Comparison

Pixel Wind Tunnel vs WaveMachine at Home

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

Head to head
About

Pixel Wind Tunnel

Features
Read full description

Draw a shape. Tap Simulate. Watch real fluid dynamics come alive in pixels. Pixel Wind Tunnel is a 2D fluid simulation app that runs real CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) calculations right on your device. No simplified approximations — the app solves the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using the CIP advection method and Pressure Poisson solver, the same mathematical framework used in professional engineering software. HOW IT WORKS Draw any shape with your finger — airfoils, cars, buildings, anything Tap Simulate Watch the flow develop in real time That's it. Real fluid physics in three steps. SEE THE FLOW Switch between visualization modes to explore different aspects of the physics: • Velocity — where the flow speeds up and slows down • Pressure — high and low pressure regions around your shape • Vorticity — spinning structures and vortex shedding • Streamlines — paths that fluid particles follow MEASURE PERFORMANCE Real-time aerodynamic coefficients calculated from surface pressure and viscous stress integration: • Drag coefficient (Cd) • Lift coefficient (Cl) • Reynolds number Draw two different shapes and compare which one has less drag. Understand why streamlined shapes work better — with real numbers, not guesswork. EXPLORE DEEPER • Place point probes anywhere to track velocity and pressure over time • Scrub through simulation history with the timeline slider • Adjust inlet velocity and viscosity to change flow conditions • Save shapes with screenshots and reload them anytime REAL CALCULATION, NOT AN ANIMATION Every frame you see is computed from the actual Navier-Stokes equations. The CIP (Cubic Interpolated Propagation) method handles advection with minimal numerical diffusion, while the SOR iterative solver resolves the pressure field. Boundary conditions, viscous forces, and flow separation are all physically modeled. FOR CURIOUS MINDS Whether you're a student studying fluid mechanics, an engineer sketching quick ideas, a teacher demonstrating aerodynamics in class, or simply someone who wonders why things are shaped the way they are — draw it and find out.

About

WaveMachine at Home

Features
Read full description

This app is a waveform simulation tool that allows you to intuitively control and observe physical phenomena such as wave propagation, reflection, and superposition (interference) right on your smartphone. You can experience the wave behaviors found in physics textbooks by actually moving them with your own fingertips. 【Key Features】 - Intuitive Wave Generation Simply swipe up and down on the edge of the screen to create pulse waves of any shape and size. - Versatile Boundary Conditions You can set the left and right ends to "Fixed End" (wave reflects inverted), "Free End" (wave reflects upright), or "No Reflection" (wave is absorbed). - Visualization of Incident, Reflected, and Superposed Waves The app color-codes the traveling "Incident Wave," the bouncing "Reflected Wave," and the combined "Superposed Wave." You can see at a glance the exact moment waves interfere to become larger (constructive) or smaller (destructive). - Time Machine Function (Seek Bar & Frame-by-Frame) Pause the wave motion and use the seek bar to freely travel back to past waveforms. Frame-by-frame advance and rewind buttons let you carefully observe and analyze the crucial moments when waves overlap. - Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) Mode Automatically generate beautiful sine waves with a single button. Ideal for observing continuous waves traveling at a constant period or standing waves created by reflection. - Free Customization Adjust the simulation speed, change the colors of each wave, and use the snapshot feature (which leaves a faint trace of the waveform in the background). 【Recommended For】 - Students studying wave mechanics who want to visually understand wave reflection and interference. - Educators who want to clearly explain wave motion in their classes. - Anyone who wants to relax by watching soothing, undulating waves.

Screenshots

Pixel Wind Tunnel4 screens
WaveMachine at Home4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Pixel Wind Tunnel at none against WaveMachine at Home's shown. Pixel Wind Tunnel also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 3 level
Pixel Wind Tunnel versus WaveMachine at Home: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixel Wind TunnelWaveMachine at Home
PriceFreeFree
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHiroki KijimaSatoshi Yamakawa

In-app purchases

None

Pixel Wind Tunnel

No in-app purchases

None

WaveMachine at Home

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pixel Wind Tunnel free?
Pixel Wind Tunnel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WaveMachine at Home free?
WaveMachine at Home is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pixel Wind Tunnel or WaveMachine at Home have ads?
WaveMachine at Home shows ads; Pixel Wind Tunnel does not.

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