# Particle Simulation vs Lava

The clearest difference is rating: Lava at 5.0 against Particle Simulation's 4.5. Lava also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months). Particle Simulation's advantage is ratings volume (46 vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Particle Simulation sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Lava sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lava holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Particle Simulation has 46 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Particle Simulation ships an update every 7 months, Lava every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Particle Simulation | Lava |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particle-simulation-flow-sim/id6467405758/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-3d-fluid-art/id6760262582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 132 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marvin Krueger](https://appshunter.io/developer/1152894281) | [Jarrett Homan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823072176) |

## What reviewers say

### Particle Simulation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particle-simulation-flow-sim/id6467405758)

Explore a world of creativity and find tranquility with mesmerizing particle simulations. Interact with dynamic particles, customize their behavior, and create beautiful art impressions while listening to meditative music. It's a calming and creative outlet for stress reduction and self-expression.

**Highlights:** Dynamic particle simulation, Meditative music, Customizable parameters, Autopilot mode, Gyrosensor and haptic feedback, Capture and share creations, Save and load presets

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Particles PRO | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Psychedelic magic \| monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Particles PRO | $12.99 | per year |
| Psychedelic magic | $19.99 | one-time |


### Lava

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-3d-fluid-art/id6760262582)

Experience a mesmerizing, interactive 3D lava lamp simulation. Touch and manipulate the fluid art for a calming, visually stunning experience. Customize colors, wax amount, and speed to create your perfect digital mood light.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D fluid physics, Customizable color palettes, Adjustable wax amount and speed, Multiple aesthetic styles, High-performance visuals, Touchscreen interaction

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lava Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Particle Simulation free?

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

### Is Lava free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Particle Simulation or Lava?

Lava is rated higher. Particle Simulation averages 4.5 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while Lava averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Particle Simulation or Lava have ads?

Neither Particle Simulation nor Lava shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Particle Simulation or Lava?

Particle Simulation ships an update every 7 months, and Lava every 3 weeks. Most recently, Particle Simulation was updated on September 9, 2026 and Lava on September 18, 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.*