Comparison

DabDab vs ParticleFluid

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

Head to head
About

DabDab

Create mesmerizing fluid art with real-time simulations. Explore vibrant color themes, record animations, and export as Live Photos for dynamic wallpapers. Find calm and express your creativity through interactive liquid color.

Highlights
  • Real-time fluid simulation
  • Curated color themes
  • Video recording and screenshots
  • Live Photo export
  • Attract mode for passive viewing
  • Advanced physics controls
Features
Read full description

DabDab - Flowing art at your touch # Two drops, infinite ripples. In 1886, Georges Seurat completed a masterpiece built entirely from millions of tiny colour dabs. The Impressionists called this technique pointillism: one dab births a point of light; two dabs set that light in motion. Now imagine those dabs falling onto still water instead of canvas. Each touch sends ripples of colour flowing outward — expanding, colliding, merging into patterns no one could have predicted. That's DabDab. A century-old artistic spirit, reimagined for your fingertips. # The Story Behind the Name "Dab... Dab..." A dab is the brushstroke of the Impressionists — a single touch that captures light. Repeat it — DabDab — and light begins to flow. Each tap on your screen sends colour rippling outward, swirling and merging with the ones before it. Two drops. That's all it takes. # Not a Drawing Tool. A Conversation. Touch the screen and watch flowing liquid colour react to your gestures in real-time. Move slowly for gentle ripples, swipe quickly for dramatic splashes. You set the rhythm; the fluid answers. Every moment is improvised; every creation is unrepeatable. # Perfect For: • Creating mesmerising fluid animations — record and share as videos • Exporting as Live Photos to set as your Lock Screen wallpaper • Sharing stunning visual moments on social media • Finding a moment of calm and mindfulness • Exploring colour through curated themes inspired by nature • Playing with physics to discover your own style of flow # Features ## Real-Time Fluid Simulation GPU-accelerated physics renders flowing liquid colour at 120 fps. Every touch produces a natural, responsive fluid reaction. ## Curated Colour Themes Handcrafted themes, each with a unique visual character and mood — from deep ocean glow to cherry blossom softness. More themes coming soon. ## Video Recording & Screenshots Capture your fluid creations, save to your library, and share directly via the built-in share menu. Send to social media, AirDrop, or any other app in one step. ## Live Photo Export Export your fluid creation as a Live Photo. Save it to your library as a living image, or set it directly as your Lock Screen wallpaper — your flowing art comes alive every time you wake your phone. ## Attract Mode Sit back and watch the fluid dance on its own, driven by graceful mathematical curves. Choose how long the app waits before it takes over. ## Advanced Physics Controls Fine-tune dissipation, vorticity, and ink radius. Switch between presets for quick style changes, or craft your own. # Privacy First Your creations belong to you. • 100% Local: All simulation and processing happens on your device. • No Uploads: Your recordings and screenshots never leave your phone. • No Data Collection: No accounts, no tracking. Anonymous by design. # Free & Premium ## Free Forever: • Full fluid simulation experience • 3 themes free (Deep Ocean, Sakura Blossom & Nebula) — record, screenshot, and create without limits • 30-second preview of all premium themes • Attract Mode ## Premium Unlocks: • All premium colour themes with unique visual characters • Extended video recording — up to 5 minutes per session • Advanced physics controls and presets • Customisable double-tap action • All future themes included at no extra cost Download DabDab today. Two drops, infinite ripples. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ParticleFluid

Explore dynamic 2D fluid simulations with interactive particle flow. Adjust parameters like particle count, swipe sensitivity, and viscosity to observe fluid-like motion in real-time. Its minimalist design ensures the focus remains on the captivating particle movements.

Highlights
  • Interactive 2D fluid simulation
  • Real-time particle flow
  • Adjustable particle count
  • Customizable swipe sensitivity
  • Viscosity control
  • Minimalist interface
Read full description

ParticleFluid is an interactive 2D fluid simulation that lets you swipe across the screen to apply force to a velocity field and watch particles flow in real time. Adjust the particle count, swipe sensitivity, and viscosity to explore fluid-like motion. Its minimal interface keeps the focus on the particles and their movement.

Screenshots

DabDab4 screens
ParticleFluid3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ParticleFluid at none against DabDab's 3. ParticleFluid also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. DabDab sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ParticleFluid asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for DabDab against 5.0 for ParticleFluid. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DabDab ships an update every 2 months, ParticleFluid every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
DabDab versus ParticleFluid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDabDabParticleFluid
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer晓晖 王Fumiya Sano

In-app purchases

3 purchases

DabDab

Subscriptions2
  • DabDab Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • DabDab Pro Yearly$4.991 Year
One-time1
  • DabDab Pro Lifetime$6.99
None

ParticleFluid

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DabDab free?
DabDab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ParticleFluid free?
ParticleFluid is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DabDab or ParticleFluid?
DabDab and ParticleFluid are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do DabDab or ParticleFluid have ads?
Neither DabDab nor ParticleFluid shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DabDab or ParticleFluid?
DabDab ships an update every 2 months, and ParticleFluid every 2 weeks. Most recently, DabDab was updated on October 25, 2026 and ParticleFluid on October 25, 2026.

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