# Meteo AR vs Merge Explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Merge Explorer at 46% against Meteo AR's 0%. Merge Explorer also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (279 vs 6). Meteo AR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Meteo AR asks for nothing beyond the download.

Merge Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merge Explorer has 279 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Meteo AR's written reviews are positive against 46% of Merge Explorer's.

Meteo AR ships an update every 3 months, Merge Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Meteo AR | Merge Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meteo-ar/id1137777181/reviews) | **[4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **279** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **46.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 82 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University Corporation for Atmospheric Research](https://appshunter.io/developer/666875788) | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) |

## What reviewers say

### Meteo AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meteo-ar/id1137777181)

Explore 3D earth science data in augmented reality. Point your device's camera at special science sheets to visualize complex environmental information and learn about our planet.

**Highlights:** Augmented Reality visualization, 3D earth science data sets, Interactive science sheets, Environmental learning, Supercomputer data visualization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Merge Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606)

Explore over 100 interactive science simulations using a smartphone and a Merge Cube. Investigate volcanoes, sharks, the solar system, and more with hands-on activities and quizzes. Ideal for K-8 students learning science at school or home.

**Highlights:** Over 100 science simulations, Interactive Merge Cube experiences, Hands-on learning activities, Built-in quizzes, NGSS-aligned K-8 curriculum, Physical, Life, and Earth/Space Science topics

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Merge EDU Individual | $9.99 | per month |
| Explorer Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Merge EDU Individual | $99.99 | per year |
| Explorer Premium Annual | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy for young students
- 💡 Flexible for lesson needs
- 🔬 Used for research and experiments
- 💡 Introduces new content exploratorily
- 🤩 Engaging and versatile for learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive purchase
- 💰 Forced subscription for software
- 💰 Cannot view software before paying
- 💰 Money trap
- 💰 Only for rich people

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iPad
- App crashes when pressing play
- Camera not working in app
- Black screen when using cube or camera
- VR function broken

**Requested features**

- Make the app free to play
- Add more fun things, not just learning
- Bring back the fun apps (time bomb, block courses)
- Allow users to create their own games for the merge cube
- Add a way to reset quizzes for class sets of devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Meteo AR free?

Meteo AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Merge Explorer free?

Merge Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Meteo AR or Merge Explorer?

Merge Explorer is rated higher. Meteo AR averages 3.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Merge Explorer averages 4.1 from 279 ratings.

### Do Meteo AR or Merge Explorer have ads?

Neither Meteo AR nor Merge Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Meteo AR or Merge Explorer?

Meteo AR ships an update every 3 months, and Merge Explorer monthly. Most recently, Meteo AR was updated on October 21, 2026 and Merge Explorer on October 23, 2026.

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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.*