# CHEMIST by THIX vs PhET Simulations

The clearest difference is rating: PhET Simulations at 4.5 against CHEMIST by THIX's 4.0. PhET Simulations also leads on price ($0.99 vs $8.99) and chart position (#27 vs unranked). CHEMIST by THIX's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

CHEMIST by THIX costs $8.99 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 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 127 and 48 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of CHEMIST by THIX's written reviews are positive against 66% of PhET Simulations's.

CHEMIST by THIX ships an update every 2 months, PhET Simulations every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CHEMIST by THIX | PhET Simulations |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **$0.99** |
| Rating | [4.0 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chemist-by-thix/id440666387/reviews) | **[4.5 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **127** | 48 |
| Positive reviews | 58.0% of reviews | **65.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#27** |
| Size | 25 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THIX LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/433373206) | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) |

## What reviewers say

### CHEMIST by THIX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chemist-by-thix/id440666387)

Experience a virtual chemistry lab with a wide range of equipment, procedures, and chemicals. Safely conduct experiments, explore chemical reactions, and learn through real-time data visualization without any mess or risk.

**Highlights:** Virtual lab equipment and procedures, Extensive chemical library (inorganic and organic), Real-time chemical data calculations, Safe and mess-free experimentation, Interactive tools for temperature, air composition, and time, Intuitive user interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### PhET Simulations

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Interactive science and math simulations, Offline play capability, Multiple language support, Customizable favorites collection, Automatic simulation updates, Easy simulation sorting

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CHEMIST by THIX free?

CHEMIST by THIX costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PhET Simulations free?

PhET Simulations costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CHEMIST by THIX or PhET Simulations?

PhET Simulations is rated higher. CHEMIST by THIX averages 4.0 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while PhET Simulations averages 4.5 from 48 ratings.

### Do CHEMIST by THIX or PhET Simulations have ads?

Neither CHEMIST by THIX nor PhET Simulations shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CHEMIST by THIX or PhET Simulations?

CHEMIST by THIX ships an update every 2 months, and PhET Simulations every 14 months. Most recently, CHEMIST by THIX was updated on October 30, 2026 and PhET Simulations on October 29, 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.*