# Physarum vs PerturbLab

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PerturbLab at none against Physarum's 6. PerturbLab also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Physarum ships an update every 5 weeks, PerturbLab every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Physarum | PerturbLab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physarum-slime-mold/id6744574947/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **32** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GEORGY OSTROBROD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1875865758) | [ZHENZHOU SHI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889489141) |

## 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 |


### PerturbLab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/perturblab/id6782048075)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Physarum free?

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

### Is PerturbLab free?

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

### Do Physarum or PerturbLab have ads?

Neither Physarum nor PerturbLab shows ads.

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

Physarum ships an update every 5 weeks, and PerturbLab every 2 months. Most recently, Physarum was updated on October 24, 2026 and PerturbLab on October 28, 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.*