Comparison

Hapticlabs vs Sensor Playground

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

Head to head
About

Hapticlabs

Design and prototype custom vibration patterns for mobile applications and games. Connect to a desktop application for live playback and easily deploy unique haptic experiences across devices. Enhance user interfaces with immersive haptic feedback.

Highlights
  • Create custom haptic patterns
  • Live haptic playback
  • Add effects to prototypes
  • Design brand-specific responses
  • Generate patterns with AI
  • Combine haptics with audio
Read full description

Elevate Mobile Experiences with Hapticlabs! Design intuitive, immersive and impactful haptics. Connect the Hapticlabs Player to our desktop application available at hapticlabs.io to experience live playback of your custom patterns. Design brand-specific haptic responses, add stunning effects and deploy effortlessly across mobile devices. Features: - Explore haptified UI elements for your app or game - Easily create custom patterns in our desktop app - Add haptic effects to Figma or Play prototypes - Real-time haptic playback - Design brand-specific haptic responses - Generate patterns with Hapticlabs Ai - Evaluate haptic presets - Combine haptics with audio - Deploy across mobile devices - .. and much more! Perfect for UX designers, app developers, and creative professionals looking to add an extra dimension to their digital experiences. Download Hapticlabs Studio at www.hapticlabs.io now to bring your interactions to life!

About

Sensor Playground

Features
Read full description

Sensor Playground turns your phone into a live dashboard for DIY sensor nodes built on the ESP32 or a Raspberry Pi class single-board computer. Flash the free companion firmware onto your board, wire up a supported sensor, and the app finds the node automatically on your local network or via Bluetooth LE — no cloud, no account, no registration. Readings appear as clear cards and live charts, updated in real time. CONTINUOUSLY GROWING Development is ongoing: updates ship regularly, and support for new sensors is added continuously. If your favourite sensor is not on the list yet, chances are it will arrive in one of the next updates. HIGHLIGHTS • Automatic discovery of sensor nodes over Wi-Fi (LAN) and Bluetooth LE • Live cards and charts for every measured quantity • Air-quality rating derived from IAQ, CO₂ or eCO₂/TVOC readings • Dedicated screens for gesture, distance and contact sensors • Send bitmaps to an SSD1306 OLED display node • Signal-strength badge for Bluetooth nodes • °C/°F switch, English and German, screen-reader friendly • Everything stays on your own network: TLS-encrypted and API-key protected — no cloud involved SUPPORTED SENSORS (and counting) • Environment & air quality: BME680, BME280, SCD30, SGP30, MCP9808, SHT31, SHT41, AHT10/AHT20, CozIR-A • Light & optical: SI1145 (sunlight/UV), TCS34725 (color), analog light sensor • Motion & orientation: IMU 10DOF, MPU6050, MMA7660 • Infrared temperature: MLX90615 (non-contact) • Positioning: Air530 GNSS/GPS • Event-driven: PAJ7620 gesture, VL53L0X laser distance, button, hall sensor, magnetic switch, PIR motion, vibration • Display: SSD1306 OLED (128×64) GOOD TO KNOW • You need at least one sensor node: an ESP32 or a Raspberry Pi class board running the free, open companion firmware. Arduino sketches and Python scripts are available for every supported sensor. • A built-in simulated sensor lets you explore the app before any hardware is connected. • Scanning and discovery are free for all sensors. Data visualisation for a few selected sensors requires a one-time in-app licence purchase, which supports the ongoing development. Whether you are a maker, a teacher, a student or simply curious about the air in your room — Sensor Playground makes hardware experiments visible.

Screenshots

Hapticlabs4 screens
Sensor Playground4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hapticlabs at none against Sensor Playground's 1. Sensor Playground's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Sensor Playground sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hapticlabs asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hapticlabs ships an update every 5 weeks, Sensor Playground every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Hapticlabs versus Sensor Playground: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHapticlabsSensor Playground
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB26 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperHapticlabsPeter Sauer

In-app purchases

None

Hapticlabs

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Sensor Playground

One-time1
  • Licence$0.99

Questions

Is Hapticlabs free?
Hapticlabs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sensor Playground free?
Sensor Playground is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Hapticlabs or Sensor Playground have ads?
Neither Hapticlabs nor Sensor Playground shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hapticlabs or Sensor Playground?
Hapticlabs ships an update every 5 weeks, and Sensor Playground every 3 days. Most recently, Hapticlabs was updated on October 20, 2026 and Sensor Playground on October 12, 2026.

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