Gemology Notes vs PhysicsBench
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Gemstone Browser
- 3D Crystal Models
- Detailed Gemstone Notes
- Offline Access
- Systematic Classification
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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.
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.
- 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
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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.
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Verdict
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
Both are free to download. PhysicsBench sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Gemology Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
| Parameter | Gemology Notes | PhysicsBench |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 际 郭 | 献慧 陈 |
Customer experience
Gemology Notes
PhysicsBench
In-app purchases
Gemology Notes
No in-app purchases
PhysicsBench
- Intro Answers$0.99
- Core Answers$1.99
- Brainer Answers$2.99
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- Pro Lifetime$4.99









