Comparison

MoleculeSketch iP vs Molecule Lab

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MoleculeSketch iP

Easily draw chemical formulas and reactions with this intuitive application. It offers features like adding atoms, bonds, and functional groups, with advanced options available through an in-app purchase. Share your creations or import existing structures.

Highlights
  • Draw atoms and bonds
  • Select various bond types
  • Add functional groups
  • Show missing hydrogen atoms
  • Calculate molecular mass
  • Import mol/sdf files
  • Copy, paste, and cut drawings
Read full description

MoleculeSketch is a simple and easy to use drawing App for chemical formulas and reactions. MoleculeSketch iOS is the standalone version of MoleculeSketch for iPad. The free version offers basic functionality. The full version can be unlocked with an in-app purchase. It has following features: + add atoms and bonds nicely by position locking (can be disabled) + choose different bond types (double, stereochemical, delocalised, etc.) + add bonds with higher hapticity + type functional groups by double-clicking on symbol + show missing hydrogen atoms depending on free valences + "grow" and remove hydrogen atoms (*) + show non bonding electron pairs on heteroatoms + add reaction arrows and text fields + access drawing attributes from popover panels + calculate average mass and formula of molecules (*) + group and arrange objects (*) + change background color of drawing area and add a grid + copy/paste/cut molecules and drawings + paste drawings into other applications + import from mol/sdf files (*) + use gestures for zooming and rotation + import structures from mol- or sdf-files (*) (*) some of these features and others are only available when using the full version (inApp purchase)

About

Molecule Lab

Create and view 3D molecular models with an intuitive editor. Supports various elements, bond types, and conformations, with undo/redo functionality. Share your creations easily via messaging and email.

Highlights
  • Build molecules in 3D
  • Supports oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, carbon, hydrogen
  • Double and triple bond creation
  • Branching and rotation conformations
  • Undo, redo, and delete controls
  • Save and edit molecules
  • Share via text, email, and other services
Features
Read full description

Molecule Lab is a simple yet powerful editor allowing users to build and visualize molecules in 3D. Our molecule editor can build more molecules than before, as it now supports three new elements—oxygen, nitrogen, and chlorine—in addition to carbon and hydrogen, double bonds, triple bonds, branches, and different rotation conformations. These incredible new features are enhanced by the flexibility of our molecule editor, which we further upgraded with undo, redo, and delete controls. Molecules can be saved and edited in the future. Additionally, we introduced the capability to share molecules via text message, email, and other third-party services for notetaking and document sharing. This seamless integration with different apps makes Molecule Lab more powerful for sharing and referencing molecules in the future. With all these exciting features, we are thrilled to debut a new look and feel for Molecule Lab. We hope the beautiful modern design will enrich each user’s experience with Molecule Lab.

Screenshots

Molecule Lab1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MoleculeSketch iP at 4.5 against Molecule Lab's 4.0. MoleculeSketch iP also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 24 months). Molecule Lab's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (18 vs 4). On price, review sentiment, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MoleculeSketch iP sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Molecule Lab asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MoleculeSketch iP holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 18 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MoleculeSketch iP ships an update every 2 months, Molecule Lab every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and August 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MoleculeSketch iP versus Molecule Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMoleculeSketch iPMolecule Lab
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (4 ratings) — better4.0 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings418 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 24 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13 — better13.2
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStefan DolderMaxamix

Customer experience

MoleculeSketch iP

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral21.4%
Negative28.6%

Molecule Lab

All ratings18 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral22.2%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

MoleculeSketch iP

One-time1
  • Full version$1.99
None

Molecule Lab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MoleculeSketch iP free?
MoleculeSketch iP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Molecule Lab free?
Molecule Lab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MoleculeSketch iP or Molecule Lab?
MoleculeSketch iP is rated higher. MoleculeSketch iP averages 4.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Molecule Lab averages 4.0 from 18 ratings.
Do MoleculeSketch iP or Molecule Lab have ads?
Neither MoleculeSketch iP nor Molecule Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MoleculeSketch iP or Molecule Lab?
MoleculeSketch iP ships an update every 2 months, and Molecule Lab every 24 months. Most recently, MoleculeSketch iP was updated on June 1, 2026 and Molecule Lab on August 25, 2026.

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