Comparison

Electronics Circuit Simulator vs ControlsLab

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

Head to head
About

Electronics Circuit Simulator

Features
Read full description

This app is a complete electronics workbench on your iPhone and iPad. Build circuits on an interactive schematic editor, simulate them with real Modified Nodal Analysis, and learn electronics through hands-on exploration. VERSION 2.0 — WHAT'S NEW: CIRCUIT CHALLENGES Test your electronics knowledge with 9 interactive puzzles across 4 categories — Basics, Analysis, Design, and Troubleshooting. Each challenge provides a starting circuit you must modify to meet specific goals, with built-in validation that checks your simulation results. ELECTRONICS CALCULATOR Seven quick-access calculators: Ohm's Law, Voltage Divider, RC Time Constant, LED Resistor Sizing, Power Dissipation, Parallel Resistance, and Series Capacitance. All with real-time results in engineering notation as you type. OSCILLOSCOPE VIEW Dual-channel waveform visualizer with sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth signals. Adjustable frequency, amplitude, DC offset, and timebase — complete with graticule, tick marks, and measurement readouts for Vpp, Vrms, frequency, and period. CORE FEATURES: Schematic editor with tap-to-place components and L-shaped auto-routing wires DC circuit simulation using Modified Nodal Analysis with Newton-Raphson iteration 50+ electronic components across 10 categories 20+ pre-built common circuits ready to load and simulate Virtual multimeter with voltage and current probes Undo support, save/load circuits, rotate and edit component values Comprehensive Electronics Guide covering fundamentals, components, formulas, and safety Interactive tutorial for new users Built entirely in SwiftUI. No internet connection required. No ads. No subscriptions.

About

ControlsLab

This app offers a professional-grade simulator for system dynamics and control systems. It allows users to visualize and interact with mass-spring-damper systems and control loops without coding. Explore parameters, inputs, and analysis modes with real-time visual feedback.

Highlights
  • Real-time system simulation
  • Parameter adjustment with sliders
  • Live time-domain response plot
  • S-plane pole visualization
  • Open-loop and closed-loop modes
  • PID controller tuning
  • Bode plot analysis
Features
Read full description

ControlsLab is a professional-grade system dynamics and controls simulator designed for engineering students, educators, and practicing engineers. Simulate a mass-spring-damper system in real time. Adjust parameters with intuitive sliders and instantly see how the system responds - no coding required, no MATLAB license needed. FREE FEATURES SYSTEM SIMULATION - Mass, damping, and spring parameter control - Step, ramp, parabolic, and sinusoidal inputs - Adjustable initial conditions x(0) and dx(0) - Input signal overlay on time response plot VISUALIZATION - Live time-domain response plot - S-plane pole visualization - System stability classification - Overdamped, underdamped, critically damped detection ANALYSIS MODES - Open-loop mode: plant driven directly by input - Closed-loop mode: negative feedback with configurable setpoint PRO FEATURES - $4.99 One-time purchase, no subscription PID CONTROLLER - Full negative feedback implementation - P, PI, PD, and PID controller types - Live Kp, Ki, Kd gain tuning with instant response - Adjustable reference setpoint FREQUENCY DOMAIN - Bode plot: magnitude (dB) and phase (degrees) - Logarithmic frequency axis - Natural frequency, damping ratio, and bandwidth readouts WHO IS THIS FOR? - Undergraduate engineering students studying dynamic systems and feedback control - Graduate students reviewing control theory - Professors and educators demonstrating system behavior in lectures - Practicing engineers doing quick back-of-envelope system analysis - Anyone curious about how control systems work ControlsLab turns abstract differential equations into visual, interactive experiences. Move a slider and watch poles migrate across the S-plane. Toggle a controller and see overshoot disappear in real time. No prior programming experience required.

Screenshots

Electronics Circuit Simulator4 screens
ControlsLab3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ControlsLab at Free against Electronics Circuit Simulator's $2.99. Electronics Circuit Simulator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

ControlsLab is free to download; Electronics Circuit Simulator costs $2.99 up front. ControlsLab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Electronics Circuit Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Electronics Circuit Simulator versus ControlsLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElectronics Circuit SimulatorControlsLab
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuhsiu LaiPedro Resto

In-app purchases

None

Electronics Circuit Simulator

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ControlsLab

One-time1
  • ControlsLab Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Electronics Circuit Simulator free?
Electronics Circuit Simulator costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ControlsLab free?
ControlsLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Electronics Circuit Simulator or ControlsLab have ads?
Neither Electronics Circuit Simulator nor ControlsLab shows ads.

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