# Simple Machines by Tinybop vs BANDIMAL

The clearest difference is rating: BANDIMAL at 4.7 against Simple Machines by Tinybop's 3.7. BANDIMAL also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 37%) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 62). Simple Machines by Tinybop's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

BANDIMAL holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BANDIMAL has 2.3K 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 78% of BANDIMAL's.

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, BANDIMAL every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Machines by Tinybop | BANDIMAL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.7 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-machines-by-tinybop/id936966570/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bandimal/id1065440354/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 62 | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 37.4% of reviews | **78.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 112 MB | 137 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tinybop Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/682046582) | [YATATOY](https://appshunter.io/developer/1290279571) |

## 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


### BANDIMAL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bandimal/id1065440354)

This app introduces children to music creation through an intuitive interface. Kids can experiment with different animal instruments, create drum loops, and add effects, all while enjoying amusing animations. It's designed to be a fun and pressure-free way to explore musical creativity.

**Highlights:** Nine animal instruments, Create drum loops, Change loop speeds and add effects, Save compositions, Lively animations and audio, No ads

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Cute and fun animations
- 🎨 Creative music making
- 🎶 Catchy and harmonious sounds
- 🧠 Encourages creativity and imagination
- 🤩 Engaging for kids and adults

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔇 Sound not working on some devices
- 🔢 Limited number of animals/sounds
- 💾 Cannot save or export compositions
- 💰 Perceived as overpriced for the features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after adding multiple animals
- Glitches and visual bugs with animations
- Compatibility issues with certain devices
- Sound not working in some cases

**Requested features**

- Add more animals and sound options
- Ability to save and export compositions
- More customization options for music creation
- Tutorials or instructions for first-time users
- Support for older/less powerful devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Machines by Tinybop free?

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

### Is BANDIMAL free?

BANDIMAL costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

BANDIMAL is rated higher. Simple Machines by Tinybop averages 3.7 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while BANDIMAL averages 4.7 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do Simple Machines by Tinybop or BANDIMAL have ads?

Neither Simple Machines by Tinybop nor BANDIMAL shows ads.

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

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, and BANDIMAL every 6 months. Most recently, Simple Machines by Tinybop was updated on November 6, 2026 and BANDIMAL on November 8, 2026.

---

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