# Molecules — user reviews

> 388 indexed App Store user reviews of Molecules by Sunset Lake Software, rated 3.60/5 from 166 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecules/id284943090/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecules/id284943090.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 63 · 4★ 41 · 3★ 20 · 2★ 16 · 1★ 26

## What do users think of Molecules?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 Useful for visualizing molecules
- 👍 Great for teaching chemistry
- 👍 Excellent for biochemistry students

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes when downloading new molecules
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS devices
- 🐛 Limited functionality, missing key features
- 🔍 Difficult to find common molecules
- 💡 Needs more view options (ribbon, surface, etc.)

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes when switching between views
- Molecules disappear after reopening the app
- Search function is unreliable and limited
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Most requested features**

- Add ability to build and edit molecules
- Implement a color key for atom types
- Include more basic molecules (H2O, CO2, etc.)
- Allow sorting/organizing downloaded molecules
- Integrate with databases like PubChem and RCSB

## Newest reviews (11 of 388)

### 2/5 — Back to the future

*2023-11-26, version 3.0*

Why not add direct download from the app?

### 4/5 — ICE

*2022-11-11, version 2.1*

Can't load on verification support, from Apple himself. Grrrrrr.... I don't know, maybe kopftuch disaster. (To young for experience)

### 4/5 — Update Please

*2019-06-25, version 2.1*

I would love to use this app again.

### 4/5 — tres jolie mais pas facile

*2018-08-08, version 2.1*

jolie appli mais pas facile pour y charger des molécules. il faut refaire N•download pour aboutir
et bug le Cubane C8H8 absent de la liste et si je telecharge alors pop-up me dit "déjà téléchargé" 🤓

### 3/5 — Update

*2017-11-14, version 2.1*

Please update for use on latest iOS.

### 3/5 — Great app to play around yet not optimised.

*2015-12-10, version 2.1*

Currently use older generation iPhone resolution.

### 2/5 — Misleading description

*2015-08-07, version 2.1*

You can't really manipulate the molecules, you can only look at them

### 4/5 — Awesome, but could be better

*2015-06-21, version 2.1*

I remember how awesome it was when it went from only having the PDB (protein database) to also having the pubchem, even though they are on the pubchem site, I can't get things like pyrite sodium-chloride or calcite, even though you can get crazy complex molecules containing the elements that are also in those compounds from the PDB. Update for that soonish? 😏

### 4/5 — Great but...

*2015-02-14, version 2.1*

PLEASE make app compatible with iPhone 6 screen!!

### 2/5 — Unfortunately not very good :/

*2014-12-18, version 2.1*

The idea of this app is very good and useful for every chemist, but the look and the handling are too old... Please bring an update, it would be a pity if this idea got forgotten.

### 2/5 — Thought it was the real deal

*2014-12-17, version 2.1*

I thought it would give me real molecules, not pictures. Very disappointed. Maybe you should make the title a bit more clear.

OR MAYBE IM DUMB..

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Çalışmıyor!

*2025-08-25, version 3.0*

İndirdiğim (SDF olarak indirdim) hiç bir dosyayı açmadı

### 1/5 — Pointless

*2025-05-20, version 3.0*

This is the worst app I’ve ever tried
I can’t even do anything on there

### 1/5 — No longer works

*2024-10-05, version 3.0*

Can’t connect to any server, says url is not supported. No molecules pre loaded on app. If I have to download everything manually it’s not worth much, I can just use Google and look at stuff on a browser.

### 1/5 — Unable to do anything with this

*2024-05-31, version 3.0*

There seems to be no documentation.

I’d like to be able to build a simple molecule, find its shape and judge its polarity. No way to do any of this that I can find. Perhaps it’s intended for something else, but no way to know.

Another take-it-as-is-or- leave-it item on the App Store.

### 1/5 — What the heck?

*2024-03-22, version 3.0*

This used to be such an easy app to use with fabulous results.  Now I can't figure out how to use it.  Why do I have to download data into my phone, search for it, and hope the app doesn't crash when I try to open said data?  I'm sorry I updated this app.

### 1/5 — Build a feature to access databases?

*2023-08-22, version 3.0*

Hi, I just re-downloaded after not using this for years. I want to show my primary school students some molecules in class.

Can you add a feature to the app that allows me to go directly to the RCSB and PubChem databases within the app and download files?

I have not attempted to download them outside the app yet, but I’m anticipating it’s going to be fiddly and frustrating 😕

### 1/5 — What molecules?

*2023-08-11, version 3.0*

I downloaded the app to use it with my students (I’m a high school science teacher). Where are the molecules? Do I have to hunt around and find them myself? I had an old version of this app that included lots of molecular models. It no longer works with the current iOS. Your new app is useless to me as is.

### 1/5 — No instructions or sample files

*2023-08-02, version 3.0*

The app opens directly to an empty iCloud folder without any instructions as to how to get molecular models.

### 1/5 — Outdated, incompatible for 6 or 6s

*2015-10-18, version 2.1*

Perhaps this app doesn't function properly because of my 6S Plus' screen, but this app is pretty useless for people with newer generation iOS devices

You're able to use the 3D diagram to an extent but you're unable to zoom in without the animation glitching.

### 1/5 — Not recommended

*2014-12-06, version 2.1*

Old, outdated and crashy with poor UI design and very limited functionality.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — This is dead

*2020-05-10, version 2.1*

This application hasn’t been updated for EIGHT YEARS!

### 5/5 — Excited about molecules

*2019-08-08, version 2.1*

Love this app so much but now Apple says I can’t use it until it’s updated to iOS 11. Can you all please update this app so it complies with iOS 11 standards? Please and thank you :)

### 5/5 — I like this app

*2019-01-16, version 2.1*

the one who Created this app really really really needs to update that IOS update this app Right NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWeSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOme

### 5/5 — No longer works at all

*2018-09-25, version 2.1*

Hi lovely Sunset Lake devs,

Do you have any plans to update this one so it will work with current iOS (iOS 12 as I write this review)? I really liked the app, but iOS refuses to run it now.

Thanks, keep up the good work!

Martin

### 5/5 — 😳 wow

*2018-04-03, version 2.1*

Super cool. Easy to use. Awesome app!

### 5/5 — This app is fantastic

*2016-03-19, version 2.1*

This app is super extensive and has helped me in understanding a lot of the chemistry behind biology.

The app follows standard coloring so just look online for the rules and you will know what each atom is.

A lot of the standard proteins/molecules you want will be the first one with the strange name of numbers and capital letters.

Also double bonds aren't shown so don't get too confused.

Cheers,
Kevin

### 5/5 — Best of its kind

*2015-10-12, version 2.1*

The best molecule app in AppStore. Simple and exact, no extra "junk" features.

### 5/5 — Bella

*2015-09-27, version 2.1*

Interessante, istruttiva ed esteticamente accattivante ed elegante. Bravi! Niente da dire... Non può mancare sul dispositivo di un appassionato di scienze!

### 5/5 — Aggiornate presto

*2015-08-28, version 2.1*

Ottima app ma obsoleta sono un biologo e la uso molto ma ha bisogno di un aggiornamento e di nuove funzioni

### 5/5 — Fond of this app

*2014-12-18, version 2.1*

I have a soft spot for this app. 

When iPads first came out, this app was on screens in stores all over the place, demonstrating the graphics and interactive touch mechanism of a device we now take for granted.
 
Plus, the developer offers it for nothing (unlike a lot of app developers now, who are angling for an app that will earn big bucks).

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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 2026-08-05.*