Comparison

Grace 4 vs 3D Virtual Cell

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

Head to head
About

Grace 4

This app facilitates communication for individuals with speech disabilities using a picture exchange system. Users can select images to build sentences, share them with communication partners, and customize content with their own photos and labels. It supports vocal output and offers adjustable settings for various needs.

Highlights
  • Picture exchange communication
  • Customizable image library
  • Sentence strip creation
  • Optional vocal output
  • Fullscreen sentence view
  • Adjustable card sizes
Read full description

Grace App - winner of the 2010 Irish Web Awards and United Nations World Summit Award Mobile. * * * * Grace App is an evidence-based picture exchange app designed to encourage and reward independent communication through the use of images. While created with and for people with autism, it can be used by anyone with a speech disability or delay. Grace App is designed to be owned and updated by the user, with minimum support from care-givers. Grace App works by offering a selection of images in categorized folders where users can select a picture to add to the “sentence strip”. The user then shares the sentence with their communication partner who helps them to point to each card, reading the words aloud. The default setting is for no sound; however, there is an option in Settings to select “Tap Card to Speak” for users who prefer a vocal output. On handhelds such as iPod touch or iPhone, the device can be rotated to landscape to show a fullscreen sentence view for sharing and pointing. On iPad, simply tap the arrow to enlarge the sentence to fullscreen. There's also a choice of 3 card sizes for user preference and those with visual/mobility impairment. Category folders contain a selection of pre-loaded images. Users can add their own images using the camera or access any saved and stored images in their photo library, including images saved from the web. All images can be labeled with text, deleted, or rearranged to suit the individual user. You can add new Category folders, with a selection of your own photos. All Categories can be rearranged and renamed as required. Detailed instructions are available in the Guide to Grace App at http://www.graceapp.com. Users can also learn about therapeutic strategies for developing other communication goals in the Guide. These include accepting and expressing “No, Wait” and “Asking for Help” There is also a section on communicating pain. Grace App has been reviewed by senior speech and language therapists who say: “Grace App is easy and quick to use and set up, it's easy to rename photo labels. Grace App is my favourite AAC app". KM - Speech and Language Therapist. "I use Grace App with some of my clients who have difficulty communicating and need a system to augment their speech. One client, a school-aged child with Down Syndrome who has difficulty expressing himself using speech loves Grace App. Within a matter of minutes he was independently requesting his snack AND saying the word. In his case, the voice output was not activated, as he was more motivated to say the words and my goal is ultimately speech production. However, for some of my clients Vocal Output would be very beneficial. I also love the support you get from the developer – you don’t always get this with communication apps. Grace App is simple to use, easy to edit, and very effective as a communication device. The pictures are very easy to take on the spot, and now also very easy to label (every speech therapist’s dream). I also use it along with sign language – a true total communication approach! Grace App is a simple and genius app.” MM - Speech and Language Pathologist. Grace App is continually improved with the feedback and help of users world-wide. If you have any suggestions or need support, please contact us at http://www.graceapp.com. Please leave a review if you think Grace has been helpful to you or your family! * * * * Grace App Communication is a member of Moms with Apps, a collaborative group of family-friendly developers seeking to promote quality apps for kids and families. Recommended Ages: Suitable for all ages, parents and caregivers. Currently available in English, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Portuguese, Arabic and Italian. Discounts are available through Apple’s educational Volume Purchase Program. "Easy Lemon (60 second)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

About

3D Virtual Cell

Explore interactive 3D models of various cells and biological structures. Ideal for high school cytology classes, this app offers detailed views of animal cells, plant cells, bacteria, viruses, and DNA. Navigate and learn through intuitive touch controls.

Highlights
  • Interactive 3D cell models
  • Animal cell, plant cell, euglena, paramecium, bacteria
  • Virus and DNA molecule models
  • Multi-language support (English, Spanish, Portuguese)
  • Intuitive touch controls for navigation and manipulation
  • High school cytology curriculum assistance
Features
Read full description

The 3D Virtual Cell app was developed to assist Cytology classes for High School students. It brings interactive models of: animal cell, plant cell, euglena, paramecium, bacteria; plus a virus model (bacteriophage) and a DNA molecule. Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Drag 1 finger to show captions, drag 2 fingers to rotate the model and 3 fingers to move it. Pinch to zoom.

Screenshots

Grace 44 screens
3D Virtual Cell4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: 3D Virtual Cell at $4.99 against Grace 4's $39.99. 3D Virtual Cell also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 56%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Grace 4's advantage is update cadence (every 8 months vs every 90 months) and ratings volume (44 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Grace 4 costs $39.99 and 3D Virtual Cell $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

3D Virtual Cell holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Grace 4 has 44 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Grace 4's written reviews are positive against 100% of 3D Virtual Cell's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Grace 4 ships an update every 8 months, 3D Virtual Cell every 90 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Grace 4 versus 3D Virtual Cell: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGrace 43D Virtual Cell
Price$39.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.6 (44 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings44 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 8 months — betterEvery 90 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB139 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteven Troughton-SmithBiosphera

Customer experience

Grace 4

All ratings44 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral4.5%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.3%

3D Virtual Cell

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Grace 4

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • App flashing on and off
  • App closes unexpectedly
  • Cannot see pictures when clicking icon headers
  • Imported pictures show on top of each other
  • Issues with adding own categories
Show 8 more
  • App not working well
  • App not updated
  • App flashing on and off on opening
  • Double tapping to remove from sequence not ideal
  • App screen flickers
  • Images not visible on category headers
  • App not functioning as expected
  • App not updated for iPad

Requested features

19 requests
  • Ability to record own voice
  • Add own categories
  • Remove existing categories
  • More cards/images
  • Add own cards to existing categories
Show 14 more
  • Add categories for verbs, adjectives, adverbs, emotions, times
  • More word sentence starters/makers
  • Ability to save chosen sequences
  • Category sorting
  • Expand categories (e.g., 'Things I need')
  • Support multiple users/students
  • Hide/show categories
  • Rearrange categories
  • Add custom PECS under pre-made categories
  • Sizing of items
  • Add sound/speech to visuals
  • Labeling for images
  • Recall of image strings
  • Print functionality

3D Virtual Cell

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Grace 4

No in-app purchases

None

3D Virtual Cell

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Grace 4 free?
Grace 4 costs $39.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is 3D Virtual Cell free?
3D Virtual Cell costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Grace 4 or 3D Virtual Cell?
3D Virtual Cell is rated higher. Grace 4 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while 3D Virtual Cell averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Grace 4 or 3D Virtual Cell have ads?
Neither Grace 4 nor 3D Virtual Cell shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Grace 4 or 3D Virtual Cell?
Grace 4 ships an update every 8 months, and 3D Virtual Cell every 90 months. Most recently, Grace 4 was updated on October 15, 2026 and 3D Virtual Cell on October 4, 2026.

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