# Molecule Simulator vs Palettra

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Molecule Simulator | Palettra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecule-simulator/id1538249996/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palettra/id6782158329/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 8 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [仕清 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1531464103) | [新焰 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882014839) |

## What reviewers say

### Molecule Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecule-simulator/id1538249996)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Palettra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palettra/id6782158329)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Palettra Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Palettra Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Palettra Pro Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*