Protein Guide vs Codon One
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Protein Guide
Explore the intricate stages of protein structure with detailed diagrams, explanations, and animations. This app serves as a valuable reference for both beginners and experienced individuals, offering insights into unique properties and biological functions.
- Detailed diagrams of protein structure
- Explanations of protein stages
- Animations of protein structures
- Information on unique properties and functions
- Example proteins demonstrating structural aspects
- ClassKit integration for teachers
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Learn about each stage of a proteins structure with detailed diagrams and explanations. This is a great experience if you are just starting out and need to learn about proteins, or if you have lots of experience and want a handy reference with you wherever you go. Protein Guide has a great selection of example proteins to look at, with each demonstrating an aspect of protein structure. There is also more detailed info about the protein, describing unique properties, as well as its function in biological systems. There is also an animation of the proteins' itself to highlight its unique structure. Protein Guide takes advantage of the full iPad canvas. It also supports multitasking, with slide-over and split-view (requires iPad Air 2 and later). This means you can have your protein examples up, while reading or taking notes. Teachers can assign things to read for students in Protein Guide easily with ClassKit.
Codon One
Master molecular biology, genetics, evolution, and life chemistry through interactive modules and quizzes. Explore essential concepts with clear diagrams and concise explanations. Includes helpful tools for sequence analysis and genetic code reference.
- Interactive learning modules
- Quick quizzes for comprehension
- Clear diagrams and plain language
- Molecule reference guide
- Sequence analysis tools
- Genetic code exploration
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Codon One helps you learn biology step by step, with short lessons, quick quizzes, flashcards, and a searchable glossary. Build a solid foundation in molecular biology, genetics, evolution, cell biology, development, and the history of science. Each section breaks complex ideas into clear explanations, diagrams, and focused checks for understanding. Core course (Modules) Module 1: Chemistry of Life – atoms & elements, bonds, water, pH, biomolecules Module 2: Genetics – chromosomes, replication, transcription, translation, regulation Module 3: Evolution – history of life, phylogeny, selection, drift, speciation, molecular evolution Module 4: History of Science – ideas, methods, and experiments that shaped modern biology Module 5: Cell Biology – membranes & transport, organelles & energy, cytoskeleton, signaling, cell division Module 6: Development – fertilization & body plans, differentiation, pattern formation & morphogenesis, growth & repair, evo-devo Additional topics are planned for future updates, including Animal Physiology, Microbiology & Immunology, Plant Biology, and more. Glossary & Flashcards Look up the essentials in one place - key terms from every module, plus the 20 amino acids and the nucleobases. Turn any topic into a flashcard deck and review with smart, spaced practice that focuses on the cards you find hardest. Quiz & Progress Practice across biochemistry, genetics, evolution, cell biology, development, and science history in a dedicated quiz area. Track improvement with success rates and per-topic stats, and let the app resurface your weak questions for targeted review. Keep a daily streak going to build a steady habit. Got a good question? Submit it directly from the app. Built-in Tools Sequence Operator: paste DNA, reverse or complement it, transcribe to RNA, translate in all six reading frames, and view length, GC content, and melting temperature. Codon Picker: explore the genetic code, see which codons map to each amino acid or stop signal, and tweak bases to see the effect. Triplet Encoder: write a message in amino-acid single-letter code and encode it as a DNA triplet sequence, then decode it by translation. Found a bug or have suggestions? Email info@codon-one.com - we read every message.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Protein Guide at none against Codon One's 7. Protein Guide also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). Codon One's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (76% vs 50%). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Codon One sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Protein Guide asks for nothing beyond the download.
Protein Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 24 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Protein Guide's written reviews are positive against 76% of Codon One's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Protein Guide ships an update every 9 months, Codon One every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Protein Guide | Codon One |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (45 ratings) — better | 4.5 (24 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 76.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 45 — better | 24 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 224 MB | 277 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Axton Pitt | Daniel Gebert |
Customer experience
Protein Guide
Codon One
In-app purchases
Protein Guide
No in-app purchases
Codon One
- Module 1: Chemistry of LifeFree
- Module 2: Genetics$2.99
- Module 3: Evolution$2.99
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- Module 4: Science History$2.99
- Module 5: Cell Biology$2.99
- Module 6: Development$2.99
- Unlock All$8.99
Questions
Is Protein Guide free?
Is Codon One free?
Which has better reviews, Protein Guide or Codon One?
Do Protein Guide or Codon One have ads?
Which is updated more often, Protein Guide or Codon One?
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