# TheDLA vs Star Exploration

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TheDLA at none against Star Exploration's 1. TheDLA also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 10 months). Star Exploration's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Star Exploration sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TheDLA asks for nothing beyond the download.

TheDLA ships an update every 3 months, Star Exploration every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TheDLA | Star Exploration |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thedla/id506499656/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 10 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daishin Ueyama](https://appshunter.io/developer/495395197) | [振华 许](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437340417) |

## What reviewers say

### TheDLA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thedla/id506499656)

Explore pattern formation in nature with this app. It visualizes Diffusion Limited Aggregation, allowing you to create unique, complex dendritic patterns. Experiment with different interactions to generate artistic and scientific designs.

**Highlights:** Visualize Diffusion Limited Aggregation, Create complex dendritic patterns, Interactive pattern generation, Color selection for branches, Export images to photo library, Twitter, Facebook, GIF animation export, Face detection for particle placement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Star Exploration

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-exploration/id6479958031)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TheDLA free?

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

### Is Star Exploration free?

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

### Do TheDLA or Star Exploration have ads?

Neither TheDLA nor Star Exploration shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TheDLA or Star Exploration?

TheDLA ships an update every 3 months, and Star Exploration every 10 months. Most recently, TheDLA was updated on October 23, 2026 and Star Exploration on October 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.*