Vernier Video Physics vs PhET Simulations
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Vernier Video Physics
Analyze motion with automated object tracking and video analysis. Capture video, tap to track, and instantly generate trajectory, position, and velocity graphs. Ideal for science students and educators to measure and study motion.
- Automated object tracking
- Video capture and import
- Trajectory, position, and velocity graphs
- Scale video with known object
- Export video with points
- Email data for further analysis
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Video Physics brings automated object tracking and video analysis to iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Capture video of an object in motion, then tap to track automatically. Video Physics instantly creates trajectory, position, and velocity graphs for the object. Video Physics is perfect for science students and instructors. Perform on-the-go analysis of interesting motion. Measure the velocity of a child's swing, a roller-coaster, or a car. Or, take a video of a basketball free throw shot. Video Physics will display the path of the ball and provide graphs of y vs. x as well as the x and y position and velocity as a function of time. Features of Video Physics: • Capture a new video using the built-in camera, choose a video from your Photo Library, or use one of our sample videos • Track an object automatically or manually add points to the video frame • Set the scale of the video using an object of known size • Optionally set coordinate system location and rotation • View graphs of trajectory and x/y position and velocity • Export video with points • Email the video and data for further analysis in Vernier's Logger Pro software for OS X and Windows • Open data files directly in Vernier's Graphical Analysis app Quotes from physics teachers: "Just played with new Vernier video physics app on iPhone - it ROCKS! I remember the day when this would've cost thousands of dollars to do ." Mark Hines @mhines, teacher "You should check out Vernier's Video Physics app. Students can email video analysis data to Logger Pro; very cool!!" @willkomme, physics teacher Vernier’s Video Physics app is slick. - Ryan Bretag @ryanbretag, teacher and administrator App Store featured: Staff Favorite, New and Noteworthy, and What's Hot! 2012 CODiE Awards Finalist - Best Educational Use of a Mobile Device Hints for taking useful videos: • Objects that are very different than their background (black/white) work best for automated tracking. It is also helpful to use a background with uniform color and shading. See our sample videos for examples. • Do not move the camera. Analysis assumes the camera is fixed in position. • The object in motion should remain approximately in a plane perpendicular to the viewing direction. • Place an object with known dimensions, such as a meter stick, in the same plane as the motion. Use this to scale the video. Video Physics is intended for use in science education. The video analysis done in Video Physics provides a useful technique for studying two-dimensional kinematics. You can do even more with Vernier's Graphical Analysis app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch or with Logger Pro software for Mac OS X and Windows.
PhET Simulations
Explore science and math concepts through interactive simulations. This app provides over 75 HTML5 simulations for learning about atoms, energy, multiplication, and more. It's ideal for students, parents, and educators, offering offline access and multiple language support.
- Interactive science and math simulations
- Offline play capability
- Multiple language support
- Customizable favorites collection
- Automatic simulation updates
- Easy simulation sorting
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Engage in learning science and math with the award-winning PhET simulations! Whether understanding atoms, exploring energy, or mastering multiplication, there is a sim for every learner. Perfect for at home, in class, or on the road, this app delivers all PhET HTML5 sims (over 75 sims) in one easy-to-use package. Developed by experts at the University of Colorado Boulder, PhET sims are used by millions of students every year. The PhET iPad app delivers these exclusive features: • Offline play: learn on the bus or at the park without a WiFi connection. • Multiple languages: app translate in many languages (great for bilingual learners). • Favorites: pick your favorite sims and create your own custom collection. • Automatic updates: get the latest HTML5 sims as soon as they are released. • Easy sorting: find the right sims for you. • Fullscreen: maximize your screen real estate for optimal sim exploration. PARENTS: Engage your child in science and math discovery. TEACHERS: Your favorite HTML5 sims at your fingertips, even without internet access. ADMINISTRATORS: Optimized for school use, so your teachers will be seamlessly up to date. STUDENTS: Tell your parents there’s an exciting app for learning science and math. Note: The app does not include PhET’s Java or Flash sims. In addition, although we are currently working on improving the accessibility of our sims, most of the sims included in this app do not include keyboard navigation or screen reader access. As accessible sims become available, they will be updated within the app. Proceeds from the app support the development of more HTML5 sims. On behalf of the PhET team and the students whose lives you have helped improve — Thank you!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PhET Simulations at 4.5 against Vernier Video Physics's 2.5. PhET Simulations also leads on price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and review sentiment (66% vs 49%). Vernier Video Physics's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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
Vernier Video Physics costs $4.99 and PhET Simulations $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PhET Simulations holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 48 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Vernier Video Physics's written reviews are positive against 66% of PhET Simulations's.
Vernier Video Physics ships an update every 2 months, PhET Simulations every 14 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.
| Parameter | Vernier Video Physics | PhET Simulations |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 2.5 (33 ratings) | 4.5 (48 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 49.4% of reviews | 65.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 33 | 48 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 14 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #26 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 125 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vernier Software & Technology | University of Colorado Boulder |
Customer experience
Vernier Video Physics
PhET Simulations
In-app purchases
Vernier Video Physics
No in-app purchases
PhET Simulations
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Vernier Video Physics free?
Is PhET Simulations free?
Which has better reviews, Vernier Video Physics or PhET Simulations?
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