Comparison

LifeGoesOn vs PatternLab

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

Head to head
About

LifeGoesOn

Features
Read full description

LifeGoesOn, a stunning, hands-on experience of Conway’s Game of Life — the classic cellular automaton brought to vivid life with color, strategy, and creativity. Design living patterns using Red and Blue stones and watch as they evolve through generations, following the simple but powerful rules of life. Add stones, pause and adjust the grid, and explore unexpected interactions as your creations take on a life of their own. Features: • Interactive Grid: Tap to place Red or Blue stones and bring your pattern to life. • Color Evolution: When different colors interact, they combine into new life — Yellow stones! • Wrap Mode: Switch between traditional edges and infinite wraparound for new dynamics. • Grid Sizes: Choose from 10x10 to 25x25 grids to scale up your experiments. • Video Recording: Record your simulations and share your creations with friends or students. • Running Stats Panel: Track generation count and population changes in real time. • Built-in Patterns: Includes classic examples like the Glider, Toad, and Blinker. Upgrade for More: Unlock the Patterns Upgrade to: • Save & Load Your Own Creations • Access All Built-in Patterns • Explore New Design Possibilities Whether you’re a curious student, seasoned developer, or lifelong tinkerer, LifeGoesOn invites you to dive into a mesmerizing world of logic, art, and digital life. No two games are the same — and every experiment is a step into discovery.

About

PatternLab

Features
Read full description

Discover the beauty of patterns. PatternLab is a creative sandbox for exploring cellular automata — simple rules that give rise to endless complexity. Inspired by Conway’s Game of Life, PatternLab lets you draw, experiment, and watch living patterns unfold in real time. Whether you’re curious about math, love puzzles, or just want to relax and watch mesmerizing shapes evolve, PatternLab makes science playful and accessible. Features: • Multiple rule sets: Conway, Seeds, Maze, Day & Night • Pre-built patterns: Glider, Blinker, Pulsar, and more • Custom drawing tools to create your own designs • Adjustable grid size and simulation speed • Color themes including high contrast & accessibility modes • Undo/redo support for fast experimentation Why you’ll love it: • Relax and watch infinite patterns evolve • Spark creativity with mathematical art • Learn about complex systems in a hands-on way PatternLab is perfect for students, creators, and anyone who enjoys interactive experiments. Dive in, play with rules, and see how small changes create surprising results.

Screenshots

LifeGoesOn3 screens
PatternLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PatternLab at none against LifeGoesOn's 1. 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. LifeGoesOn sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PatternLab asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
LifeGoesOn versus PatternLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLifeGoesOnPatternLab
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.418.4
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn RomanoCARLOS ANTONIO MURRIETA STEINMAN

In-app purchases

1 purchases

LifeGoesOn

One-time1
  • Unlock Patterns$0.99
None

PatternLab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LifeGoesOn free?
LifeGoesOn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PatternLab free?
PatternLab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LifeGoesOn or PatternLab have ads?
Neither LifeGoesOn nor PatternLab shows ads.

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