# Ions vs Particle Simulation

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ions at 84% against Particle Simulation's 25%. Ions also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). Particle Simulation's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.8) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Particle Simulation sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Ions asks for nothing beyond the download.

Particle Simulation holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 46 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of Ions's written reviews are positive against 25% of Particle Simulation's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Ions ships an update every 3 months, Particle Simulation every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ions | Particle Simulation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ions/id414602147/reviews) | **[4.5 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particle-simulation-flow-sim/id6467405758/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **46** |
| Positive reviews | **83.6% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Douglas Applewhite](https://appshunter.io/developer/414602150) | [Marvin Krueger](https://appshunter.io/developer/1152894281) |

## 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


### Particle Simulation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particle-simulation-flow-sim/id6467405758)

Explore a world of creativity and find tranquility with mesmerizing particle simulations. Interact with dynamic particles, customize their behavior, and create beautiful art impressions while listening to meditative music. It's a calming and creative outlet for stress reduction and self-expression.

**Highlights:** Dynamic particle simulation, Meditative music, Customizable parameters, Autopilot mode, Gyrosensor and haptic feedback, Capture and share creations, Save and load presets

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Particles PRO | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Psychedelic magic \| monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Particles PRO | $17.99 | per year |
| Psychedelic magic | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ions free?

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

### Is Particle Simulation free?

Particle Simulation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ions or Particle Simulation?

Particle Simulation is rated higher. Ions averages 3.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Particle Simulation averages 4.5 from 46 ratings.

### Do Ions or Particle Simulation have ads?

Neither Ions nor Particle Simulation shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ions or Particle Simulation?

Ions ships an update every 3 months, and Particle Simulation every 7 months. Most recently, Ions was updated on October 7, 2026 and Particle Simulation on October 8, 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.*