Hololab AR vs Merge Explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hololab AR
Explore science through immersive 3D labs and augmented reality experiences. Learn about animals, space, electricity, and more with interactive models and guided lessons from a robot tutor. Educational games reinforce knowledge and skills.
- Augmented Reality 3D models
- Interactive exploration of structures
- Voice-guided lessons from robot tutor
- Educational games
- Topics: Animals, Space, Electricity, Climate Change
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Hololab is a science adventure in the palm of your hand. Our collection of dozens of fully immersive 3D labs and educational games will inspire you to learn about the world like never before! With Hololab, you can learn the way you were meant to – in the real world. * View 3D structures with Augmented Reality. Move around and take them apart just as if they're real models. * Get step-by-step voice-guided teaching from our friendly robot tutor, Scout. * Solidify your knowledge and skills with our educational games. * Visualize concepts on with our cutting-edge Augmented Reality. You can learn about a variety of topics like: * Animals & Ecology * Aerodynamics * Space Exploration * Electricity & Magnetism * Alternative Energy * Climate Change
Merge Explorer
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.
- 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
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PLEASE NOTE: This app requires a Merge Cube and a smartphone or a tablet to experience. Find out how to get a Merge Cube and learn more at: https://www.MergeCube.com. Students can learn science effectively with over 100 science simulations they can touch, hold and interact with! Merge Explorer (along with a Merge Cube) allows students to investigate a smoking volcano in the palm of their hand, examine a great white shark up close, hold and explore the solar system, dissect a frog (humanely!), and so much more. With easy-to-follow activities and built-in quizzes, students gain key knowledge while immersed in learning, both in the classroom or while remote learning at home. Merge Explorer includes NGSS-aligned topics for K-8th grade, like Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth & Space Science. If you have any questions or suggestions, we want to hear from you! Contact us at any time at support@mergeedu.com. Privacy Policy: https://MergeEdu.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://MergeEdu.com/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hololab AR at none against Merge Explorer's 4. Hololab AR also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Merge Explorer's advantage is review sentiment (46% vs 33%) and ratings volume (279 vs 46). On price, rating, 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. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Hololab AR asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Hololab AR against 4.1 for Merge Explorer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merge Explorer has 279 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 33% of Hololab AR's written reviews are positive against 46% of Merge Explorer's.
Hololab AR ships an update every 2 weeks, Merge Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hololab AR | Merge Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (46 ratings) | 4.1 (279 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 46.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 46 | 279 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Monthly |
| 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 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 224 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | LightUp | Merge Apps |
Customer experience
Hololab AR
Merge Explorer
Bugs and requests
Hololab AR
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Merge Explorer
Reported bugs
13 issues- App crashes on iPad
- App crashes when pressing play
- Camera not working in app
- Black screen when using cube or camera
- VR function broken
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- VR doesn't work with iPhone XS Max
- App crashes or loads forever
- Problems with galactic explore
- App has trouble recognizing the cube
- Screen recording only records cube, not overlay
- Words appear sideways in horizontal mode
- Content appears incorrectly
- App crashes
Requested features
9 requests- 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
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- Improve functionality for remote teaching, including screen recording
- Add more content in the future
- Add dark mode option
- Add advanced analytics dashboard
In-app purchases
Hololab AR
No in-app purchases
Merge Explorer
- Merge EDU Individual14 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Explorer Premium Monthly14 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Merge EDU Individual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
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- Explorer Premium Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
Questions
Is Hololab AR free?
Is Merge Explorer free?
Which has better reviews, Hololab AR or Merge Explorer?
Do Hololab AR or Merge Explorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hololab AR or Merge Explorer?
Other comparisons
