# BEAKER by THIX vs PhET Simulations

The clearest difference is rating: PhET Simulations at 4.5 against BEAKER by THIX's 3.9. PhET Simulations also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#6 vs #200). BEAKER by THIX's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (284 vs 48). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

BEAKER by THIX costs $0.99 and PhET Simulations $0.99 up front. BEAKER by THIX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PhET Simulations asks for nothing beyond the download.

PhET Simulations holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BEAKER by THIX has 284 ratings behind it against 48, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of BEAKER by THIX's written reviews are positive against 66% of PhET Simulations's.

BEAKER by THIX ships an update every 2 months, PhET Simulations every 14 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BEAKER by THIX | PhET Simulations |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (284 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beaker-by-thix/id961227503/reviews) | **[4.5 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **284** | 48 |
| Positive reviews | 50.8% of reviews | **65.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #200 | **#6** |
| Size | 56 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THIX LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/433373206) | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) |

## What reviewers say

### BEAKER by THIX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beaker-by-thix/id961227503)

**Currently charting:** #200 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Explore a virtual laboratory with 150 chemicals. Mix, heat, and shake substances to observe reactions. Collaborate with friends using AirMix™ for shared experiments. Additional tools enhance complex operations.

**Highlights:** Virtual lab with 150 chemicals, Interactive mixing, heating, and shaking, Real-time chemical reactions, Multiplayer via AirMix™, Additional experimental tools, Simulated ignition and boiling

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Tools | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for experimenting
- 👍 Realistic reactions
- 💡 Useful for learning chemistry

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Paywall for basic features
- 🔋 Performance issues on some devices

**Reported bugs**

- Liquids and solids behaving unrealistically
- Crashes when mixing certain chemicals
- AirMix not working as advertised
- UI elements disappearing or malfunctioning

**Requested features**

- Add more elements and compounds
- Improve accuracy of chemical reactions
- Implement a periodic table view
- Add support for exothermic/endothermic reactions
- Improve AirMix functionality


### PhET Simulations

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Paid · Education, #67 Top Paid (US App Store)

Explore science and math concepts through interactive simulations. This app provides over 75 HTML5 simulations for learning about atoms, energy, multiplication, and more. It's ideal for students, parents, and educators, offering offline access and multiple language support.

**Highlights:** Interactive science and math simulations, Offline play capability, Multiple language support, Customizable favorites collection, Automatic simulation updates, Easy simulation sorting

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BEAKER by THIX free?

BEAKER by THIX costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is PhET Simulations free?

PhET Simulations costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BEAKER by THIX or PhET Simulations?

PhET Simulations is rated higher. BEAKER by THIX averages 3.9 out of 5 from 284 ratings, while PhET Simulations averages 4.5 from 48 ratings.

### Do BEAKER by THIX or PhET Simulations have ads?

Neither BEAKER by THIX nor PhET Simulations shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BEAKER by THIX or PhET Simulations?

BEAKER by THIX ships an update every 2 months, and PhET Simulations every 14 months. Most recently, BEAKER by THIX was updated on October 24, 2026 and PhET Simulations on October 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, BEAKER by THIX or PhET Simulations?

BEAKER by THIX currently peaks at #200 in the App Store charts, and PhET Simulations at #6. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*