# Metaverse vs Merge Explorer

The clearest difference is rating: Merge Explorer at 4.1 against Metaverse's 3.3. Metaverse's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Merge Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 113 and 279 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of Metaverse's written reviews are positive against 46% of Merge Explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Metaverse ships an update every 5 days, Merge Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on July 4, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Metaverse | Merge Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (113 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metaverse-experience-browser/id1159155137/reviews) | **[4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 113 | **279** |
| Positive reviews | **54.1% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 75 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GoMeta, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1159155136) | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) |

## What reviewers say

### Metaverse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metaverse-experience-browser/id1159155137)

Easily create interactive content like games, scavenger hunts, memes, and educational experiences. Use the Metaverse Studio to build your creations and then explore them within the app browser.

**Highlights:** Interactive content creation, Metaverse Studio, App browser, Game creation, Scavenger hunt creation, Meme creation, Educational experience creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative and interactive learning
- 👍 Easy to use for teachers
- 🌟 High student engagement
- 📚 Great for educational purposes
- 🚀 Creates engaging experiences

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Too many bugs
- ⚠️ Difficult to navigate
- 🗑️ Inconsistent and unreliable
- ❌ Impossible to use
- 🚫 No instructions provided

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening YouTube videos
- Assignment glitches and floats away
- App crashes frequently
- App gets stuck on loading screen
- AR is dreadful and doesn't work properly

**Requested features**

- Improve interface
- Add dark mode
- More detailed map
- Allow playing experiences more than once
- Character actions beyond talking


### 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 Metaverse free?

Metaverse 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, Metaverse or Merge Explorer?

Merge Explorer is rated higher. Metaverse averages 3.3 out of 5 from 113 ratings, while Merge Explorer averages 4.1 from 279 ratings.

### Do Metaverse or Merge Explorer have ads?

Neither Metaverse nor Merge Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Metaverse or Merge Explorer?

Metaverse ships an update every 5 days, and Merge Explorer monthly. Most recently, Metaverse was updated on July 4, 2026 and Merge Explorer on September 13, 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.*