Comparison

Molecular Constructor vs Search PubChem

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

Head to head
About

Molecular Constructor

Create and optimize 3D molecular models. This free software allows users to design molecules and refine their geometry simultaneously. A more advanced desktop version is also available.

Highlights
  • Build molecules in 3D
  • Design molecular structures
  • Optimize geometry
  • Free software
  • Desktop version available
Features
Read full description

Molecular Constructor is a free 3D modeling software for building molecules. Using this application user can design a molecule and optimize its geometry at the same time. The more advanced desktop version can be found at the project website: http://molconstr.com/

About

Search PubChem

Access and manage chemical compound data from the PubChem database. Search for over 111 million compounds, view molecular formulas, weights, and structures, and create and track custom solutions with detailed composition information.

Highlights
  • Search PubChem database
  • View molecular formula, weight, and structure
  • Store compound information
  • Create and manage custom solutions
  • Track solution composition in grams and moles
  • Display 3D compound structures
  • Share solution data via CSV
Read full description

The app allows to search compounds through PubChem and helps to keep information on solutions made of those compounds. I. Compounds Tab Search the open chemistry database 'PubChem' at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for chemical compounds. The app helps to find a compound by name from the collection of more than 111 million compounds. It downloads and stores the molecular formula, weight, and structure. Compounds 1. Selecting the "Compounds" tab will present a list of compounds. - If there are any solutions made of a compound, a droplet will appear next to the compound's name. 2. When a compound is selected, a view with the detailed information will appear. Follow the instruction in "Details for a compound". 3. When the "+" button is selected, a view for search will appear. Follow the instruction in "Search for a compound". Details for a compound 1. Click "Compounds" to return back to the table of compounds. 2. Click the magnifier icon to open the compound's PubChem page in the user's default web browser. 3. Click the trashcan icon to delete the compound. This function may not be available if there is a solution made of the compound. 4. Click one of the solutions made of the compound to display the information. See "Details for a solution" below. 5. Click "3D" to display a 3D structure. Use pan and pinch gestures to rotate and zoom the scene. Search for a compound 1. Select "Compound Name" ("CID") and type a compound name (PubChem CID). 2. Click "Search" to connect to PubChem. An activity indicator will appear until the search is finished. - If the search succeeds, the downloaded information will appear. - If the search fails, an alert will appear. 3. Click "Save" to store the information about a compound. 4. Click "Cancel" to dismiss the scene. II. Solutions Tab Choose compounds downloaded from PubChem and make a solution. The app allows to record a list of compounds with amounts dissolved in a solution. For the saved solutions, the app displays their compositions in gram and mol. Solutions 1. Selecting the "Solutions" tab will present a list of solutions. 2. When a solution is selected, a view with the detailed information will appear. Follow the instruction in "Details for a solution". 3. When the "+" button is selected, a view for search will appear. Follow the instruction in "Making a solution". Details for a solution 1. Click "Solutions" to return back to the table of compounds. 2. Click the 'action' icon to share a csv file containig the information about the solution. 3. Click the trashcan icon to delete the solution. 5. Choose the unit among gram, mg, mol, and mM. 6. Select one of compounds to display its structure and formula. See "Mini details for a compound" below. Making a solution 1. Click "Add Compounds" to bring a collection of compounds. See "Compounds collection" below. 2. The names of the compounds selected from "Compounds collection" will be displayed as “Solution Label”. A user can edit “Solution Label”. 3. The unit for the amount can be chosen among gram, mg, mol, and mM. 4. The amount may be entered. 5. Click "Save" to create and add a new solution. 6. Click "Cancel" to dismiss the scene. Compounds collection 1. Select or deselect compounds by clicking the images of compounds. 2. Selected compounds will be displayed. 3. Click "Done" to return back to "Making a solution". 5. Click "Cancel" to dismiss the scene.

Screenshots

Molecular Constructor3 screens
Search PubChem4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Search PubChem at 5.0 against Molecular Constructor's 3.9. Molecular Constructor's advantage is ratings volume (52 vs 5) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Search PubChem holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Molecular Constructor has 52 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 75% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Molecular Constructor ships an update every 12 months, Search PubChem every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Molecular Constructor versus Search PubChem: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMolecular ConstructorSearch PubChem
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (52 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings52 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 9 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB9 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperAlexander TeplukhinJae-Seung Lee

Customer experience

Molecular Constructor

All ratings52 ratings
Positive73.1%
Neutral7.7%
Negative19.2%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative10.0%

Search PubChem

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Molecular Constructor

No in-app purchases

None

Search PubChem

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Molecular Constructor free?
Molecular Constructor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Search PubChem free?
Search PubChem is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Molecular Constructor or Search PubChem?
Search PubChem is rated higher. Molecular Constructor averages 3.9 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Search PubChem averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Molecular Constructor or Search PubChem have ads?
Neither Molecular Constructor nor Search PubChem shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Molecular Constructor or Search PubChem?
Molecular Constructor ships an update every 12 months, and Search PubChem every 9 months. Most recently, Molecular Constructor was updated on August 29, 2026 and Search PubChem on June 1, 2026.

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