Comparison

Simple Machines by Tinybop vs Labo Shape

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

Head to head
About

Simple Machines by Tinybop

Explore the playful side of physics and learn about simple machines through interactive experiments. Kids can discover how levers, pulleys, and other mechanisms work by building and testing them in a digital sandbox environment. This app is designed to spark curiosity and understanding of scientific principles.

Highlights
  • Explore 6 simple machines
  • Experiment with real-world physics
  • Investigate physics at work
  • Learn about force and motion
  • Kid-friendly design
  • Interactive labels in 40+ languages
Features
Read full description

Explore the playful side of physics! “I just love how apps like these get kids genuinely excited about science." — COOL MOM TECH Experiment with levers, pulleys, inclined planes, inclined planes, wedges, wheel and axles, and screws. Discover how they work and investigate the invisible forces behind them in this sandbox app. Destroy a castle, make music, send satellites into orbit & more! *** App Store Editor's Choice *** *** Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner *** Simple Machines integrates with STEM curriculum: kids can alter and test each machine to learn about force and motion, actions and reactions, inputs and outputs, conservation of energy, mechanical advantages, and tradeoffs. Get free activity sheets at tinybop.com. Simple Machines is No. 4 in Tinybop’s Explorer’s Library series, designed for curious kids ages 4+ to dive deep into big ideas. The apps in this series have won Best of the App Store, App Store Editors’ Choice, Parents’ Choice, and Children's Technology Review Editor’s Choice awards. Features: * Explore 6 simple machines: levers, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, wheel and axles, and screws. * Experiment with real world physics, actions and reactions, inputs and outputs. Learn about force and motion. * Investigate the physics at work behind each machine. * Sophisticated sound design rewards experimentation. * Original artwork by James Gilleard. * Smart features use your device’s camera to bring your kids’ world into the app. * Learn new vocabulary in 40+ languages with interactive labels. * Intuitive, safe, and kid-friendly design. * Entertaining for kids and adults alike. FREE handbook Our expert-reviewed handbook is full of facts, interaction hints, and discussion questions to support learning in this app, in the classroom or at home. Download in your app or at: http://tinybop.com/handbooks. Privacy Policy We take your and your child’s privacy very seriously. We do not collect or share personal information about your child, nor do we allow any third-party advertising. When the camera, microphone, and other services are used within an app, your information is neither collected nor distributed outside of the app. Read our complete privacy policy at tinybop.com. Tinybop, Inc. is a Brooklyn-based studio of designers, engineers, and artists. We make toys for tomorrow. We’re all over the internet. Visit us: www.tinybop.com Follow us: twitter.com/tinybop Like us: facebook.com/tinybop Peek behind the scenes: instagram.com/tinybop We love hearing your stories! If you have ideas, or something isn’t working as you expect it to, please contact us: hi@tinybop.com. Compatible with iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, 6, 6 Plus, iPod touch (5th generation), iPad 2, 3, mini, and Air. **This app is optimized for iPad 2 and iPhone 5 or higher. Requires iOS 7.0 or later. psst! It's not Tiny Bop, or Tiny Bob, or Tiny Pop. It's Tinybop.

About

Labo Shape

This app helps young children learn and trace 2D shapes, transforming them into interactive objects like flowers, fish, and cars. Kids can then color and play with these creations, engaging in various creative activities.

Highlights
  • Trace 2D shape templates
  • Shapes transform into objects
  • Color and play with creations
  • Six creative play activities
  • Learn shape recognition
  • Pre-writing skill development
Features
Read full description

"Labo Shape is a fun app that helps kids learn 2D shapes. It includes various shape templates that, when completely traced, will turn into playful objects kids can find in real life. It’s simple yet quite fun. Kids ages 2-5 who are beginning to learn about shapes would benefit from the app." -- geekswithjuniors.com "Recommended, as it can serve a variety of preschool ages and skill levels from beginning shape recognition to pre-writing and scissor use." -- teacherswithapps.com "This is an excellent app for early learners or any child working at that level. I recommend it!" -- appymall.com This is an app for teaching kids tracing & recognize shapes. There are lots of basic shapes templates for kids to tracing. When a shape traced ok, it will become to fun object(such as flower, fish, bug, car, shape man or bird), and kid can color the object with beautiful colors and play with it. [video]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVc5FO6nzvk There are six creative play activities in this app: 1. link flowers, and tap the flowers to play music; 2. tap the screen, and the fish will dancing around your finger; 3. play with the singing birds on wires, drag the wires, and see what will happen; 4. The bugs will walk in the maze automatically, and you can help them with your finger; 5. control the shape men to dancing, salute with gestures; 6. driver your own cars, and repair the road with shape blocks. It's an app for kids 2-6 years old. - About Labo Lado: We are a small team focus on developing creative and imaginative apps for kids. We do not collect any personal information or include any third-party advertising. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy: http://www.labolado.com/apps-privacy-policy.html. Join our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/labo.lado.7 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/labo_lado - We value your feedback Feel free to rate and review our app or feedback to our email: laboladoapp@gmail.com. - Need Help Contact us 24/7 with any questions or comments: laboladoapp@gmail.com - Summary A shape recognition game that kids love to teach them how to draw shapes. Labo Shapes is a digital toy,which is a great preschool app. In the app,kids can draw shapes,create and interact with interesting vehicles,insects,characters,and more. This game is suitable for boys from 3 years old and also suitable for girls from 3 years old.

Screenshots

Simple Machines by Tinybop4 screens
Labo Shape4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Labo Shape at 4.8 against Simple Machines by Tinybop's 3.7. Labo Shape also leads on price ($1.99 vs $2.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). Simple Machines by Tinybop's advantage is ratings volume (62 vs 12). On update cadence, 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

Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99 and Labo Shape $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Labo Shape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Machines by Tinybop has 62 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, Labo Shape every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Simple Machines by Tinybop versus Labo Shape: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple Machines by TinybopLabo Shape
Price$2.99$1.99 — better
Rating3.7 (62 ratings)4.8 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings62 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB89 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTinybop Inc.Labo Lado Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Simple Machines by Tinybop

All ratings62 ratings
Positive62.9%
Neutral14.5%
Negative22.6%
Written reviews131 reviews
Positive37.4%
Neutral8.4%
Negative54.2%

Labo Shape

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Simple Machines by Tinybop

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Crashes immediately on launch
  • Cannot install after purchase
  • App crashes after loading screen
  • No sound
  • Does not work
Show 3 more
  • Download issues
  • Does not open
  • Chinese language not displayed

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add a creative building mode
  • More levels and modules
  • Sandbox mode
  • Ability to build own machines
  • More interactive elements
Show 3 more
  • Add more complex mechanisms
  • Improve wheel and axle interaction
  • Allow bringing up planets in pulley game

Labo Shape

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Simple Machines by Tinybop

No in-app purchases

None

Labo Shape

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simple Machines by Tinybop free?
Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Labo Shape free?
Labo Shape costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Simple Machines by Tinybop or Labo Shape?
Labo Shape is rated higher. Simple Machines by Tinybop averages 3.7 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while Labo Shape averages 4.8 from 12 ratings.
Do Simple Machines by Tinybop or Labo Shape have ads?
Neither Simple Machines by Tinybop nor Labo Shape shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Machines by Tinybop or Labo Shape?
Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, and Labo Shape every 5 months. Most recently, Simple Machines by Tinybop was updated on November 6, 2026 and Labo Shape on November 6, 2026.

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