iCircuit vs Chip Simulator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iCircuit
Design and simulate analog and digital electronic circuits in real-time. This app offers a comprehensive component library, built-in test equipment, and the ability to create custom elements. It's ideal for learning, prototyping, and validating designs without physical components.
- Real-time circuit simulation
- Extensive component library (300+)
- Built-in test equipment (multimeter, oscilloscope)
- Programmable Arduino and PIC microcontroller support
- Custom element creation and sharing
- Audio simulation
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iCircuit is the premier iPhone and iPad app for designing, simulating, and learning analog and digital electronics. Its advanced simulation engine provides real-time, always-on analysis so your circuits stay powered and live, just like working with real components. Use it like a CAD tool: add components, wire them up, and set their properties. But iCircuit is unlike typical CAD apps because it is always simulating. You do not stop to take a measurement or spend time configuring reports. Instead, you just play with the circuit as you normally would, with the power on. Build circuits with over 300 components, from simple resistors and LEDs to programmable Arduinos (Uno, Nano, Mega, ESP8266, ESP32), Raspberry Pi Pico boards running real MicroPython and CircuitPython, PIC microcontrollers, and 60 4000/7400-series digital ICs (more available with Pro). Connect elements, adjust values, and instantly see the results. BUILT-IN TEST EQUIPMENT • Multimeter: Probe any point to read voltage, current, and power • Oscilloscope: Track multiple signals with touch-controlled time scale, stacked/unstacked views, FFT analysis, and Bode plots • Gauges: Visualize voltages, currents, and frequencies directly in your circuit • Signal generators and configurable sources EXTENSIVE COMPONENT LIBRARY • Raspberry Pi Pico and Pico 2 running genuine MicroPython and CircuitPython firmware • Programmable Arduinos (Uno, Nano, Mega, ESP8266, ESP32) • Programmable PIC microcontrollers (assembly and HEX files, more available with Pro) • Power: Voltage regulators (78xx, LM317), sources, dependent sources, power jacks, and simulated antennas • Analog: Resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, BJTs, MOSFETs, thermistors, triodes, and tetrodes • Digital: Logic gates (AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR), JK and D flip-flops, and 60 4000/7400-series ICs (180+ available with Pro) • ADCs and DACs • Sensors and displays: LEDs, 7-segment, NeoPixels, matrix displays, thermistors • Electromechanical: Motors, servos, SPST/SPDT and DPST/DPDT switches, push buttons, relays, and speakers SPICE, VERILOG, AND VHDL Import vendor SPICE models and subcircuits and use them as components. Write Verilog or VHDL in the HDL element and wire it to the rest of your circuit. CREATE CUSTOM ELEMENTS Build sub-circuits and custom elements to componentize your designs and create reusable modules. Share your custom elements with others via the iCircuit Gallery. AUDIO SIMULATION Hear your circuits. Speakers, buzzers, and microphones produce real audio output. Perfect for students learning electronics, hobbyists prototyping projects, and engineers validating designs, all without burning out a single component. ABOUT ICIRCUIT PRO (OPTIONAL) iCircuit is a complete app with a one-time purchase. iCircuit Pro is optional and adds extra components (including more PICs and a larger 4000/7400 IC library) and helps fund ongoing development. Pro is not required for core simulation or everyday circuit design. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Chip Simulator
Design and test digital logic circuits with this intuitive simulator. It's a great tool for students and hobbyists to learn and experiment with chip design and basic digital logic in real-time.
- Intuitive user interface
- Design digital logic circuits
- Test and debug chips
- Real-time simulation
- Learn digital logic basics
- Experiment with circuit configurations
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Our chip simulator and digital logic app is the perfect tool for anyone looking to learn and experiment with basic digital logic. With an intuitive user interface, it allows you to easily design, test, and debug your own chips in minutes. Whether you're a student, or hobbyist, this app is an essential tool for learning and understanding the basics of digital logic and chip design. With the ability to simulate a wide range of digital logic circuits and test them in real-time, you can learn and experiment with different circuit configurations, and debug your designs to ensure they work as expected. Try it now and unleash your tech potential! proxima.centauri0@gmail.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Chip Simulator at $0.99 against iCircuit's $12.99. Chip Simulator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). iCircuit's advantage is rating (3.8 vs 1.0) and review sentiment (61% vs 38%). On ads, monetization model 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
iCircuit costs $12.99 and Chip Simulator $0.99 up front. iCircuit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Chip Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.
iCircuit holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iCircuit has 135 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of iCircuit's written reviews are positive against 38% of Chip Simulator's.
iCircuit ships an update every 4 weeks, Chip Simulator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iCircuit | Chip Simulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (135 ratings) — better | 1.0 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.1% of reviews — better | 37.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 135 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #111 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 179 MB | 70 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Krueger Systems, Inc. | 博 彭 |
Customer experience
iCircuit
Chip Simulator
Bugs and requests
iCircuit
Reported bugs
4 issues- Oscilloscope and meter functions not working properly
- Saving and loading circuits can be unreliable
- Inconsistent behavior when rotating/flipping components
- Crashes when working with larger or more complex circuits
Requested features
5 requests- More components (e.g. transformers, triodes, MOSFETs)
- Ability to create custom components
- Frequency domain analysis (Bode plots, FFT)
- Improved wiring and component placement controls
- Better support for AC circuits and motors
Chip Simulator
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iCircuit
- iCircuit Pro (Monthly)$1.991 Month
- iCircuit Pro (Yearly)$14.991 Year
Chip Simulator
No in-app purchases





