# Ions vs Gravity Zen

The clearest difference is price: Ions at Free against Gravity Zen's $0.99. Ions also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 15.0). Gravity Zen's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months). On ads there is nothing between them.

Ions is free to download; Gravity Zen costs $0.99 up front. Gravity Zen sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Ions asks for nothing beyond the download.

Gravity Zen holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gravity Zen has 68 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Ions's written reviews are positive against 93% of Gravity Zen's.

Ions ships an update every 3 months, Gravity Zen every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ions | Gravity Zen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ions/id414602147/reviews) | **[4.8 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gravity-zen/id1602081846/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **68** |
| Positive reviews | 83.6% of reviews | **93.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 13 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Douglas Applewhite](https://appshunter.io/developer/414602150) | [Dominik Hauser](https://appshunter.io/developer/325836858) |

## What reviewers say

### Ions

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ions/id414602147)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Visually stunning and beautiful
- 🧘 Relaxing and stress-relieving
- 🎨 Highly creative and artistic
- 💡 Inspires brainstorming and imagination
- 🎮 Addictive and fun time-waster

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Gravity Zen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gravity-zen/id1602081846)

Observe small circles interacting with a central gravity field. Add numerous boxes to explore how they naturally settle into a stable arrangement. It's a simple yet captivating simulation.

**Highlights:** Gravity field simulation, Add multiple objects, Observe stable configurations, Interactive physics, Minimalist design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Large tip | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ions free?

Ions is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Gravity Zen free?

Gravity Zen costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Ions or Gravity Zen?

Gravity Zen is rated higher. Ions averages 3.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Gravity Zen averages 4.8 from 68 ratings.

### Do Ions or Gravity Zen have ads?

Neither Ions nor Gravity Zen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ions or Gravity Zen?

Ions ships an update every 3 months, and Gravity Zen every 9 days. Most recently, Ions was updated on October 7, 2026 and Gravity Zen on October 13, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*