Comparison

How It Works vs Science Simulations

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

Head to head
About

How It Works

Explore science, technology, history, space, transport, and the environment through engaging articles, stunning visuals, and reader Q&A. Discover fascinating topics and try fun experiments at home.

Highlights
  • Global Eye: Latest science and tech news
  • Amazing images and cutaways
  • Fascinating feature articles
  • Reader Q&A for 'how and why' questions
  • How To guides for home experiments
Features
Read full description

Welcome to How It Works, the magazine that explains everything you never knew you wanted to know about the world we live in. Covering science, technology, history, space, transport and the environment, no subject is too big or small for How It Works to explain. What you’ll find in every issue: • Global Eye – the latest news, developments and events from the world of science, technology and space • Amazing images – each issue is loaded with fantastic cutaways, illustrations and photography • Features – How It Works’ articles explain the most fascinating subjects and topics in an exciting way that everyone can understand • Brain Dump – get the answers to all your burning 'how and why' questions answered in our reader Q&A section • How To – your guide to fun experiments and projects to try out at home Join thousands of others and download our free app now! ------------------- Once you’ve downloaded our app, you will need to take a free trial or purchase a single issue or subscription to access our in-depth content. We also publish specials and guides - browse our publications, read what interests you most, and get inspired. Back issues, specials, and future issues are available for purchase within the app. Subscriptions are available on various monthly and annual terms, and auto-renew until you decide to cancel it. Check inside the app for current pricing. *** Please Note: Our digital edition is not printable and does not include the covermount items or supplements you would find with the print edition *** • The free trial offer is only available to new subscribers. If you have previously subscribed then payment will be taken immediately. • You can cancel at any time during the free trial period and you will not be charged. Simply turn off auto-renew in your Apple account subscriptions page at least 24 hours before the auto-renew is due. • Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. • You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for that product. • You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings after purchase . • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. This does not affect your statutory rights. • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. • We will be collecting information about your use of the app both when you are online and offline. To find out more please see our privacy policy. The subscription will include the current issue if you don't already own it and subsequently published future issues for the duration of your subscription period. ------------------- By purchasing a subscription or downloading an app you agree that you have read and accept Future Publishing Ltd's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy/ www.futureplc.com/terms-conditions/

About

Science Simulations

Explore over 150 interactive chemistry and physics simulations to understand complex science concepts. This app offers an intuitive, game-like environment for learning at home or in the classroom, with offline access to educational resources.

Highlights
  • 150+ interactive simulations
  • Chemistry and physics concepts
  • Classroom and home use
  • Offline access
  • Game-like learning environment
  • Creative Commons licensed content
Features
Read full description

Play and learn with more than 150 interactive chemistry and physics simulations, and dive into a wide range of science concepts. How do acid-base solutions work, what do atomic interactions look like, or what is a regression? Perfect for use in the classroom or at home, these award-winning resources create an intuitive, game-like environment that encourages exploration, discovery, and learning. Powered by Kiwix, this app provides offline access to open educational resources developed by the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder. All content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC-BY), making it freely accessible for everyone. For those who want to support the mission of the PhET project, consider purchasing the official PhET App on this store —a one-time payment for lifetime access. Whatever your level. start your journey into science today with interactive, engaging, and educational simulations!

Screenshots

How It Works4 screens
Science Simulations4 screens

Verdict

The call

How It Works and Science Simulations both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Science Simulations's written reviews are positive against 32% of How It Works's. Science Simulations also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). How It Works's advantage is ratings volume (158 vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating, ads 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. How It Works sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Science Simulations asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for How It Works against 4.8 for Science Simulations. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: How It Works has 158 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 32% of How It Works's written reviews are positive against 100% of Science Simulations's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

How It Works ships an update every 6 months, Science Simulations every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
How It Works versus Science Simulations: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHow It WorksScience Simulations
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (158 ratings)4.8 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews31.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings158 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB164 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFuture plcWikimedia CH

Customer experience

How It Works

All ratings159 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral3.1%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews282 reviews
Positive31.6%
Neutral8.2%
Negative60.3%

Science Simulations

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

How It Works

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes frequently
  • Purchased issues not accessible after updates
  • Restore purchases and subscriptions not working

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add a free sample or preview option
  • Improve navigation and zooming features
  • Optimize layout and text readability for mobile devices

Science Simulations

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

How It Works

Subscriptions3
  • 1 Month Subscription1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • 6 Month Subscription1 Month trial$19.996 Months
  • 1 Year Subscription1 Month trial$34.991 Year
One-time7
  • How It Works: Issue 26$5.99
  • How It Works: Issue 29$5.99
  • How It Works: Issue 22$5.99
Show 4 more
  • How It Works: Issue 03$5.99
  • How It Works: How it Works Book of Amazing Tech$5.99
  • How It Works: Amazing Answers to Curious Questions$5.99
  • How It Works: Issue 10$5.99
None

Science Simulations

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is How It Works free?
How It Works is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Science Simulations free?
Science Simulations is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, How It Works or Science Simulations?
Science Simulations is rated higher. How It Works averages 4.7 out of 5 from 158 ratings, while Science Simulations averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.
Do How It Works or Science Simulations have ads?
Neither How It Works nor Science Simulations shows ads.
Which is updated more often, How It Works or Science Simulations?
How It Works ships an update every 6 months, and Science Simulations every 2 months. Most recently, How It Works was updated on November 10, 2026 and Science Simulations on October 30, 2026.

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