# BioViewer — Protein/molecule visualizer

> 3D protein and molecule visualizer for PDB files on Apple devices. (iPhone/iPad app by Raul Monton Pinillos.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bioviewer/id1593006498 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Raul Monton Pinillos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1576884003)
- Category: Education, Medical
- Price: Free
- Rating: 1.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 9 MB
- Languages: English, Spanish
- Released: 2021-11-23
- Data updated: 2026-06-05
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bioviewer/id1593006498/reviews.md

## What is BioViewer?

A .pdb protein visualizer for iOS, iPadOS and macOS. View the 3D representation of any molecular structure from a .pdb file, using our custom Metal-based rendering engine based to allow for a smooth experience even in the biggest proteins. 

- Full drag and drop support for .pdb and .xyz files.
- Photo Mode with publication-quality exports.
- Support for multi-model PDBs.
- Support for high refresh rate ProMotion displays.

## Key features

- 3D molecular structure visualization
- Supports .pdb and .xyz files
- Drag and drop functionality
- Photo Mode with high-quality exports
- Multi-model PDB support
- Optimized for ProMotion displays

## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bioviewer/id1593006498/reviews.md

### 4/5 — CAN DO NOTHING

*2023-12-28, version 1.4.3*

Just a pbd viewer
Elegant
But CAN DO NOTHING

### 1/5 — Not Good

*2023-07-19, version 1.4.3*

Does not even come close to PyMol or any other molecular viewer

### 1/5 — Structures are all reversed

*2022-02-03, version 1.2.2*

This is a nice little molecular viewer that I thought I might use in my biology class  (I’m a Bio professor), BUT when I opened my first structure from the protein database - 2cv5 (DNA wrapped around a nucleosome) - the wrap of the DNA around the nucleosome core is spiraling the wrong way and the DNA itself is winding backwards. The viewer is giving incorrect mirror views of the structure. This can be seen by comparing the app view with the view at RCSB itself using their 3D viewer in the browser or in PyMol (a more professional structure viewer). I tried other nucleosome structures - the same error. 

I am led to conclude that all proteins are shown in mirror image of reality. As such this viewer should not be used until this issue is fixed.

## Frequently asked questions about BioViewer

### What molecular file formats does BioViewer support?

BioViewer supports .pdb and .xyz file formats. You can easily import these files using drag and drop functionality directly into the application.

### Can I export high-quality images from BioViewer?

Yes, BioViewer includes a Photo Mode that allows for publication-quality exports of your molecular visualizations. This feature is ideal for presentations and research papers.

### What devices is BioViewer compatible with?

BioViewer is available for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It is designed to run smoothly on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers.

### How often is BioViewer updated?

The application was last updated on February 23, 2024, with version 1.5. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and improvements.

### Does BioViewer have ads?

No, BioViewer is completely free and does not contain any advertisements, providing an uninterrupted user experience.

### What is the age rating for BioViewer?

BioViewer has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including younger students exploring molecular structures.

### How does BioViewer handle large protein structures?

BioViewer utilizes a custom Metal-based rendering engine designed for smooth performance, even when visualizing very large protein structures.

### What is the user sentiment for BioViewer based on ratings?

Currently, BioViewer has a rating of 1.0 stars from 1 rating. Further user feedback would be needed to establish a broader sentiment.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.5 — 2024-02-23

- Changes in the rendering engine for higher quality shadows at a small performance cost.
- Protein atoms can now be colored based on their residue (ARG, HIS, LYS...).
- Protein atoms can now be colored based on their secondary structure (helix, sheet or loop).
- Added a UI control to change the direction of the light source.
- Several more elements can have their colors customized within the app: F, Na, P, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Zn and I.
- PDB file reading is now multithreaded, making the opening of bigger files much faster.

### 1.4.3 — 2022-12-31

- Support to change the bond color in Ball and Stick visualization mode.
- Fixed some stability issues in Ball and Stick visualization mode for all devices.

### 1.4.2 — 2022-12-26

- Improved RCSB PDB file search, allowing to search for text on all fields and not using ID only
- Fixes rendering bug on Intel Macs

### 1.4.1 — 2022-12-16

- Solve crash on Ball and Sticks visualization mode when the file contained no bonds.
- Solve a bug where "Show all models" option missing on iPhone when working with multi-MODEL files.
- Subsections of options in the Appearance tab are now collapsible.
- Added more atom types that are recognized and show the correct Van der Waals radius (Na, P, Cl, Ca).

### 1.4 — 2022-11-27

- Faster rendering
- Removed sidebar
- Option for showing all MODEL records at once
- Support for more subunit colors
- Redesigned color options UI

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-05.*