Comparison

Physics Playgrounds vs Quantum Lab

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

Head to head
About

Physics Playgrounds

Features
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Physics Playground is an interactive science app featuring 38 real physics experiments across mechanics, waves, optics, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics, quantum physics, fluids, electromagnetism, nuclear physics, and astrophysics. Every experiment runs as a live simulation on your screen. You control it directly with your finger — drag the pendulum, aim the projectile, position charges in the electric field, adjust wave frequencies, and watch the physics respond in real time. HOW IT WORKS Touch the canvas to grab and interact with the simulation. Every experiment responds to your input — there is no right or wrong way to explore. Adjust variables like gravity, mass, length, and velocity using the built-in sliders and watch the results change instantly. For a truly hands-free experience, enable the camera and control experiments with your hand in the air. The app uses on-device AI to track your hand movements in real time — no data is sent to any server. EXPERIMENTS INCLUDED Mechanics: Simple Pendulum, Projectile Motion, Elastic Collision, Spring Oscillator, Gravitational Field, Inclined Plane, Circular Motion, Torque and Levers Waves and Sound: Wave Interference, Standing Waves, Doppler Effect, Sound Waves Optics: Snell's Law and Refraction, Lens and Focal Point, Double Slit Experiment, Diffraction Grating Electricity and Magnetism: Electric Field Visualizer, Magnetic Field Lines, Electromagnetic Induction, RC Circuit Thermodynamics: Ideal Gas Law, Heat Transfer, Carnot Cycle, Entropy and Disorder Quantum Physics: Quantum Tunneling, Wave Particle Duality, Photoelectric Effect, Heisenberg Uncertainty Fluids: Bernoulli Principle, Archimedes and Buoyancy, Fluid Dynamics, Surface Tension Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Fusion Astrophysics: Orbital Mechanics, Black Hole Gravity, Stellar Evolution, Escape Velocity CHALLENGES Every experiment has a built-in challenge that teaches the key physics concept behind the simulation. Complete the challenge to earn a star. Track your progress across all 38 experiments from the progress screen and see how many you have mastered. REAL PHYSICS LAWS Each simulation is built on actual physics equations. The app displays the governing laws for every experiment so you can connect what you see on screen to real formulas. Variables like gravity, mass, angle, frequency, and charge are all adjustable, letting you run the same experiment under different conditions. WHO IS IT FOR Physics Playground is designed for students, teachers, and anyone curious about how the physical world works. It is suitable for middle school through university level and makes an excellent companion to classroom learning. No prior physics knowledge is required to enjoy the simulations. The app is rated 4 and above with no objectionable content. PRIVACY Physics Playground signs you in anonymously. No name, email address, or personal information is ever collected or required. Your experiment progress is saved to the cloud using your anonymous account. Camera processing happens entirely on your device, and no images or videos are stored or transmitted. Full privacy policy: https://physics-playground-24c5e.web.app/privacy

About

Quantum Lab

Features
Read full description

Stop reading about quantum physics. Start touching it. Quantum Lab teaches quantum mechanics through 21 interactive experiments you operate with your own hands — the double slit, Schrodinger's cat, entanglement and more. No equations required. You change a condition, you watch what happens, you understand why. ā–  A four-step loop — one idea in three minutes 1. Concept card — one analogy to get the intuition 2. Experiment — change the setup yourself 3. Quiz — check what you just understood 4. Next up — the app points you to the experiment that builds on it You never have to wonder what to do next. ā–  21 interactive experiments (all free) Ā· Quantum pack (16) — Schrodinger's cat, double slit, photoelectric effect, energy levels, polarization, quantum coin, Mach-Zehnder interferometer, decoherence, spin measurement, quantum tunneling, the uncertainty principle, entanglement, Stern-Gerlach, quantum eraser, the quantum Zeno effect, Bell test Ā· Solar system pack (5) — sun scale comparison, orbit dragging, gravity well, moon phases, comet orbits ā–  A 12-rung concept ladder Superposition, wave-particle duality, the photon, energy quantization, spin, polarization, the qubit, tunneling, uncertainty, entanglement, interference, decoherence. Each rung is placed so the one above it only makes sense once you have stood on the one below. ā–  115-entry glossary Every term you meet is one tap away, any time during a lesson. ā–  Three languages Korean, English, Japanese — switchable at any time in Settings. ā–  For parents and teachers Ā· No in-app purchases. Nothing at all is for sale, so no accidental spending. Ā· No account, no sign-up, no login. We never ask for a name, email, phone number, location or photos. Ā· Learning progress stays on the device and is never transmitted. Ā· Ads are bottom banners only. No full-screen interstitials, no rewarded ads, and no ads at all while you are operating an experiment. Ā· Non-personalized ads only — no interest-based targeting. Ā· Every learning feature works fully offline. Contact: jejuolledev@gmail.com Privacy policy: https://jejuolledev.github.io/quantumania/privacy.html

Screenshots

Physics Playgrounds4 screens
Quantum Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Physics Playgrounds at none against Quantum Lab's shown. Quantum Lab's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Physics Playgrounds ships an update every 4 months, Quantum Lab every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
Physics Playgrounds versus Quantum Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhysics PlaygroundsQuantum Lab
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKheniTechjungkil bae

In-app purchases

None

Physics Playgrounds

No in-app purchases

None

Quantum Lab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Physics Playgrounds free?
Physics Playgrounds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Quantum Lab free?
Quantum Lab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Physics Playgrounds or Quantum Lab have ads?
Quantum Lab shows ads; Physics Playgrounds does not.
Which is updated more often, Physics Playgrounds or Quantum Lab?
Physics Playgrounds ships an update every 4 months, and Quantum Lab every 11 days. Most recently, Physics Playgrounds was updated on September 25, 2026 and Quantum Lab on September 26, 2026.

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