Comparison

iCircuit vs TI

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

TI

This powerful math app offers a comprehensive Computer Algebra System (CAS) for graphing, data analysis, and equation solving. Visualize mathematical concepts by overlaying graphs on images and interactively exploring how equations change in real-time. Access hundreds of free learning activities for various math levels.

Highlights
  • Computer Algebra System (CAS)
  • Comprehensive graphing capabilities
  • Data entry and analysis
  • Equation solving with algebraic precision
  • Image import for real-world visualization
  • Interactive equation manipulation
  • Access to free learning activities
Read full description

Texas Instruments, the No. 1 recommended brand of graphing calculators in the U.S., has optimized its most powerful Computer Algebra System (CAS) math engine for an all-in-one iPad app that makes teaching and learning math more engaging, meaningful and … fun! ONE CAS APP. ALL THE MATH. Open the door to math mastery with the first-in-class iPad CAS app that delivers comprehensive graphing, data entry and analysis, statistical modeling and calculating functionality. Solve equations with algebraic precision, factor and expand variable expressions, complete the square, find antiderivatives, compute limits, find exact solutions in irrational form and more. Make math more meaningful by importing images from the iPad camera or photo library and overlaying graphs and equations on them to illustrate abstract math principles in the real world.* Visualize crucial connections by observing how equations change — in real time, on one screen — when you touch, grab and interact with shapes, graphs and objects on the screen. Graph functions, inequalities, implicit functions, conic sections, scatter plots, statistical plots and regression models, 3D graphs, parametric, polar and differential equations. Enter equations in proper math notation so math symbols and formulas on the screen are identical to those in text books and on the board. Deepen understanding by exploring hundreds of free activities for Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Statistics, Pre-Calculus and more from the online Math Nspired resource center. Create and store work on your iPad, and share it using your Email or Dropbox account. A COMPLETE LEARNING RESOURCE TI Education Technology is committed to success in mathematics by providing advanced learning tools that have been designed in collaboration with leading educators and researchers. TI provides world-class professional development for teachers, as well as free activities and curriculum content. For additional information about the TI-Nspire CAS App for iPad, please visit our website. The TI-Nspire CAS App for iPad does not support external and third party keyboards. * TI-Nspire CAS App for iPad supports .jpg, jpeg, .bmp and .png image formats. iPad is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

Screenshots

iCircuit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iCircuit at $12.99 against TI's $29.99. iCircuit also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 6 months) and chart position (#129 vs unranked). TI's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and monetization model 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 TI $29.99 up front. iCircuit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. TI asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TI holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 151 and 406 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of iCircuit's written reviews are positive against 65% of TI's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iCircuit ships an update every 4 weeks, TI every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
iCircuit versus TI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriCircuitTI
Price$12.99 — better$29.99
Rating3.9 (151 ratings)4.6 (406 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews65.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings151406 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#129 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.6
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKrueger Systems, Inc.Texas Instruments

Customer experience

iCircuit

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

TI

All ratings406 ratings
Positive91.4%
Neutral3.0%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews246 reviews
Positive65.4%
Neutral8.9%
Negative25.6%

User reviews

iCircuit

From 151 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great for learning and testing
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 💡 Programmable Arduino integration
  • 👍 Useful for hobbyists and students

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 🔧 Difficult to edit and delete components
  • 🔧 Limited component library
  • 🔧 Inaccurate simulation results in some cases

TI

From 406 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful CAS functionality
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 💡 Ability to use on iPad instead of physical calculator
  • 👍 Seamless integration with TI-Nspire ecosystem
  • 🚀 Excellent graphing capabilities

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 👎 Unintuitive navigation and menus
  • 👎 Lack of support for newer iPad models and features
  • 👎 Expensive for an app
  • 👎 Difficult to use for those unfamiliar with TI-Nspire

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

TI

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when opening documents
  • Scrolling issues and unresponsive UI
  • Incompatibility with latest iOS versions
  • Keyboard disappearing during use

Requested features

6 requests
  • Split-screen/multi-window support
  • Improved 3D graphing functionality
  • Customizable keyboard layout
  • Better integration with cloud storage services
  • Ability to export content in LaTeX format
Show 1 more
  • Built-in PDF reader for tutorials

In-app purchases

2 purchases

iCircuit

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

TI

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iCircuit free?
iCircuit costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is TI free?
TI costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iCircuit or TI?
TI is rated higher. iCircuit averages 3.9 out of 5 from 151 ratings, while TI averages 4.6 from 406 ratings.
Do iCircuit or TI have ads?
Neither iCircuit nor TI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iCircuit or TI?
iCircuit ships an update every 4 weeks, and TI every 6 months. Most recently, iCircuit was updated on November 6, 2026 and TI on November 1, 2026.

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