Comparison

Trans4motor vs Engine Lab

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

Head to head
About

Trans4motor

Explore the mechanics of 4-stroke engines with this interactive simulator. Visualize the transformation of various engine types and understand their internal workings through detailed CG animation. Enhance your knowledge with adjustable settings and realistic engine sound options.

Highlights
  • Multi-cylinder engine transformation
  • Realistic engine sound (in-app purchase)
  • Accelerator control simulation
  • Expandable engine library
  • Custom engine registration and editing
  • Interactive educational videos
Read full description

Trans4motor is a simulator where you can control the movements of single cylinder to 12 cylinder 4 stroke engines on the iPad/iPhone. Recommended to anyone interested in car and motorcycle engines. This is for those who have a relentless love for engines and want to enhance their knowledge. #3 Top Paid iPad App in Japan #5 Top Paid iPhone App in Japan https://www.youtube.com/user/Trans4motor https://www.facebook.com/Trans4motor Features 1) Seamlessly transforms into different type of engines Select from inline to V-type, or other multi-cylinder engines, and watch the running engines transform over continuous CG animation. Enjoy watching the inline engine camshaft separate into two parts as it transforms into the V-type engine and how phase angle modulation between cylinders makes the crankshaft rotate, separate, and combine into many engine formations. 2) Add Engine Sound (In-App Purchase) Developed in technical collaboration with "CAI MEDIA CO.,LTD.", the developer of the iPhone app featuring innovative synthetic engine sound, "RealEngineSim" this new feature will add a variety of realistic engine sounds ranging from different number of cylinders to explosions with unequal intervals and cylinder rest. Engine Sound Add-On is available via In-App Purchase. 3) Accelerator Control Accelerator control is available during engine sound replay. Tilt iPhone to different degrees as if pressing the accelerator pedal. Tilt forward horizontally (as if pressing the accelerator) to activate the accelerator, and erect vertically (as if releasing the accelerator) to deactivate it. Furthermore, you can race the engine by tapping the center of rev counter. 4) Addition/expansion of engines There are currently 22 types of engines registered. Through automatic network updates, continuous expansion is planned. In addition, there are functions installed that allow users to newly register and edit engines. Able to adjust setting for engine bore stroke, firing order, and ignition timing. Easily replicate on the iPad, engines with unequal combustion intervals for two-wheelers, Inline-four crossplane or V5. 5) Interactive Movie ·Four-stroke engines ·Firing Order ·V Angle Recorded 3 controllable presentation videos. The company and product names used within the application are generally registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective companies. The objective of this application is to upload engine specifications disclosed to the public and to learn about general information regarding engines. It does not accurately replicate actual machine measurements and designs. The CG animated engine rotates at one tenth of the actual speed to enable users to learn the structure and to enjoy the visual.

About

Engine Lab

Design and simulate car engines, from single cylinders to V12s, and hear them run. Explore 3D models, test performance on a dyno, and even drive them with a simulated gearbox. Share your creations and compare them with others.

Highlights
  • Build custom engines
  • Hear engines idle and rev
  • 3D engine visualization
  • Simulated dyno testing
  • Manual/automatic gearbox simulation
  • Import and share engine builds
Features
Read full description

Build an engine and hear it run. Engine Lab is a touch-first engine simulator: design anything from a single to a V12, then hear it idle, rev and pull to the limiter, live on your iPhone or iPad. BUILD BENCH • Start from 317 real engines with their published bore, stroke, compression and firing order, or design your own. • Set the layout, 1 to 12 cylinders, bore, stroke, firing order and redline. • Hear each change as you make it, and hold to rev. • Try different headers, exhausts and mufflers. • Compare against a saved version by ear or on the dyno. SEE IT IN 3D • Every engine, including your own builds, becomes a 3D model driven by the live simulation: pistons, crank, cams, valves and glowing headers. • Orbit, zoom, slow it down, switch between X-ray and solid, and tap any part for live readings. The classic 2D cutaway is one tap away. DRIVE IT • Manual or automatic gearbox with clutch and road speed, plus a gearing chart with top speed in each gear. • Simulated dyno pulls with torque and power curves. • Six built-in engines: Honda B18C5 VTEC, Honda TRX520 single, BMW M52B28, Toyota 2JZ, Audi 2.3 inline-5 and GM LS V8. IMPORT AND SHARE • Import engine-sim .mr scripts and share your builds as .mr files. • Export a WAV recorded by the on-device simulator. No account, network service or microphone permission is required. An optional one-time Pro purchase opens every catalog engine, the Specialists and Masters challenges, advanced tuning and unlimited saved builds; the free plan includes 20 catalog engines and keeps three builds. Values are simulated estimates for exploration, not certified engineering measurements.

Screenshots

Trans4motor4 screens
Engine Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Engine Lab at Free against Trans4motor's $2.99. Engine Lab also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and rating (4.0 vs 3.7). Trans4motor's advantage is ratings volume (70 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Engine Lab is free to download; Trans4motor costs $2.99 up front. Trans4motor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Engine Lab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Engine Lab holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Trans4motor has 70 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Trans4motor's written reviews are positive against 50% of Engine Lab's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trans4motor ships an update every 2 months, Engine Lab every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Trans4motor versus Engine Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrans4motorEngine Lab
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (70 ratings)4.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews56.1% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings70 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKitt Peak, Inc.Jan Sokol

Customer experience

Trans4motor

All ratings70 ratings
Positive68.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative25.7%
Written reviews114 reviews
Positive56.1%
Neutral14.0%
Negative29.8%

Engine Lab

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Trans4motor

One-time1
  • Add Engine Sound$1.99
1 purchases

Engine Lab

One-time1
  • Engine Lab Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Trans4motor free?
Trans4motor costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Engine Lab free?
Engine Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Trans4motor or Engine Lab?
Engine Lab is rated higher. Trans4motor averages 3.7 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Engine Lab averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Trans4motor or Engine Lab have ads?
Neither Trans4motor nor Engine Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Trans4motor or Engine Lab?
Trans4motor ships an update every 2 months, and Engine Lab every 9 days. Most recently, Trans4motor was updated on November 1, 2026 and Engine Lab on November 1, 2026.

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