Comparison

Molecule Simulator vs Palettra

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

Head to head
About

Molecule Simulator

Visualize the 3D structures of molecules using data from PubChem and Protein Data Bank. Explore molecules in various viewing modes and download an extensive library of compounds.

Highlights
  • 3D molecular visualization
  • Space filling mode
  • Ball-and-stick mode
  • Data from PubChem
  • Data from Protein Data Bank
  • Downloadable molecule library
Features
Read full description

This app is a molecular viewer. With the data on PubChem and Protein Data Bank, it can show us 3D structure of molecules. Both space filling mode and ball-and-stick mode. --------------------------------------------- Contains some pre-installed modes. And you can download all kinds of molecules from PubChem or Protein Data Bank.

About

Palettra

This tool helps researchers, students, and designers recolor scientific figures and images. It offers professional and adaptive color palettes, allowing you to remap chart colors and export high-quality images for various professional uses.

Highlights
  • Professional color palettes
  • Adaptive palette generation
  • Image and PDF import
  • Chart color remapping
  • High-quality image export (PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PDF)
  • Cross-platform access
Read full description

Palettra is a scientific figure and image recoloring tool for researchers, students, designers, and creators. Import images or PDFs, preview professional color palettes suitable for papers, presentations, and reports, remap chart foreground colors, and export processed images for reports, course materials, presentation slides, and manuscript preparation. Key features: • Professional palettes A curated collection of scientific, design, journal-style, and open-source chart palettes helps make figures clearer and more visually consistent. • Adaptive palettes Generate adaptive palettes locally on your device based on imported images or reference images, ideal for extracting color inspiration from an existing visual style. • High-quality export Export as PNG, JPEG, TIFF, or PDF, with original, 300 ppi, or 600 ppi resolution options for papers, presentations, course materials, and design drafts. • Cross-platform access One subscription works across iOS and macOS, allowing you to use Palettra Pro features on both mobile and desktop. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Molecule Simulator4 screens
Palettra4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Palettra at 5.0 against Molecule Simulator's 4.3. Palettra also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). Molecule Simulator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (24 vs 1). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Palettra sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Molecule Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Palettra holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Molecule Simulator has 24 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Molecule Simulator ships an update every 4 months, Palettra every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Molecule Simulator versus Palettra: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMolecule SimulatorPalettra
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (24 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings24 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer仕清 刘新焰 陈

Customer experience

Molecule Simulator

All ratings22 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.6%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Palettra

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Molecule Simulator

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Palettra

Subscriptions2
  • Palettra Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Palettra Pro Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Palettra Pro Lifetime$14.99

Questions

Is Molecule Simulator free?
Molecule Simulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Palettra free?
Palettra is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Molecule Simulator or Palettra?
Palettra is rated higher. Molecule Simulator averages 4.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Palettra averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Molecule Simulator or Palettra have ads?
Neither Molecule Simulator nor Palettra shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Molecule Simulator or Palettra?
Molecule Simulator ships an update every 4 months, and Palettra every 4 days. Most recently, Molecule Simulator was updated on October 8, 2026 and Palettra on October 9, 2026.

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