Engine Sim vs Exhaust Note
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Engine Sim
Experience realistic engine sounds with interactive controls. Explore a variety of engines, from kei cars to V12s, and feel the vibrations. Practice gear shifting and rev-matching for an immersive automotive simulation.
- 10 realistic engine sounds
- Interactive throttle control
- Live engine sound generation
- Straight-pipe mode
- Haptic feedback
- H-pattern shifter and paddles
- Rev-matching practice
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Press the pedal and the engine roars for real. Just move your finger and 21 different engines come alive — from a 660cc turbo kei car to a W16 hypercar, all the way to a racing V10 that screams to 19,000 rpm. It's a new kind of toy you can just pick up and play. No complicated setup. Drag across the screen and feel how good a good engine sounds. SIMPLE TO PLAY, DEEP IF YOU WANT IT - 21 engine sounds: V-twin, turbo kei car (660cc), inline-4, inline-5, inline-6, boxer-4, flat-6, V6, cross-plane and flat-plane V8s, V10, V12, W16, and a racing V10 to 19,000 rpm - A throttle that reacts to exactly how hard you press: ease in for a soft idle, floor it for a full-throttle scream - Every sound is made live, not a recording on loop — so the same rev never sounds exactly the same twice - Straight-pipe mode in the chassis tuning screen: open up the exhaust for more pops and bangs on lift-off - Haptics that pulse with the revs, so you feel the engine in your hand - Color RPM gauge with a rev-limiter cutout FOR CAR PEOPLE, THERE'S MORE - An H-pattern shifter (switch to paddles anytime) so you change gears yourself - Practice rev-matching: brake, blip the throttle, shift. Nail it and it's smooth; botch it and you feel the driveline thump - Per-cylinder firing and uneven exhaust timing keep it from ever sounding like a loop - Tune each engine: spend miles earned by driving on mufflers, intakes, headers, superchargers, cams and ECU maps, and see your 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time, top speed and torque change on the spot - Chassis tuning shared across every engine: weight reduction, aero and a lighter flywheel - A Parts Crate for extra parts, with the odds shown in the app - Garage miles keep accruing even while the app is closed - A Pit Stop summary after every drive: distance, miles earned, and any personal bests - Daily tasks, a login bonus, and achievements you can trade in for perks - Game Center leaderboards for top speed and 0–100 km/h - Invite friends with a referral code for bonus miles WHO IT'S FOR - Anyone who loves engine and car sounds - Anyone who wants a bit of fun tinkering with a car while waiting or on the go - Fans curious what a V12 or flat-6 sounds like without owning one - Drivers who want to practice rev-matching before getting behind the wheel AVAILABILITY You start with the inline-4 and every core feature, with no ads on the driving screen. Driving earns miles that unlock the remaining engines and parts through the unlock tree. The next unowned V6, V8 or V12 engine can be rented for 10 minutes after a short video ad, and straight-pipe mode can be unlocked for 24 hours the same way. An optional one-time purchase removes the full-screen ads shown between engine switches; rentals, straight-pipe trials and mile rewards stay available either way. No subscriptions. Tip: headphones or earphones bring out the fine detail in every sound.
Exhaust Note
This app synthesizes realistic engine exhaust sounds from scratch, based on the physics of firing orders and cylinder layouts. Explore various engine configurations, adjust muffler settings, and experience dynamic features like pops, bangs, and flames. It also includes a detailed 3D engine animation and driving simulation elements.
- Real-time synthesized exhaust sounds
- Adjustable muffler settings
- Diverse engine presets
- Pop, bang, and flame effects
- Living 3D engine animation
- Driving feel simulation
- Tunnel reverb mode
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Exhaust Note is not an app that plays back engine recordings. It synthesizes the sound from scratch, every moment, from the firing order created by cylinder layout and crankpin phasing. Why a crossplane V8 rumbles, why a flatplane screams, why a V12 idle throbs — it all comes from the physics of firing intervals. This app computes that physics in real time. ■ Real-time synthesized exhaust - Zero recorded samples. Crank-angle integration → per-cylinder firing → exhaust-pipe propagation, computed every sample - Distinct primary pipe, mid-pipe and muffler model for every engine - Muffler continuously adjustable from straight pipe to quiet ■ Engine collection - Presets from inline-3 to V12, based on real-car specs - Crossplane vs flatplane V8 — same eight cylinders, completely different sound - Firing order and rumble index shown as specs ■ Pop and bang + flames - Afterburn pops on throttle lift and downshifts - Flames at the 3D exhaust tips, same instant and same bank as the sound ■ Tunnel mode - Reverb that wraps the sound in wall reflections, like driving into a tunnel ■ A living 3D machine - Crankshaft, pistons and connecting rods rotate in phase with the sound - Gearbox cutaway: constantly meshed gear pairs and real synchro-sleeve movement - Observe the mechanism at 1/10 slow motion, or switch to real time for phase match ■ The feel of driving - Torque-converter launch, rev matching, manual H-pattern shifter - Haptics on rev limiter, wheelspin, shifts and ABS - Analog pedals: press position controls pedal travel Built by a gearhead, for gearheads.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Exhaust Note at none against Engine Sim's 10. Exhaust Note also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). Engine Sim's advantage is ratings volume (30 vs 4). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Engine Sim sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Exhaust Note asks for nothing beyond the download.
Exhaust Note holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Engine Sim has 30 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Engine Sim's written reviews are positive against 100% of Exhaust Note's.
Engine Sim ships an update every 9 days, Exhaust Note every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Engine Sim | Exhaust Note |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (30 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 90.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 30 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sena Takasawa | seihee han |
Customer experience
Engine Sim
Exhaust Note
In-app purchases
Engine Sim
- Quick Shifter$1.99
- Big Radiator$1.99
- Over-Rev Kit$1.99
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- Single 450 Moto$1.99
- Today's Engine (I6/V8)$1.99
- Big Bore Kit$2.99
- Custom Gearbox$3.99
- Today's Engine (V10/V12)$4.99
- Straight Pipe$5.99
- Pro Parts Pack$9.99
Exhaust Note
No in-app purchases





