iCircuit vs Arduino Programming Pro
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/
Arduino Programming Pro
Master Arduino programming with over 200 practical lessons, circuit diagrams, and code examples. This app guides beginners and experienced users through electronics and project building in 14 languages. The Pro version offers advanced features for enhanced learning.
- 200+ practical lessons
- Circuit diagrams and wiring guides
- Ready-to-use code examples
- Interactive quiz questions
- Support for 14 languages
- Full-text search (Pro version)
- Favorites for saving topics (Pro version)
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Learn Arduino programming from scratch with 200+ practical lessons, circuit diagrams, and ready-to-use code examples. For beginners, students, hobbyists, and engineers looking to learn Arduino from scratch or advance their skills — build real projects, understand electronics, and master Arduino. The app includes a wide collection of electronic components, analog and digital sensors, and external modules used with Arduino. Each topic includes: • Clear, detailed explanations of how components work • Step-by-step wiring instructions and circuit guidance • Integration steps with practical usage tips • Ready-to-use Arduino code examples • Interactive quiz questions Available in 14 Languages: • English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese — study in your native language! The Pro version includes additional tools for faster learning and easier navigation: • Advanced lessons, circuit diagrams, and code samples • Full-text search across all Arduino lessons and components • Favorites to save and organize important topics The application provides detailed lessons and wiring guides for a wide range of hardware components commonly used with Arduino, including: • GPIO, buttons, LEDs • ADC, PWM • UART, I2C, SPI communication • Distance, motion, and infrared sensors • Temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors • Light, sound, gas, and touch sensors • LCD and OLED displays • Motors, relays, and actuators • Accelerometers and gyroscopes • Real-time clock modules These examples include wiring diagrams, explanations, and ready-to-use Arduino code. The built-in programming course covers essential C++ topics used in Arduino development: • Data types and variables • Operators and expressions • Control structures and loops • Arrays and strings • Functions and scope • Math and random functions • Bitwise operations • Preprocessor directives All lessons, component descriptions, and quizzes are regularly updated and expanded in every new app version. "Arduino" and all other mentioned trade names are trademarks of their respective owners. This app is an independent educational product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or associated with Arduino or any other company.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Arduino Programming Pro at 4.6 against iCircuit's 3.8. Arduino Programming Pro also leads on price ($4.99 vs $12.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). iCircuit's advantage is ratings volume (135 vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On update cadence, 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 Arduino Programming Pro $4.99 up front. iCircuit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Arduino Programming Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.
Arduino Programming Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iCircuit has 135 ratings behind it against 5, 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 71% of Arduino Programming Pro's.
iCircuit ships an update every 4 weeks, Arduino Programming Pro every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iCircuit | Arduino Programming Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 | $4.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (135 ratings) | 4.6 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 61.1% of reviews | 71.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 135 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 179 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Krueger Systems, Inc. | ALG Software Lab |
Customer experience
iCircuit
Arduino Programming Pro
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
Arduino Programming Pro
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
Arduino Programming Pro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is iCircuit free?
Is Arduino Programming Pro free?
Which has better reviews, iCircuit or Arduino Programming Pro?
Do iCircuit or Arduino Programming Pro have ads?
Which is updated more often, iCircuit or Arduino Programming Pro?
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