Comparison

Merge Explorer vs Virtual Reality OCEANS!

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

Virtual Reality OCEANS!

Explore the underwater world in stunning 360-degree virtual reality. This app complements a physical kit, offering detailed VR experiences of marine life and ecosystems. Discover everything from plankton to whales.

Highlights
  • 360-degree VR experiences
  • Detailed marine life encounters
  • Visual encyclopedia of underwater world
  • Companion to physical kit
  • Interactive learning
Features
Read full description

Take a deep dive into the world’s waters in unprecedented detail through virtual reality with VR OCEANS! The ultimate visual encyclopedia of our awe-inspiring underwater world, with over forty incredible, 360 degree VR experiences. You’ll get up close with tiny plankton and swim with giant whales, sharks, turtles, fish and more! Full kit includes a 96 page illustrated DK guide to oceans all around the world, jam-packed with fun facts about your favorite aquatic creatures. Includes VR goggles and your own customizable scratch art kit. This is a companion app. Requires printed book found in physical kit for full functionality.

Screenshots

Merge Explorer4 screens
Virtual Reality OCEANS!4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Virtual Reality OCEANS! at none against Merge Explorer's 4. Virtual Reality OCEANS! also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Merge Explorer's advantage is ratings volume (279 vs 36). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Virtual Reality OCEANS! asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Merge Explorer against 4.0 for Virtual Reality OCEANS!. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merge Explorer has 279 ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of Merge Explorer's written reviews are positive against 50% of Virtual Reality OCEANS!'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Merge Explorer ships an update monthly, Virtual Reality OCEANS! every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Merge Explorer versus Virtual Reality OCEANS!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMerge ExplorerVirtual Reality OCEANS!
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (279 ratings) — better4.0 (36 ratings)
Positive reviews46.2% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings279 — better36
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.3 GB1.8 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMerge AppsAbacus

Customer experience

Merge Explorer

All ratings279 ratings
Positive76.3%
Neutral7.2%
Negative16.5%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral10.8%
Negative43.1%

Virtual Reality OCEANS!

All ratings36 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral2.8%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and 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
Show 8 more
  • 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
Show 4 more
  • Improve functionality for remote teaching, including screen recording
  • Add more content in the future
  • Add dark mode option
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard

Virtual Reality OCEANS!

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Merge Explorer

Subscriptions4
  • Merge EDU Individual14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Explorer Premium Monthly14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Merge EDU Individual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Explorer Premium Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
None

Virtual Reality OCEANS!

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Merge Explorer free?
Merge Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Virtual Reality OCEANS! free?
Virtual Reality OCEANS! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Merge Explorer or Virtual Reality OCEANS!?
Merge Explorer is rated higher. Merge Explorer averages 4.1 out of 5 from 279 ratings, while Virtual Reality OCEANS! averages 4.0 from 36 ratings.
Do Merge Explorer or Virtual Reality OCEANS! have ads?
Neither Merge Explorer nor Virtual Reality OCEANS! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Merge Explorer or Virtual Reality OCEANS!?
Merge Explorer ships an update monthly, and Virtual Reality OCEANS! every 6 weeks. Most recently, Merge Explorer was updated on September 13, 2026 and Virtual Reality OCEANS! on September 4, 2026.

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