Comparison

Simple Machines by Tinybop vs Thinkrolls Space

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

Thinkrolls Space

Embark on an interstellar adventure with this child-friendly puzzle game. Guide colorful characters through over 200 unique mazes across seven planets, using logic and physics to overcome obstacles and unlock new alien companions.

Highlights
  • Over 200 logic and physics puzzles
  • Seven unique themed planets
  • 24 collectible alien characters
  • Two difficulty modes
  • Unlimited penalty-free retries
  • Enhances logic and problem-solving skills
Read full description

*** Featured as "App of the Day" on the App Store! *** Thinkrolls Space is a child-friendly puzzle game that’s out of this world. Colorful heroes boldly roll where no Thinkroll has rolled before, in over 200 mazes set across seven unique planets. A cast of oddball aliens will make you grin from ear to ear. But you’ll need brains and nimble fingers to reach your goal—and catch the waiting UFO that will beam your Thinkroll to the next fun-filled planet. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Thinkrolls and Thinkrolls 2 introduced our revolving heroes. Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens added exciting new concepts—and dragons. Now Thinkrolls Space blasts the award-winning series into outer space. You’ll meet goo monsters, bleeping robots, spring-like soprano aliens, and cheese monsters who love munching moon cheese. You’ll face vanishing rainbow bridges, plasma fields, teleporters—and more. Each of these can help or hinder. You must figure out which—and how to move and match objects to clear a path, get the key, and open a gate to the next level. REACH FOR THE STARS Two difficulty modes and unlimited penalty-free retries ensure the 200+ level journey is stress-free for children and adults alike. Along the way, stars and hearts can be collected, and later used to unlock 24 unique alien Thinkrolls. Throughout, players are encouraged to experiment. They will learn through trial and error to combine elements, and build on successive lessons to strengthen creative thinking, logic, problem solving, spatial cognition, and memory. Don’t be surprised when even younger players start thinking several moves ahead, in this fun, inventive, family-friendly combination of physics problems, logic puzzles, and exciting platform gaming! GAME FEATURES • 110 easy levels for ages 5+ • 108 hard levels for ages 8+ • Explore 7 bizarre, unique themed planets • 24 quirky alien Thinkrolls to collect • Gather hearts and stars and use them to unlock new aliens • Unlimited retries, and no time limits—play at your own pace • Enhances logic, problem solving, memory, strategic thinking, and perseverance • Store up to six separate player profiles • Intuitive, easy to understand touchscreen controls • Original concept, artwork, and sound design • COPPA and GDPR compliant; no third party ads; no in-app purchases • No internet connection required ------------------------------------------ *** Featured as "App of the Day" and "Best New App" on the Today tab and Home page of the App Store! *** 5 stars by Common Sense Media - "The adorable Thinkrolls and their sometimes maddening puzzle worlds will captivate kids of all ages, including some adults." *** Editor's Choice by Children's Technology Review (score 98%) ------------------------------------------ PRIVACY POLICY We respect our users’ privacy! We do not collect, store, or share any personal or location data. Thinkrolls Space does not contain third party ads and is safe for families and young children. Read our privacy policy: http://avokiddo.com/privacy-policy. ABOUT AVOKIDDO Avokiddo is an award-winning creative studio specializing in the development of quality educational apps for children. Hand-in-hand with kids, we design unique experiences crafted with love! Read more about us at avokiddo.com.

Screenshots

Simple Machines by Tinybop4 screens
Thinkrolls Space4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Thinkrolls Space at 93% against Simple Machines by Tinybop's 37%. Thinkrolls Space also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (3.4K vs 62). Simple Machines by Tinybop's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $5.99) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 8 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99 and Thinkrolls Space $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Thinkrolls Space holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Thinkrolls Space has 3.4K 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 93% of Thinkrolls Space's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, Thinkrolls Space every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Simple Machines by Tinybop versus Thinkrolls Space: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple Machines by TinybopThinkrolls Space
Price$2.99 — better$5.99
Rating3.7 (62 ratings)4.6 (3.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.4% of reviews92.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings623.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB174 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTinybop Inc.AVOKIDDO

Customer experience

Simple Machines by Tinybop

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

Thinkrolls Space

All ratings3,374 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral4.6%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive92.7%
Neutral3.1%
Negative4.2%

User reviews

Simple Machines by Tinybop

From 62 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Thinkrolls Space

From 3.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Fun and engaging
  • 💡 Challenges the brain
  • 👍 Cute and creative characters
  • 👍 No ads or in-app purchases
  • 👍 Suitable for all ages

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional glitches or crashes
  • 🔑 Levels can be frustratingly difficult
  • 🤔 Needs more content/levels

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

Thinkrolls Space

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Stuck on certain levels
  • Compatibility issues on older devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • More planets and levels
  • Easier difficulty options
  • Ability to reset progress

In-app purchases

None

Simple Machines by Tinybop

No in-app purchases

None

Thinkrolls Space

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simple Machines by Tinybop free?
Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Thinkrolls Space free?
Thinkrolls Space costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Simple Machines by Tinybop or Thinkrolls Space?
Thinkrolls Space is rated higher. Simple Machines by Tinybop averages 3.7 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while Thinkrolls Space averages 4.6 from 3.4K ratings.
Do Simple Machines by Tinybop or Thinkrolls Space have ads?
Neither Simple Machines by Tinybop nor Thinkrolls Space shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Machines by Tinybop or Thinkrolls Space?
Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, and Thinkrolls Space every 8 months. Most recently, Simple Machines by Tinybop was updated on September 23, 2026 and Thinkrolls Space on September 22, 2026.

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