# 3D Brain vs DSM

The clearest difference is rating: DSM at 4.7 against 3D Brain's 3.6. 3D Brain's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 33%) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 3D Brain sells 1 one-off in-app purchase 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.

DSM holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 145 and 308 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of 3D Brain'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.

3D Brain ships an update every 2 months, DSM every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 3D Brain | DSM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (145 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-brain/id331399332/reviews) | **[4.7 (308 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dsm-5/id1576503453/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 145 | **308** |
| Positive reviews | **75.5% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 70 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory](https://appshunter.io/developer/331399335) | [MastrAPI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1618627725) |

## What reviewers say

### 3D Brain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-brain/id331399332)

Explore a 3D model of the human brain, rotating and zooming to examine 29 interactive structures. Learn about the function of each region, the effects of injury, and its role in mental illness. Detailed information includes case studies and research links.

**Highlights:** 3D brain model, Interactive structures, Region functions, Brain injury effects, Mental illness involvement, Case studies, Research links

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3D Brain HQ | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 Informative brain visualizations
- 👍 Helpful for psychology/neuroscience students
- 🔍 Detailed information and case studies
- 🤓 Excellent learning tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes after updates
- 🤯 Upgrade causes app to stop working
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 🔍 Limited brain structures covered

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch after upgrade
- Purchased premium version not functioning
- Laggy performance and blurry images
- No way to exit app other than force closing

**Requested features**

- More brain structures and regions
- Improved 3D navigation and controls
- Ability to label and annotate the brain
- Quizzes and interactive learning features


### DSM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dsm-5/id1576503453)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly with Trial | $24.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 3D Brain free?

3D Brain 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, 3D Brain or DSM?

DSM is rated higher. 3D Brain averages 3.6 out of 5 from 145 ratings, while DSM averages 4.7 from 308 ratings.

### Do 3D Brain or DSM have ads?

Neither 3D Brain nor DSM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 3D Brain or DSM?

3D Brain ships an update every 2 months, and DSM every 4 months. Most recently, 3D Brain was updated on September 28, 2026 and DSM on September 30, 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.*