Comparison

Loughborough Wave Lab vs RayLab

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

Head to head
About

Loughborough Wave Lab

This educational app helps students grasp electromagnetic wave concepts through interactive simulations. It features a virtual ripple tank, waveguide simulator, and Young's Double Slit experiment. Educators can create custom simulations for an enhanced learning experience.

Highlights
  • Virtual pond and ripple tank
  • Sinusoidal pulse generation
  • Waveguide simulation
  • Young's Double Slit experiment
  • Custom simulation mode
  • Educator-authored simulation uploads
Features
Read full description

Loughborough Wave Lab is an educational learning app designed to aid students in their understanding of electromagnetic wave concepts in an engaging and entertaining way! Features include: • Virtual pond • Persistent Sinusoidal Pulses • Virtual Ripple Tank • Waveguide Simulator • Young's Double Slit Experiment • Custom Simulation Mode Loughborough Wave Lab is intended to accompany teaching on Electromagnetic phenomena and to provide students with an interactive way of seeing these principles in action! Educators can now author their own custom simulation files, upload them to a web server and then have Loughborough Wave Lab execute the simulations using a WiFi or cellular data connection to download the configurations and display them to the user. This uses the new, open-source configuration standard CEML which has been introduced by the developer (available at www.github.com/danielrbrowne/CEML)

About

RayLab

Design and simulate optical systems with this powerful tool. Explore 2D and 3D models, perform advanced ray tracing, and analyze optical performance. Ideal for learning or professional design.

Highlights
  • 2D/3D optical modeling
  • Geometric ray tracing
  • Sequential and non-sequential analysis
  • Advanced optical elements
  • Polarization ray tracing
  • Design optimization
  • Glass catalogs
Features
Read full description

RayLab is an application for design and simulation of optics. It can be used either as a learning tool or for the design of real optical systems. Basic version includes: • Ability to model 2D lenses and mirrors • Full control over placement and shape of optical components • Full control over aspheric surface shape parameters • Full geometric ray tracing • Sequential and Non Sequential analysis • Front Focal Length, Back Focal Length, Principle Surface calculations • Sample Models Upgrade to RayLab Pro enables: • 3D Modeling • Advanced Optical Elements such as Lens Arrays, Diffraction Gratings, Prisms, Fresnel Lenses, etc. • Polarization Ray Tracing * Ray Splitting / Beam Splitter modeling • Multi-Configuration Manager and animation functionality • Ability to perform optimizations of design parameters • Ray Transfer Matrix calculation • Various commercial glass catalogs • Zemax Importer • Multiple Analysis Windows: -- Fan Ray Diagram. -- Wavefront Error Plot. -- Grid Distortion Plot. -- Spot Diagram. -- Chromatic Aberration. -- Gaussian Spot Size. -- Polarization Analyzer. Upgrade is available with in-app purchases of various modules OR as a full featured subscription. • The subscription offers a 7 day free trial period. Subscription begins immediately but payment will only be charged to iTunes Account at the end of the trial period. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. • The account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, at the same monthly price as the original subscription. • You may manage your subscriptions and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. • Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited if the subscription is cancelled. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: https://www.raymak.com/wp/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Loughborough Wave Lab4 screens
RayLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Loughborough Wave Lab at none against RayLab's 10. Loughborough Wave Lab also leads on ads (none vs shown). RayLab's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (63 vs 13). On price, rating, review sentiment 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

Both are free to download. RayLab sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Loughborough Wave Lab asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Loughborough Wave Lab against 4.6 for RayLab. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 63 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Loughborough Wave Lab's written reviews are positive against 75% of RayLab's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Loughborough Wave Lab ships an update every 3 months, RayLab every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and July 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Loughborough Wave Lab versus RayLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLoughborough Wave LabRayLab
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (13 ratings)4.6 (63 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1363 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel BrowneKamyar Ghandi

Customer experience

Loughborough Wave Lab

All ratings13 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

RayLab

All ratings63 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.9%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral5.6%
Negative19.4%

In-app purchases

None

Loughborough Wave Lab

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

RayLab

Subscriptions1
  • RayLab Pro Subscription7 Days trial$3.991 Month
One-time9
  • RayLab Pro UpgradeFree
  • Schott Glass Catalog$0.99
  • Custom Glass Editor$0.99
Show 6 more
  • Advanced Optical Elements$1.99
  • Source and Lens Arrays$1.99
  • Solver/Optimizer Module$3.99
  • 3D Modeling$4.99
  • RayLab Pro 2$19.99
  • RayLab Pro Bundle$19.99

Questions

Is Loughborough Wave Lab free?
Loughborough Wave Lab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RayLab free?
RayLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Loughborough Wave Lab or RayLab?
RayLab is rated higher. Loughborough Wave Lab averages 4.5 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while RayLab averages 4.6 from 63 ratings.
Do Loughborough Wave Lab or RayLab have ads?
RayLab shows ads; Loughborough Wave Lab does not.
Which is updated more often, Loughborough Wave Lab or RayLab?
Loughborough Wave Lab ships an update every 3 months, and RayLab every 6 weeks. Most recently, Loughborough Wave Lab was updated on September 9, 2026 and RayLab on July 29, 2026.

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