Comparison

Brain Tutor 3D vs DSM

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

Head to head
About

Brain Tutor 3D

Explore detailed 3D models of the human brain and head with real-time slicing and MRI data visualization. Learn about brain anatomy, function, and fiber tracts through interactive atlases and textual information.

Highlights
  • High-resolution rotatable 3D brain models
  • Real-time slicing along three axes
  • MRI data visualization
  • Detailed anatomical atlases
  • Information on lobes, gyri, sulci, and fiber tracts
  • Interactive learning with text descriptions
Features
Read full description

Explore the brain from the palm of your hand! Learn about the structure and function of the human brain by interacting with high-resolution rotatable 3D mesh models in real-time like you've never seen it before! Brain Tutor 3D uses rendered head and brain models as well as fiber tracts that were created from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of a study volunteer. The MRI data allows to look "inside" the brain using real-time slicing at millimeter resolution. For students, cognitive neuroscientists, medical professionals and everyone interested in the brain, the program provides information about the anatomy and function of the human brain with various atlases describing and visualizing lobes, gyri, sulci, Brodmann areas, subcortical structures, selected specialized functional areas and major fiber tracts. With Brain Tutor 3D you can: * Explore high-resolution 3D models of the head and brain in real-time. * Visualize major white matter fiber tracts. * Slice the brain along three axes (sagittal, axial and coronal). * View MRI brain slices at millimeter resolution. * Learn from text information about the functions of selected lobes, gyri, sulci, subcortical structures, Brodmann areas, functional areas and fiber tracts. * Learn where brain structures are located both within 3D brain models as well as in MRI slices. To get started: * Tap on a 3D brain model to reveal a brain area at that location. * Switch to another atlas and a specific brain area or fiber tract using the navigation tables. * Select a 3D model (brain hemisphere, head) with the tab bar buttons at the bottom. * Pan with one finger to rotate the brain model scene. * Pan with two fingers to move the brain model scene. * Use pinch gesture to zoom a brain model. * Select the head model to switch to head slicing mode. * Switch between navigation and slicing mode with two icons on right side in the top bar. * In head slicing mode, pan with one finger to move the slicing plane. * Tap on a slicing direction icon in the top bar to switch between three orthogonal slice planes. * Tap on text icon (iPhone/iPod Touch) or info icons in brain areas/tracts table to view text information about selected brain structure. This app has been designed and programmed by Prof. Rainer Goebel, a leading expert in anatomical and functional brain imaging and award-winning developer of scientific software. For more information about his work, see http://www.brainvoyager.com/RainerGoebel.html.

About

DSM

Prepare for the DSM-5 exam with a comprehensive mobile study guide. It offers practice questions, personalized study plans, and detailed performance tracking to boost your confidence and improve diagnostic skills.

Highlights
  • Personalized study plan
  • 500+ practice questions
  • Strength and weakness tracking
  • Detailed test statistics
  • Community score comparison
  • Updated for DSM-5-TR
Features
Read full description

Updated for the 2026 DSM-5 exam blueprint and DSM-5-TR refresh. Pass your DSM-5 exam with flying colors! Boost your confidence in passing the first time with our mobile app and a personal study plan based on your current skill and requirements. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) is the product of more than 10 years of effort by hundreds of international experts in all aspects of mental health. Their dedication and hard work have yielded an authoritative volume that defines and classifies mental disorders in order to improve diagnoses, treatment, and research. Key features: - Choose from different exams - Practice with 500+ questions written by instructors and expert tutors - Track your strengths and weaknesses within Stats section of the app - Study detailed statistics of every test you take - Compare your score to the community average for almost any type of exam - - - - Purchases, subscriptions and terms You need to buy lifetime access or subscribe to get access to all features, courses and questions. The cost of the purchase is charged to your iTunes account. Subscriptions are auto-renewable and are billed at the rate and period selected depending on the subscription plan. Users’ accounts are charged for auto-renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions can be managed and auto-renewal can be turned off in Account Settings in iTunes after the purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of use: https://mastrapi.com/terms Privacy policy: https://mastrapi.com/policy

Screenshots

Brain Tutor 3D4 screens
DSM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Brain Tutor 3D at 83% against DSM's 33%. DSM's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 71 months) and ratings volume (308 vs 11). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Brain Tutor 3D sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and DSM sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DSM holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DSM has 308 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Brain Tutor 3D's written reviews are positive against 33% of DSM's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Brain Tutor 3D ships an update every 71 months, DSM every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Brain Tutor 3D versus DSM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrain Tutor 3DDSM
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (11 ratings)4.7 (308 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.2% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings11308 — better
Update frequencyEvery 71 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRainer GoebelMastrAPI

Customer experience

Brain Tutor 3D

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews137 reviews
Positive83.2%
Neutral6.6%
Negative10.2%

DSM

All ratings308 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral3.9%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Bugs and requests

Brain Tutor 3D

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • iOS 17 compatibility issues
  • Incompatible with iOS 3.0 and newer versions
  • Structure selection feature broken on some OS versions
  • Empty screen display issue
  • Incorrect Brodmann area positioning (BA 41 and BA 42 on frontal lobes instead of temporal)
Show 1 more
  • Rotational control issues

Requested features

18 requests
  • Add subcortical structures (basal ganglia, limbic system, hypothalamus)
  • Include brainstem and cerebellum
  • Add white matter tracts visualization
  • Include vascular structures and blood vessels
  • Add quiz or testing functionality
Show 13 more
  • Improve image resolution
  • Add functional information for each brain area
  • Search function for structures
  • Black and white highlight option
  • Label popup/selection feature
  • Include ventricular system
  • Add spinal cord visualization
  • Multiple brain specimens to choose from
  • Latin nomenclature option
  • iPad version
  • Extensions for other body systems (heart, chest, abdomen, skeleton, muscles)
  • Cranial nerves visualization
  • Better anatomical positioning for axial slices

DSM

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Brain Tutor 3D

One-time3
  • Fiber tracts$0.99
  • Subcortical structures$0.99
  • fMRI areas$0.99
2 purchases

DSM

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly with Trial7 Days trial$24.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Brain Tutor 3D free?
Brain Tutor 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DSM free?
DSM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Brain Tutor 3D or DSM?
DSM is rated higher. Brain Tutor 3D averages 4.5 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while DSM averages 4.7 from 308 ratings.
Do Brain Tutor 3D or DSM have ads?
Neither Brain Tutor 3D nor DSM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Brain Tutor 3D or DSM?
Brain Tutor 3D ships an update every 71 months, and DSM every 4 months. Most recently, Brain Tutor 3D was updated on September 21, 2026 and DSM on September 17, 2026.

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