Comparison

Thermodynamic Cycles vs Physics Formulas

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

Head to head
About

Thermodynamic Cycles

Features
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Thermo Cycles is a powerful thermodynamic cycle calculator designed for engineering students and professionals. Solve 12 thermodynamic cycles quickly and accurately โ€” just enter the values you know, and the iterative constraint solver computes the rest. Supported cycles: - Carnot Cycle - Otto Cycle - Diesel Cycle - Brayton Cycle - Regenerative Brayton Cycle - Rankine Cycle - Reheated Rankine Cycle - Open Feedwater Heater Cycle - Closed Feedwater Heater Cycle - Flash Chamber Cycle - Heat Pump / Refrigeration Cycle - Cascading Refrigeration Cycle Features: - Built-in fluid property tables for steam, R-134a, and more - Iterative constraint solver โ€” enter what you know, get the full solution - State point properties automatically resolved from fluid tables - Clean, intuitive interface optimized for studying and problem sets - Available in 21 languages Get started free with the Carnot, Otto, and Rankine cycles included. Unlock additional cycle packs via in-app purchase. Whether you are studying for exams or solving homework problems, Thermo Cycles makes thermodynamic analysis fast and straightforward.

About

Physics Formulas

Features
Read full description

PhysRef is the complete physics formula reference designed for students, engineers, and science enthusiasts. Access hundreds of formulas, physical constants, and built-in calculators - all without internet connection. COMPREHENSIVE FORMULA DATABASE Browse formulas organized by topic: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Waves, Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics. Each formula includes variable definitions, units, and related concepts. BUILT-IN CALCULATORS Stop doing manual calculations. Enter your known values and instantly compute the unknown variable. Every calculator validates inputs and displays results with appropriate units. PHYSICAL CONSTANTS TABLE Quick access to fundamental constants including speed of light, gravitational constant, Planck's constant, electron mass, Boltzmann constant, and dozens more. All values use standard reference data. UNIT CONVERTER Convert between units across 14 categories: length, mass, time, velocity, acceleration, force, energy, power, pressure, temperature, electric charge, electric current, angle, and frequency. PERSONAL NOTES Add your own notes to any formula. Perfect for exam prep, recording problem-solving strategies, or marking formulas you find tricky. FORMULA DERIVATIONS Understand where formulas come from. See step-by-step derivations that connect fundamental principles to the equations you use. WORKS COMPLETELY OFFLINE All content is bundled in the app. Study on airplanes, in basements, or anywhere without signal. No account required. No internet needed. DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS Covers content from AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, IB Physics, and introductory university physics courses. Whether you are preparing for an exam or solving homework problems, PhysRef has you covered. PRIVACY FIRST Your data stays on your device. We do not collect personal information. No tracking. No analytics. No ads. FEATURES SUMMARY - Formula browser organized by physics topic - Search by formula name, variable, or concept - Calculators for solving problems - Physical constants with precise values - Unit converter with 14 categories - Personal notes on any formula - Formula derivations and explanations - Related formulas and connections - Bookmarks for quick access - Search history - Dark and light themes - 100% offline functionality Built for physics students who want a reliable, ad-free reference that works anywhere. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Thermodynamic Cycles4 screens
Physics Formulas4 screens

Verdict

The call

Thermodynamic Cycles and Physics Formulas are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters โ€” price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Thermodynamic Cycles sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Physics Formulas sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thermodynamic Cycles ships an update every 3 months, Physics Formulas every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Thermodynamic Cycles versus Physics Formulas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThermodynamic CyclesPhysics Formulas
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac โ€” betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 โ€” better15.1
Further details โ€” not scored
Size50 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAngus MalcolmMobin Akhter

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Thermodynamic Cycles

One-time4
  • Gas Power Cycles$0.49
  • Refrigeration Cycles$0.49
  • Vapor Power Cycles$0.49
Show 1 more
  • Unlock All$0.99
2 purchases

Physics Formulas

Subscriptions1
  • Weekly Access$2.997 Days
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$49.99

Questions

Is Thermodynamic Cycles free?
Thermodynamic Cycles is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Physics Formulas free?
Physics Formulas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Thermodynamic Cycles or Physics Formulas have ads?
Neither Thermodynamic Cycles nor Physics Formulas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Thermodynamic Cycles or Physics Formulas?
Thermodynamic Cycles ships an update every 3 months, and Physics Formulas every 2 months. Most recently, Thermodynamic Cycles was updated on September 17, 2026 and Physics Formulas on September 11, 2026.

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