# HudsonAlpha iCell vs PhET Simulations

The clearest difference is price: HudsonAlpha iCell at Free against PhET Simulations's $0.99. HudsonAlpha iCell also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (294 vs 48). PhET Simulations's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.0) and chart position (#24 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

HudsonAlpha iCell is free to download; PhET Simulations costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PhET Simulations holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HudsonAlpha iCell has 294 ratings behind it against 48, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of HudsonAlpha iCell's written reviews are positive against 66% of PhET Simulations's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HudsonAlpha iCell ships an update every 4 weeks, PhET Simulations every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HudsonAlpha iCell | PhET Simulations |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.0 (294 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hudsonalpha-icell/id364882015/reviews) | **[4.5 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **294** | 48 |
| Positive reviews | **69.8% of reviews** | 65.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#24** |
| Size | 83 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology](https://appshunter.io/developer/364882018) | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) |

## What reviewers say

### HudsonAlpha iCell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hudsonalpha-icell/id364882015)

Explore the inner workings of animal, plant, and bacteria cells in a 3D interactive environment. Tap on cellular components to learn their names and functions. Rotate and zoom to get a comprehensive understanding of cellular biology.

**Highlights:** 3D interactive cell models, Animal, plant, and bacteria cell examples, Tap to select and learn organelle functions, Rotate and zoom functionality, Adjustable text size and description levels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning about cells
- 🚀 Great 3D visuals and interactive features
- 💡 Different levels of complexity for various users
- 🎓 Useful for students and teachers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Limited content and organelles covered
- 🤔 Lacking in-depth information and functionality
- 🙄 Boring and oversimplified for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and app instability
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Missing or incorrectly labeled organelles

**Requested features**

- Add more cell types (e.g. fungi, virus)
- Provide quizzing and assessment features
- Improve level of detail and explanations
- Allow users to explore cell structures in more depth


### PhET Simulations

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Explore science and math concepts through interactive simulations. This app provides over 75 HTML5 simulations for learning about atoms, energy, multiplication, and more. It's ideal for students, parents, and educators, offering offline access and multiple language support.

**Highlights:** Interactive science and math simulations, Offline play capability, Multiple language support, Customizable favorites collection, Automatic simulation updates, Easy simulation sorting

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HudsonAlpha iCell free?

HudsonAlpha iCell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PhET Simulations free?

PhET Simulations costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HudsonAlpha iCell or PhET Simulations?

PhET Simulations is rated higher. HudsonAlpha iCell averages 3.0 out of 5 from 294 ratings, while PhET Simulations averages 4.5 from 48 ratings.

### Do HudsonAlpha iCell or PhET Simulations have ads?

Neither HudsonAlpha iCell nor PhET Simulations shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HudsonAlpha iCell or PhET Simulations?

HudsonAlpha iCell ships an update every 4 weeks, and PhET Simulations every 14 months. Most recently, HudsonAlpha iCell was updated on October 23, 2026 and PhET Simulations on October 26, 2026.

---

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