- Triggered a nuclear meltdown
- Turned my dog into a salad bowl
- Gave me a permanent wedgie
Requested features
5 requests- Add free Fortnite V-Bucks
- Integrate with Tinder
- Allow users to summon demons
- Provide a self-destruct button
- Add support for teleportation
Vernier Video Physics
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SPARKvue 4
No in-app purchases
Vernier Video Physics
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SPARKvue 4 free?
Is Vernier Video Physics free?
Which has better reviews, SPARKvue 4 or Vernier Video Physics?
Do SPARKvue 4 or Vernier Video Physics have ads?
Which is updated more often, SPARKvue 4 or Vernier Video Physics?
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