Comparison

iCircuit vs Chip Simulator

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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/

About

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.

Highlights
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Design digital logic circuits
  • Test and debug chips
  • Real-time simulation
  • Learn digital logic basics
  • Experiment with circuit configurations
Features
Read full description

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

iCircuit4 screens
Chip Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
iCircuit versus Chip Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriCircuitChip Simulator
Price$12.99$0.99 — better
Rating3.8 (135 ratings) — better1.0 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews — better37.5% of reviews
Number of ratings135 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#111 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB70 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKrueger Systems, Inc.博 彭

Customer experience

iCircuit

All ratings135 ratings
Positive68.1%
Neutral4.4%
Negative27.4%
Written reviews682 reviews
Positive61.1%
Neutral12.6%
Negative26.2%

Chip Simulator

All ratings7 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative62.5%

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

2 purchases

iCircuit

Subscriptions2
  • iCircuit Pro (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • iCircuit Pro (Yearly)$14.991 Year
None

Chip Simulator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iCircuit free?
iCircuit costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Chip Simulator free?
Chip Simulator costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iCircuit or Chip Simulator?
iCircuit is rated higher. iCircuit averages 3.8 out of 5 from 135 ratings, while Chip Simulator averages 1.0 from 7 ratings.
Do iCircuit or Chip Simulator have ads?
Neither iCircuit nor Chip Simulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iCircuit or Chip Simulator?
iCircuit ships an update every 4 weeks, and Chip Simulator every 3 months. Most recently, iCircuit was updated on October 15, 2026 and Chip Simulator on October 11, 2026.

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