# RayLab vs Thorlabs Toolkit

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Thorlabs Toolkit at none against RayLab's 10. Thorlabs Toolkit also leads on ads (none vs shown). RayLab's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RayLab sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Thorlabs Toolkit asks for nothing beyond the download.

RayLab ships an update every 6 weeks, Thorlabs Toolkit every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on July 29, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RayLab | Thorlabs Toolkit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raylab/id710190065/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **63** | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kamyar Ghandi](https://appshunter.io/developer/710190068) | [Thorlabs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725147057) |

## What reviewers say

### RayLab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raylab/id710190065)

Design and simulate optical systems with this powerful tool. Explore 2D and 3D models, perform advanced ray tracing, and analyze optical performance. Ideal for learning or professional design.

**Highlights:** 2D/3D optical modeling, Geometric ray tracing, Sequential and non-sequential analysis, Advanced optical elements, Polarization ray tracing, Design optimization, Glass catalogs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RayLab Pro Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| RayLab Pro Upgrade | Free | one-time |
| Schott Glass Catalog | $0.99 | one-time |
| Custom Glass Editor | $0.99 | one-time |
| Advanced Optical Elements | $1.99 | one-time |
| Source and Lens Arrays | $1.99 | one-time |
| Solver/Optimizer Module | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3D Modeling | $4.99 | one-time |
| RayLab Pro 2 | $19.99 | one-time |
| RayLab Pro Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |


### Thorlabs Toolkit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thorlabs-toolkit/id6475776756)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RayLab free?

RayLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Thorlabs Toolkit free?

Thorlabs Toolkit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do RayLab or Thorlabs Toolkit have ads?

RayLab shows ads; Thorlabs Toolkit does not.

### Which is updated more often, RayLab or Thorlabs Toolkit?

RayLab ships an update every 6 weeks, and Thorlabs Toolkit every 4 months. Most recently, RayLab was updated on July 29, 2026 and Thorlabs Toolkit on September 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*