Comparison

Gemology Notes vs PhysicsBench

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

Head to head
About

Gemology Notes

An offline reference app for gemology students and professionals. Explore gemstone properties, crystal structures with interactive 3D models, and detailed identification points. Study gemology anywhere without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Gemstone Browser
  • 3D Crystal Models
  • Detailed Gemstone Notes
  • Offline Access
  • Systematic Classification
Features
Read full description

Systematic Gemology Notes An offline reference app dedicated to gemology learning, covering the fundamental properties, crystal structures, and systematic classification of common gemstones. KEY FEATURES • Gemstone Browser — Reference material organized by crystal system and gemstone species • 3D Crystal Models — Interactive displays of each gemstone's crystal structure; rotate and zoom to examine every angle • Detailed Notes — Systematic knowledge covering physical properties, optical characteristics, and key identification points • Fully Offline — No internet connection required; study anywhere, anytime Ideal for gemology students, professional gemologists and appraisers, jewelers, and collectors.

About

PhysicsBench

Engage with realistic physics simulations, from electrical circuits to light optics and mechanics. Solve puzzles, understand the underlying formulas with Principle Cards, and track your progress through various subjects and difficulties. Offers offline play and a robust Pro version for advanced features.

Highlights
  • Realistic physics simulations
  • Principle Cards with formulas
  • 108 levels across 7 subjects
  • Daily experiments and streaks
  • Offline play
  • Level editor
  • Pro version with advanced features
Features
Read full description

Solve real physics, not fake wiring puzzles. PhysicsBench simulates actual circuits, light paths and torque — then shows you the formula behind your solution. Wire a battery, close a switch, watch current flow and a bulb light up. Bounce a beam off mirrors into the target. Balance a lever with the right weights. Every level ends with a Principle Card: the law, the formula, and your level's real numbers substituted in. MAIN FEATURES • 108 levels across seven subjects: Circuits, Optics, Mechanics, Dynamics, Electromagnetism, Heat & Fluids, Waves & Sound • Three difficulties per subject: Intro, Core, Brainer • True simulation — nodal analysis for DC circuits with diodes and capacitors, ray tracing for light, torque balance, and closed-form models for motion, induction, heat and sound • Principle Card after every solve, with your own values • Daily experiment with streaks • Courses by topic, a review queue for levels you needed hints on, and a mastery radar • Unlimited hints, never a consumable • Import and play levels friends share as a code or .physlab file • Home-screen widget, Apple Pencil notes and bench recording • Works fully offline. No ads, no accounts, no tracking PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE • All 108 levels, including every Brainer level • Full step-by-step derivation on every Principle Card • Frame-by-frame replay with velocity and force arrows, and a draggable RC charging curve • Free Bench lab: sliders for every model, plus building, naming and saving experiments • Level editor that proves your puzzle is solvable before you share it • Full probe panel: per-branch voltage, current and power; every beam path; torque breakdown • Four extra themes and three alternate app icons • Future local Pro levels in this app ANSWER REPORTS — OPTIONAL Stuck? Unlock the worked answer for a difficulty with a separate one-time purchase: the solved bench, every move with its reason and the principle worked through. Not included in Pro; hints stay free. PRIVACY Everything runs on your device. Progress syncs through your own private iCloud. No account, no analytics SDK, no data sent to us. NOTE Levels use teaching-simplified models (ideal wires, batteries with internal resistance, single-colour rays). The in-app "About the model" page lists every assumption. Support · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use are in Settings.

Screenshots

Gemology Notes4 screens
PhysicsBench4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gemology Notes at none against PhysicsBench's 4. On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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. PhysicsBench sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Gemology Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gemology Notes ships an update every 4 days, PhysicsBench every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Gemology Notes versus PhysicsBench: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGemology NotesPhysicsBench
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer际 郭献慧 陈

Customer experience

Gemology Notes

Written reviews10 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PhysicsBench

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Gemology Notes

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

PhysicsBench

One-time4
  • Intro Answers$0.99
  • Core Answers$1.99
  • Brainer Answers$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Pro Lifetime$4.99

Questions

Is Gemology Notes free?
Gemology Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PhysicsBench free?
PhysicsBench is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Gemology Notes or PhysicsBench have ads?
Neither Gemology Notes nor PhysicsBench shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gemology Notes or PhysicsBench?
Gemology Notes ships an update every 4 days, and PhysicsBench every 2 days. Most recently, Gemology Notes was updated on October 11, 2026 and PhysicsBench on October 12, 2026.

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