# Hololab AR vs Merge Explorer

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hololab AR | Merge Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hololab-ar/id1378757797/reviews) | **[4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 46 | **279** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **46.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 224 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LightUp](https://appshunter.io/developer/817956892) | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) |

## What reviewers say

### Hololab AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hololab-ar/id1378757797)

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.

**Highlights:** Augmented Reality 3D models, Interactive exploration of structures, Voice-guided lessons from robot tutor, Educational games, Topics: Animals, Space, Electricity, Climate Change

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 Hololab AR free?

Hololab AR 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, Hololab AR or Merge Explorer?

Merge Explorer is rated higher. Hololab AR averages 4.1 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while Merge Explorer averages 4.1 from 279 ratings.

### Do Hololab AR or Merge Explorer have ads?

Neither Hololab AR nor Merge Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hololab AR or Merge Explorer?

Hololab AR ships an update every 2 weeks, and Merge Explorer monthly. Most recently, Hololab AR was updated on October 24, 2026 and Merge Explorer on October 23, 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.*