Comparison

Three vs 3

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

Head to head
About

Three

Explore celestial mechanics by simulating gravitational interactions between multiple celestial bodies. Users can add up to seven suns and an asteroid matrix to observe complex orbital behaviors and gravitational slingshot effects. The app allows for adjustments to gravity parameters for demonstration purposes.

Highlights
  • Multi-body gravitational simulation
  • Add up to 7 suns
  • Asteroid matrix simulation
  • Observe gravitational slingshots
  • Adjustable gravity parameters for demonstration
  • Enlarged volumes for better observation
Features
Read full description

1. For a batter observation, all volumes are enlarged by many times (the range of gravity in the real universe is much larger, and the planet is much smaller, so don’t worry about breaking the Roche limit) 2. Users can add up to 7 Sun, and randomly distribute them to nearby spaces. 3. Users can add an asteroid matrix. Asteroids have no gravity (negligibly small in the reality) and are only affected by Suns. (Well, in fact, it is afraid that the cpu is limited, and it is impossible to calculate the mutual gravitational force of too many stars.) 4. The three-body system is very unstable, and it is prone to gravitational slingshot effect. If a star is too far away from other stars, it may never come back. 5. However, users can also turn on an additional r/10 parameter to increase the gravitational force of stars at a long distance and make it return to the system (after turning on the parameter, it can only be used for demonstration, and the data has no reference value).

About

3

Explore the wonders of gravity with this 2D N-body simulator. Experiment with celestial mechanics, create mesmerizing patterns, and customize your simulations. It's a fun and educational playground for anyone curious about physics.

Highlights
  • Simulate gravity interactions
  • Explore preset configurations
  • Customize body size, color, and trails
  • Educational and fun physics experiments
  • Create mesmerizing visual patterns
Features
Read full description

Explore the Wonders of Gravity with 3-Body - A 2D N-Body Simulator! Dive into the fascinating world of physics with 3-Body, a unique 2D N-body simulator inspired by the famous “3-Body Problem” in physics (also the book series and now Netflix show). Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a fan of celestial mechanics, or just looking for something cool to play with, 3-Body offers a fun and educational experience. Key Features: • Simulate Gravity: Watch as bodies with mass interact with each other, forming complex and mesmerizing patterns as they move under the influence of gravity. • Preset Configurations: Explore stable configurations such as the figure-eight orbit of three bodies, a circular orbit of three masses, or a large body orbited by smaller ones. • Customization: Unleash your creativity by customizing the size, color, and trails of the bodies you create. Tailor each simulation to your liking and see how it affects the system. • Educational & Fun: While the app is primarily informational, it’s also incredibly fun to experiment with. Whether you’re learning about gravitational physics or just enjoying the visual spectacle, 3-Body has something for everyone. Why 3-Body? 3-Body isn’t just a tool—it’s a playground for your imagination. With no specific goal other than to explore, discover, and enjoy, this app brings the wonders of gravity to your fingertips. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or just someone curious about the universe, 3-Body is sure to captivate and entertain you. Download 3-Body today and embark on your journey through the cosmos!

Screenshots

Three4 screens
34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: 3 at 100% against Three's 50%. 3 also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (5.0 vs 2.0). Three's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

3 is free to download; Three costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

3 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Three's written reviews are positive against 100% of 3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Three ships an update weekly, 3 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Three versus 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThree3
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating2.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4 — better3
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer骐显 梁Cubic Insights LLC

Customer experience

Three

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

3

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Three

No in-app purchases

None

3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Three free?
Three costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is 3 free?
3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Three or 3?
3 is rated higher. Three averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while 3 averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Three or 3 have ads?
Neither Three nor 3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Three or 3?
Three ships an update weekly, and 3 monthly. Most recently, Three was updated on October 24, 2026 and 3 on October 22, 2026.

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