Ions vs Sandbox Planet
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ions
Explore a virtual sandbox with up to 20,000 particles of light. Create dazzling patterns in real-time by painting with ions, placing emitters, and using fields to attract or repel them. Features accelerometer support and five distinct visual styles.
- Control up to 20,000 particles
- Real-time pattern creation
- Interactive painting with ions
- Emitter placement for ion control
- Attract/repel fields
- Accelerometer support
- Five visual styles
Read full descriptionHide full description
Ions was selected by Apple as a New and Noteworthy app in February and was the #1 Entertainment app for nearly a week! Ions was then selected as a Staff Favorite in March! Control up to 20,000 particles of light! Ions is an addictive virtual sandbox where you can create dazzling patterns in realtime. Ions runs at 60 fps and really shows off the power of the iPad. There are infinite creative possibilities with Ions - you won't be able to put it down! Use your fingers to either paint with ions or interact with them. Place emitters to control where new ions are created and their initial speeds and directions. Then use fields to either attract or repel ions, altering their velocities. Accelerometer support allows the ions to respond to gravity. You also have five different looks to choose from; each one completely changes the appearance of the ions. Additionally, you can save and load your favorite layouts at any time.
Sandbox Planet
Create and customize your own solar systems and planets. Emulate the development of the universe with highly detailed simulation tools. Build any celestial body you can imagine.
- Solar system simulation
- Planet building
- Universe emulation
- Customizable creation
- Celestial body design
Read full descriptionHide full description
Simulate real solar system Emulate universe develop, build any planet you want. Highly customizable, bulid your own solar system.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Sandbox Planet at 4.5 against Ions's 3.8. Sandbox Planet also leads on ratings volume (303 vs 13) and device support (3 vs 1). Ions's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On price and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Sandbox Planet sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Ions asks for nothing beyond the download.
Sandbox Planet holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sandbox Planet has 303 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of Ions's written reviews are positive against 52% of Sandbox Planet's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ions | Sandbox Planet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (13 ratings) | 4.5 (303 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.6% of reviews — better | 51.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 303 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 6.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 119 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Douglas Applewhite | Oscar Tsang |
Customer experience
Ions
Sandbox Planet
User reviews
Ions
From 13 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✨ Visually stunning and beautiful
- 🧘 Relaxing and stress-relieving
- 🎨 Highly creative and artistic
- 💡 Inspires brainstorming and imagination
- 🎮 Addictive and fun time-waster
Room to improve
- 🤔 Limited longevity and can get boring
- 📉 Some features not working on certain devices
- 🖼️ Saved images don't look as good as on-screen
- 🖱️ Sidebar and generator markers are always visible
- 🤷 Not much to do for some users
Sandbox Planet
From 303 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Very fun and enjoyable game
- ✨ Beautiful graphics
- 🌌 Great sandbox experience
- 🎮 Compatible with iOS 18
- 🌠 Ability to design planets
Room to improve
- 💸 Expensive in-app purchases
- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics
- 📉 Slow progression without spending
- 😩 Ads are frequent and intrusive
- ⏳ Takes too long to create planets
Bugs and requests
Ions
Reported bugs
7 issues- Rainbow color not working
- Multi-color part not working on iPad Air
- One of the layouts is broken
- App crashes when trying to save a layout
- Requires newest iPhone OS but user is on iPad
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Mysteriously refuses to install
- In horizontal mode, screen is upside-down
Requested features
27 requests- Add a grid for accurate placement
- Option to hide sidebar/markers
- Add wall/boundaries for ions to bounce off
- Allow choosing number and size of ions
- More control over emitters and fields
Show 22 moreShow fewer
- Ability to create a system with charges
- 3D TV AirPlay support
- Particle collision option
- Duplicate fields and emitters
- Choose particle fading distance
- Link or group fields and emitters
- Modify, snap to, and toggle a grid
- Toggle fields and emitters' visibility
- Choose a background image
- Automate emitter/field position
- More 'looks' to choose from
- Friend connection for sharing layouts online
- Repelled and attractor plates
- Screens
- Input Solidworks models
- 3D capabilities
- Sound options (e.g., white noise)
- Arrow controls for fine-tuning field strength
- Increase ion cap
- Prevent sleep mode
- Choose color independent of speed
- Add different looks/themes
Sandbox Planet
Reported bugs
8 issues- Advertisements have non-functional close buttons
- App crashes frequently
- Video ads for currency don't load
- Bug with GP conversion where it decreases
- Daytime interface is too bright
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Some options do not charge GP as expected
- In-app purchases are confusing
- Black hole physics seem off
Requested features
7 requests- Random planets and stars should spawn
- Add currency earning methods
- Allow naming of planets
- Add more content
- Make the game harder
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Add more slots for creations
- Provide instructions or tutorials
In-app purchases
Ions
No in-app purchases
Sandbox Planet
- 5000 GP$1.99
- Remove Ad$2.99
- 25000 GP$5.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- 50000 GP$9.99
- 120000 GP$19.99
- 200000 GP$29.99
