# Simple Machines by Tinybop vs Fireworks Lab

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Machines by Tinybop | Fireworks Lab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.7 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-machines-by-tinybop/id936966570/reviews) | **[4.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fireworks-lab/id1008088279/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **62** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 37.4% of reviews | **84.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 112 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tinybop Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/682046582) | [Cowly Owl Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/470860658) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Machines by Tinybop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-machines-by-tinybop/id936966570)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and design
- 🧠 Educational and informative
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Good for kids and learning
- 💡 Sparks curiosity and imagination
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😴 Boring and repetitive
- 💸 Expensive for limited content
- 🤷‍♂️ Lacks clear goals or objectives
- 🤏 Limited interaction and content
- 🚫 Not a game, more of a toy

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes immediately on launch
- Cannot install after purchase
- App crashes after loading screen
- No sound
- Does not work

**Requested features**

- Add a creative building mode
- More levels and modules
- Sandbox mode
- Ability to build own machines
- More interactive elements


### Fireworks Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fireworks-lab/id1008088279)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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