Comparison

Simple Machines by Tinybop vs Proportia

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

Proportia

This app transforms numerical data into clear, proportional visual representations like circles, rectangles, or bars. It simplifies understanding ratios, comparing values, and building numeracy skills for students, educators, and professionals.

Highlights
  • Dynamic shape visualization (circles, bars, rectangles)
  • Proportional resizing based on values
  • Interactive value entry with calculator
  • Customizable shape colors and settings
  • Real-time visual feedback
  • Clean, dark theme design
Features
Read full description

Proportia turns numbers into clear, proportional visuals—simple, elegant, and powerful. Boost numeracy, grasp ratios, and compare values effortlessly with dynamic shapes. Perfect for students, teachers, and pros. No clutter, just clarity. What is Proportia? Proportia is a straightforward visualization app that lets you compare two numerical values through dynamic, customizable shapes—circles, rectangles, or bars—that scale proportionally to reflect their ratio. With a single tap, see how one value measures up against another in a way that’s instantly clear and beautifully simple. From budgeting to teaching, Proportia makes numbers meaningful. Key Features - Dynamic Visualization: Pick circles, rectangles, or bars that resize automatically based on your values. Choose to display them touching at the center or separately centered—simple and effective. - Interactive Value Entry: A built-in calculator makes entering or tweaking values a breeze. It handles mathematical expressions with proper operator precedence for quick calculations. - Rich Customization: Customize with 8 color options per shape and independent settings for top and bottom visuals—all through a clean, simple menu. - Real-Time Feedback: Watch your changes take shape instantly as you adjust values or settings. Why Use Proportia? Proportia’s simplicity is its strength. This inexpensive app delivers a powerful visual aid without overwhelming you, making it perfect for: - Building Numeracy: Ideal for students and teachers, Proportia simplifies proportions and ratios with visuals that stick. - Everyday Comparisons: See how an expense fits into your checking account or how big Earth is compared to the Sun—made simple. - Data Visualization: Get a clear, proportional sense of sales data, performance metrics, or budgets in seconds. - Decision-Making: Compare options visually to decide with confidence, no complications needed. Elegant, User-Friendly Design Proportia’s clean, distraction-free dark theme and portrait orientation keep things simple and focused. With intuitive touch controls and a minimal interface, it’s easy to use from the moment you open it. Whether you’re a visual learner or just want a hassle-free way to understand numbers, this small app packs a big punch. Practical Examples - Education: Teachers can simplify proportion lessons with a tool students instantly get. - Finance: Visualize spending versus savings in a snap. - Science: Compare sizes like Earth to the Sun with elegant clarity. - Business: Share performance data with colleagues simply and effectively. Proportia is an elegant data visualization tool that strips away the noise and lets you see what numbers really mean. Download now and experience the beauty of simplicity in action!

Screenshots

Simple Machines by Tinybop4 screens
Proportia4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Proportia at 100% against Simple Machines by Tinybop's 37%. Proportia also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and update cadence (daily vs every 4 months). Simple Machines by Tinybop's advantage is ratings volume (62 vs 5). 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 Proportia $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Proportia holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Machines by Tinybop has 62 ratings behind it against 5, 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 100% of Proportia's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, Proportia daily. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Simple Machines by Tinybop versus Proportia: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple Machines by TinybopProportia
Price$2.99$0.99 — better
Rating3.7 (62 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings62 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTinybop Inc.Cognichine

Customer experience

Simple Machines by Tinybop

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

Proportia

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Proportia

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Simple Machines by Tinybop

No in-app purchases

None

Proportia

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simple Machines by Tinybop free?
Simple Machines by Tinybop costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Proportia free?
Proportia costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Simple Machines by Tinybop or Proportia?
Proportia is rated higher. Simple Machines by Tinybop averages 3.7 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while Proportia averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Simple Machines by Tinybop or Proportia have ads?
Neither Simple Machines by Tinybop nor Proportia shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Machines by Tinybop or Proportia?
Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, and Proportia daily. Most recently, Simple Machines by Tinybop was updated on November 1, 2026 and Proportia on October 12, 2026.

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