# Merge Explorer vs Doodlematic Education

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Doodlematic Education at 100% against Merge Explorer's 46%. Doodlematic Education also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). Merge Explorer's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.2) and ratings volume (279 vs 5). On price, update cadence, 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. Doodlematic Education asks for nothing beyond the download.

Merge Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merge Explorer has 279 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Merge Explorer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Doodlematic Education's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Merge Explorer ships an update monthly, Doodlematic Education every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merge Explorer | Doodlematic Education |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews)** | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodlematic-education/id1496414624/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **279** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 1.3 GB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) | [BitOGenius Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532289519) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Doodlematic Education

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodlematic-education/id1496414624)

Transform your paper drawings into playable video games in seconds. Design, enhance, and share your creations with friends and family. Ideal for creative learning and rapid game prototyping.

**Highlights:** Create games from drawings, Enhance games with powerups, Share games online, Create custom Game Rooms, Favorite and rate games, Supports multiple game types

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merge Explorer free?

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

### Is Doodlematic Education free?

Doodlematic Education is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Merge Explorer or Doodlematic Education?

Merge Explorer is rated higher. Merge Explorer averages 4.1 out of 5 from 279 ratings, while Doodlematic Education averages 3.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Merge Explorer or Doodlematic Education have ads?

Neither Merge Explorer nor Doodlematic Education shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Merge Explorer or Doodlematic Education?

Merge Explorer ships an update monthly, and Doodlematic Education every 2 months. Most recently, Merge Explorer was updated on November 2, 2026 and Doodlematic Education on November 3, 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.*