# Physarum vs Forge

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Forge at none against Physarum's 6. Forge also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Physarum sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Forge asks for nothing beyond the download.

Physarum ships an update every 5 weeks, Forge every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on August 30, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Physarum | Forge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physarum-slime-mold/id6744574947/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **27** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GEORGY OSTROBROD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1875865758) | [Jason Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1677634233) |

## What reviewers say

### Physarum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physarum-slime-mold/id6744574947)

Explore the fascinating emergent behavior of slime molds through a visually rich simulation. Adjust agent parameters, influence growth with intuitive controls, and discover complex, mesmerizing patterns.

**Highlights:** Slime mold behavior simulation, Autonomous agent control, Adjustable agent parameters, Maze solving and network formation, Vibrant color modes, Interactive system manipulation

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small developer tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium developer tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| Big developer tip | $5.99 | one-time |


### Forge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-git-essential/id6759241807)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Physarum free?

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

### Is Forge free?

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

### Do Physarum or Forge have ads?

Neither Physarum nor Forge shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Physarum or Forge?

Physarum ships an update every 5 weeks, and Forge every 5 days. Most recently, Physarum was updated on August 30, 2026 and Forge 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.*