# Particlescape vs SandBox

Particlescape and SandBox both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of Particlescape's written reviews are positive against 36% of SandBox's. Particlescape also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (5 vs 3). SandBox's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 24 months). On price and rating there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Particlescape sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. SandBox asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Particlescape against 4.6 for SandBox. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SandBox has 45K ratings behind it against 76, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Particlescape's written reviews are positive against 36% of SandBox's.

Particlescape ships an update every 24 months, SandBox every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 8, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Particlescape | SandBox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particlescape/id480584527/reviews) | [4.6 (45K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-sand-box/id1547780686/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 76 | **45K** |
| Positive reviews | **85.5% of reviews** | 36.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 1 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Edwin Sirko](https://appshunter.io/developer/480585250) | [TINYSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/960613741) |

## What reviewers say

### Particlescape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particlescape/id480584527)

This app lets you create stunning visual patterns using interactive particle and gravity simulations. Generate thousands of particles with each touch, with higher resolution in dense areas. Optimized for performance, it supports up to half a million particles on screen.

**Highlights:** Interactive particle and gravity simulation, Generate particles with touch, Apply gravity with double-tap-hold, High-resolution rendering in dense areas, Supports up to 500,000 particles, 3D Touch pressure sensitivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Enable More Touches Without Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Enable Advanced Options | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium options | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Mesmerizing and beautiful visuals
- 🧘 Calming and relaxing experience
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🤩 Highly entertaining and fun
- 💡 Great for distraction and stress relief

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Limited customization options
- 💸 Paid upgrades don't always work
- ❓ Controls can be difficult to use
- ⚫ Black background can be overwhelming
- 👎 Ads can be intrusive

**Reported bugs**

- Controls not working
- Upgrade does nothing
- App doesn't do anything anymore
- Menus don't work on iPad Air 2
- Paid upgrade provides no new features

**Requested features**

- Add meditation music
- Ability to change colors
- More options for drag and radius
- More physics properties
- Ability to remove or dim black background


### SandBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-sand-box/id1547780686)

Engage in a dynamic particle physics playground with full rotation. Discover how various elements interact to produce captivating outcomes, offering both creative freedom and educational opportunities.

**Highlights:** Particle physics simulation, Element interaction and combination, Full 3D rotation, Thermal vision mode, Creative sandbox experience, Educational element reactions

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Satisfying gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and calming
- 🚀 Decent graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads
- 🔒 Forced ads and refills
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔋 Limited resources

**Reported bugs**

- Level 50 is impossible to complete
- Certain materials like rock have glitches
- App crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- More materials and elements
- Ability to save and load creations
- Larger sandbox area
- More realistic physics and behaviors


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Particlescape free?

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

### Is SandBox free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Particlescape or SandBox?

Particlescape and SandBox are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 76 and 45K ratings respectively.

### Do Particlescape or SandBox have ads?

SandBox shows ads; Particlescape does not.

### Which is updated more often, Particlescape or SandBox?

Particlescape ships an update every 24 months, and SandBox every 3 months. Most recently, Particlescape was updated on August 8, 2026 and SandBox on September 25, 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.*