Comparison

iCircuit vs Circuit 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
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

Circuit Simulator

Design and simulate electronic and digital circuits in real-time. Visualize voltage and current flow, and analyze circuit behavior with tools like oscilloscopes and multimeters. Offers a user-friendly experience for circuit design and digital electronic analysis.

Highlights
  • Real-time electronic circuit simulation
  • Digital circuit simulation
  • Voltage and current analysis
  • Multichannel oscilloscope
  • Multimeter tools
  • Circuit design and tuning
Features
Read full description

VoltSim is a realtime electronic circuit simulator like Multisim, SPICE, LTspice, Altium or Proto for circuit design with a better user experience. VoltSim is a complete circuit app in which you can design circuits with various components and simulate an electric or digital circuit. During simulation you can check voltage, current and many other variables. Check signals on multichannel oscilloscope or multimeter and tune your circuit in real time! You can also use VoltSim as logic circuit simulator and perform digital electronic analysis! This app will help you visualize how the voltage varies across the circuit and how current flows through it. T&C: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iCircuit4 screens
Circuit Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Circuit Simulator at Free against iCircuit's $12.99. Circuit Simulator also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (77% vs 61%). iCircuit's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.3). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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

Circuit Simulator is free to download; iCircuit costs $12.99 up front. iCircuit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Circuit Simulator sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Circuit Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 142 and 93 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of iCircuit's written reviews are positive against 77% of Circuit Simulator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iCircuit ships an update every 4 weeks, Circuit Simulator every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
iCircuit versus Circuit Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriCircuitCircuit Simulator
Price$12.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (142 ratings)4.7 (93 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews76.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings142 — better93
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.3
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB103 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKrueger Systems, Inc.Sindhu Gopi

Customer experience

iCircuit

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

Circuit Simulator

All ratings87 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral3.4%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%

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

Circuit 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
8 purchases

Circuit Simulator

Subscriptions1
  • Extensions Subscription$0.991 Month
One-time7
  • Sensors Extension$0.99
  • Custom Chips Extension$1.99
  • Instruments extension$2.99
Show 4 more
  • Analog Extension$3.99
  • Misc Extension$3.99
  • Digital Extension$3.99
  • Extension Pack$12.99

Questions

Is iCircuit free?
iCircuit costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Circuit Simulator free?
Circuit Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iCircuit or Circuit Simulator?
Circuit Simulator is rated higher. iCircuit averages 3.8 out of 5 from 142 ratings, while Circuit Simulator averages 4.7 from 93 ratings.
Do iCircuit or Circuit Simulator have ads?
Neither iCircuit nor Circuit Simulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iCircuit or Circuit Simulator?
iCircuit ships an update every 4 weeks, and Circuit Simulator every 6 weeks. Most recently, iCircuit was updated on October 29, 2026 and Circuit Simulator on October 27, 2026.

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