MolAR Augmented Reality vs BioViewer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MolAR Augmented Reality
Explore molecules and proteins in augmented reality. Visualize structures from online databases or draw your own. Scan real-world objects to see their molecular composition.
- Augmented reality molecule visualization
- Visualize PubChem molecules
- Visualize Protein Data Bank proteins
- Draw and visualize chemical structures
- Scan objects to see molecules
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MolAR lets you visualize molecules and proteins through augmented reality (AR). - Augmented reality: Place a molecule or a protein in a real-world surrounding. No marker needed. - Visualize any molecule on PubChem - Visualize any protein in the Protein Data Bank - Draw chemical structures and visualize them in AR - Scan objects such as food and see molecules inside them Created by Sukolsak Sakshuwong, Umberto Raucci, and Hayley Weir from the Martinez Group at Stanford University
BioViewer
Visualize 3D molecular structures from .pdb files on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Features smooth rendering, drag-and-drop support, and publication-quality photo exports for detailed analysis.
- 3D molecular structure visualization
- Supports .pdb and .xyz files
- Drag and drop functionality
- Photo Mode with high-quality exports
- Multi-model PDB support
- Optimized for ProMotion displays
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A .pdb protein visualizer for iOS, iPadOS and macOS. View the 3D representation of any molecular structure from a .pdb file, using our custom Metal-based rendering engine based to allow for a smooth experience even in the biggest proteins. - Full drag and drop support for .pdb and .xyz files. - Photo Mode with publication-quality exports. - Support for multi-model PDBs. - Support for high refresh rate ProMotion displays.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MolAR Augmented Reality at 4.9 against BioViewer's 1.0. MolAR Augmented Reality also leads on ratings volume (9 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.4 vs 17.0). BioViewer's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MolAR Augmented Reality holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MolAR Augmented Reality has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
MolAR Augmented Reality ships an update every 2 months, BioViewer every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MolAR Augmented Reality | BioViewer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (9 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 14.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 179 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sukolsak Sakshuwong | Raul Monton Pinillos |
Customer experience
MolAR Augmented Reality
BioViewer
In-app purchases
MolAR Augmented Reality
No in-app purchases
BioViewer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is MolAR Augmented Reality free?
Is BioViewer free?
Which has better reviews, MolAR Augmented Reality or BioViewer?
Do MolAR Augmented Reality or BioViewer have ads?
Which is updated more often, MolAR Augmented Reality or BioViewer?
Other comparisons
