Comparison

Simple Machines by Tinybop vs Fireworks Lab

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

Fireworks Lab

Design and launch your own unique fireworks displays with realistic particle effects and sounds. This app offers a safe and playful sandbox experience for young children to explore creativity and experiment with different firework combinations.

Highlights
  • Create custom fireworks
  • Realistic particle effects
  • Multi-touch controls
  • Sandbox play
  • Child-friendly environment
Read full description

Create your own amazing fireworks display! Pick your fireworks shape and then customize it by feeding it a colorful treat. Arrange your creations into a display and see them come to life. See your choices launch into spectacular realistic particle effects and sounds, supported by multi-touch to trigger fireworks. The perfect app for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy fireworks in a playful and safe environment this holiday weekend. Features: - Four types of firework: rockets, fountain, mortar and roman candle - Unlimited color options - Arrange fireworks into a display - Test your ideas and experiment different combinations - No goals or objectives, just a free play sandbox. Child friendly app: - No in-app purchases - No third-party advertising - No social media More fun with fireworks coming in future app updates. We’d love to hear what you think, so get in touch with @cowlyowl on Twitter, Facebook or our website. Created by Cowly Owl, a British micro-studio creating playful digital toys and educational games. http://www.cowlyowl.com/

Screenshots

Simple Machines by Tinybop4 screens
Fireworks Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fireworks Lab at 85% against Simple Machines by Tinybop's 37%. Fireworks Lab also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (4.6 vs 3.7). Simple Machines by Tinybop's advantage is ratings volume (62 vs 11). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Fireworks Lab is free to download; Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fireworks Lab holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Machines by Tinybop has 62 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of Simple Machines by Tinybop's written reviews are positive against 85% of Fireworks Lab's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Simple Machines by Tinybop versus Fireworks Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple Machines by TinybopFireworks Lab
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (62 ratings)4.6 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.4% of reviews84.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings62 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTinybop Inc.Cowly Owl 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%

Fireworks Lab

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.4%

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

Fireworks Lab

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Simple Machines by Tinybop

No in-app purchases

None

Fireworks Lab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simple Machines by Tinybop free?
Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Fireworks Lab free?
Fireworks Lab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Simple Machines by Tinybop or Fireworks Lab?
Fireworks Lab is rated higher. Simple Machines by Tinybop averages 3.7 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while Fireworks Lab averages 4.6 from 11 ratings.
Do Simple Machines by Tinybop or Fireworks Lab have ads?
Neither Simple Machines by Tinybop nor Fireworks Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Machines by Tinybop or Fireworks Lab?
Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, and Fireworks Lab every 4 months. Most recently, Simple Machines by Tinybop was updated on November 11, 2026 and Fireworks Lab on November 1, 2026.

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