# Simple Machines by Tinybop vs DNA Play

The clearest difference is rating: DNA Play at 4.4 against Simple Machines by Tinybop's 3.7. DNA Play also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 37%) and ratings volume (2.2K vs 62). Simple Machines by Tinybop's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $4.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99 and DNA Play $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

DNA Play holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DNA Play has 2.2K ratings behind it against 62, 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 68% of DNA Play's.

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, DNA Play every 6 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Machines by Tinybop | DNA Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.7 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-machines-by-tinybop/id936966570/reviews) | **[4.4 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dna-play/id1033801524/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 62 | **2.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 37.4% of reviews | **68.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 112 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tinybop Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/682046582) | [AVOKIDDO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1137946176) |

## 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


### DNA Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dna-play/id1033801524)

Design and mutate unique creatures by solving DNA puzzles and altering genes. Interact with your creations in real-time through various activities, discovering their personalities and evolving their forms.

**Highlights:** Create over 200 billion unique monsters, Solve DNA puzzles to build creatures, Alter genes for real-time mutations, Interact with monsters in various activities, Discover monster personalities and quirks, Save monster creations and DNA blueprints

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and creative
- 💡 Teaches about DNA and diversity
- 🥰 Child-friendly and engaging
- 🤩 Customizable monsters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😕 Limited gameplay and interaction
- 😒 Repetitive and boring after a while
- 🤔 Difficulty controlling/interacting with monsters
- 💰 Overpriced for the content

**Reported bugs**

- Food items hard to pick up
- Glitches and crashes on some devices

**Requested features**

- More gameplay options and activities
- Ability to name and save monsters
- Additional customization options
- Improved controls and responsiveness


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Machines by Tinybop free?

Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DNA Play free?

DNA Play costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Simple Machines by Tinybop or DNA Play?

DNA Play is rated higher. Simple Machines by Tinybop averages 3.7 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while DNA Play averages 4.4 from 2.2K ratings.

### Do Simple Machines by Tinybop or DNA Play have ads?

Neither Simple Machines by Tinybop nor DNA Play shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Machines by Tinybop or DNA Play?

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, and DNA Play every 6 months. Most recently, Simple Machines by Tinybop was updated on November 11, 2026 and DNA Play on November 11, 2026.

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