# Plantale vs Merge Explorer

The clearest difference is price: Merge Explorer at Free against Plantale's $0.99. Merge Explorer also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.8) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Plantale's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Merge Explorer is free to download; Plantale costs $0.99 up front. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Plantale asks for nothing beyond the download.

Merge Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merge Explorer has 279 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Plantale's written reviews are positive against 46% of Merge Explorer's.

Plantale ships an update every 2 months, Merge Explorer monthly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Plantale | Merge Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.8 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plantale/id1389698721/reviews) | **[4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28 | **279** |
| Positive reviews | 38.7% of reviews | **46.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 469 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Indiavidual Learning Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460790283) | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) |

## What reviewers say

### Plantale

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plantale/id1389698721)

Explore the complete life cycle of plants in augmented reality. Witness seeds grow into full blooms, dissect plant anatomy, and learn about their growth needs. It's an immersive botanical adventure for all ages.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality plant life cycles, Explore root, stem, and leaf anatomy, Virtual plant growth and care, Learn about germination and pollination, Interactive 3D plant models, Dissect plants virtually

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 Plantale free?

Plantale costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Merge Explorer free?

Merge Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Plantale or Merge Explorer?

Merge Explorer is rated higher. Plantale averages 3.8 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Merge Explorer averages 4.1 from 279 ratings.

### Do Plantale or Merge Explorer have ads?

Neither Plantale nor Merge Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Plantale or Merge Explorer?

Plantale ships an update every 2 months, and Merge Explorer monthly. Most recently, Plantale was updated on November 2, 2026 and Merge Explorer on November 2, 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.*