Comparison

SPARKvue 4 vs Physics Toolbox Tone Generator

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Physics Toolbox Tone Generator

Generate continuous tones with adjustable frequency and amplitude. Modify wave shapes like sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth. Useful for science education experiments and demonstrating sound wave principles.

Highlights
  • Continuous tone generation
  • Adjustable frequency (0-20,000 Hz)
  • Adjustable amplitude (volume)
  • Multiple wave shapes (sine, square, triangle, sawtooth)
  • Educational applications for sound science
  • Demonstrate inverse-square law
Features
Read full description

This tone generator app produces a continuous tone. The user can modify both the frequency (~pitch) (0 - 20,000 Hz) and the amplitude (~volume) of the sound wave. The wave shape can also be modified as sin, square, triangle, and saw-tooth. This app can be used in science education in conjunction with a sound meter to determine the inverse-square law for sound intensity, or with another tone generator to produce audible beats (by combining two tones of slight different frequencies). If you have any questions, comments, or would like to see modifications/updates, please email me at support@vieyrasoftware.net

Screenshots

SPARKvue 44 screens
Physics Toolbox Tone Generator2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Physics Toolbox Tone Generator at 3.7 against SPARKvue 4's 1.9. Physics Toolbox Tone Generator also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). SPARKvue 4's advantage is ratings volume (638 vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Physics Toolbox Tone Generator holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SPARKvue 4 has 638 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of SPARKvue 4's written reviews are positive against 40% of Physics Toolbox Tone Generator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPARKvue 4 ships an update every 2 months, Physics Toolbox Tone Generator every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SPARKvue 4 versus Physics Toolbox Tone Generator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPARKvue 4Physics Toolbox Tone Generator
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.9 (638 ratings)3.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.0% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings638 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPASCO scientificChrystian Vieyra

Customer experience

SPARKvue 4

All ratings638 ratings
Positive21.6%
Neutral2.0%
Negative76.3%
Written reviews298 reviews
Positive46.0%
Neutral3.0%
Negative51.0%

Physics Toolbox Tone Generator

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

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

Physics Toolbox Tone Generator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SPARKvue 4

No in-app purchases

None

Physics Toolbox Tone Generator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPARKvue 4 free?
SPARKvue 4 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Physics Toolbox Tone Generator free?
Physics Toolbox Tone Generator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SPARKvue 4 or Physics Toolbox Tone Generator?
Physics Toolbox Tone Generator is rated higher. SPARKvue 4 averages 1.9 out of 5 from 638 ratings, while Physics Toolbox Tone Generator averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do SPARKvue 4 or Physics Toolbox Tone Generator have ads?
Neither SPARKvue 4 nor Physics Toolbox Tone Generator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPARKvue 4 or Physics Toolbox Tone Generator?
SPARKvue 4 ships an update every 2 months, and Physics Toolbox Tone Generator every 5 months. Most recently, SPARKvue 4 was updated on September 24, 2026 and Physics Toolbox Tone Generator on September 7, 2026.

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