# Simple Machines by Tinybop vs ESF Hub

The clearest difference is price: ESF Hub at Free against Simple Machines by Tinybop's $2.99. ESF Hub also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 37%). Simple Machines by Tinybop's advantage is rating (3.7 vs 2.0) and ratings volume (62 vs 4). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

ESF Hub 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.

Simple Machines by Tinybop holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Machines by Tinybop has 62 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 37% of Simple Machines by Tinybop's written reviews are positive against 50% of ESF Hub's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, ESF Hub monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Machines by Tinybop | ESF Hub |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[3.7 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-machines-by-tinybop/id936966570/reviews)** | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esf-hub/id6748111710/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **62** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 37.4% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 112 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tinybop Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/682046582) | [Sentral for Parents](https://appshunter.io/developer/1238744021) |

## 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


### ESF Hub

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esf-hub/id6748111710)

Monitor your child's school activities and communications with this app. Receive messages from teachers, report absences, and manage payments for school events. Stay informed and connected about your child's educational journey.

**Highlights:** Monitor child's school journey, Receive teacher messages and notifications, Report absences, Make payments for school activities, Stay connected and informed

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**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 ESF Hub free?

ESF Hub is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Simple Machines by Tinybop is rated higher. Simple Machines by Tinybop averages 3.7 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while ESF Hub averages 2.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Simple Machines by Tinybop or ESF Hub have ads?

Neither Simple Machines by Tinybop nor ESF Hub shows ads.

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

Simple Machines by Tinybop ships an update every 4 months, and ESF Hub monthly. Most recently, Simple Machines by Tinybop was updated on October 26, 2026 and ESF Hub on October 24, 2026.

---

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