Comparison

HudsonAlpha iCell vs EMD PTE

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

Head to head
About

HudsonAlpha iCell

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
Read full description

***Updated 3.6.1*** iCell now works even better on the iPhone. We have added larger text for all descriptions and included the ability to change text description levels for the iPhone as well as the iPad. iCell gives students, teachers, and anyone interested in biology a 3D view inside a cell. Included are examples of three types of cells: animal, plant, and bacteria. Learn about the various parts of the cell, which biologists, biochemists, and DNA researchers at the HudsonAlpha Institute study and use to advance the limits of biotechnology. You can use your finger to tap on parts of the cell to select and zoom in on that particular organelle. Each organelle comes with a name and a short description of its function in the cell. For a better view of each cell, hold down one finger on the screen, and drag to rotate around the cell or selected organelle. You can zoom in and out by pinching or flaring with two fingers at once. We hope you enjoy!

About

EMD PTE

This comprehensive mobile reference work provides detailed information on all chemical elements. It features a molar mass calculator, interactive visualizations, and offline access, making it an indispensable tool for students, educators, and chemistry enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Detailed element information
  • Visualized element properties
  • Molar mass calculator
  • Offline access
  • Multi-language support
  • Element comparison function
Features
Read full description

The EMD PSE App is the ultimate tool for every friend of chemistry – whether pupil or teacher, university student or professor, amateur or expert, hobbyist or technician. Our app is the must-have of digital periodic tables. Get informed with our mobile reference work, any time, with ease, offline and in detail, in the usual straightforward, user-friendly way. Download now free of charge and start experimenting.  New features in the latest version: - Additional translations: Chinese (simplified), Portuguese, and Russian. - Users can now change the language directly in the app - New function for direct comparison of two elements - A separate keypad for the molar mass calculator makes formulas easier to enter - Headline and breadcrumbs added for improved orientation - Filtering option and optimized usability for the ranking list of properties - Update of element master data - Update to current operating system versions - Improved touch support for diagrams - Museum mode All existing features: - All important information about the elements: atomic number, valence electrons, oxidation state, electronegativity according to Allred-Rochow and Pauling, atomic mass, boiling point, melting point, atomic radius, density, history, discoverer, classification, crystalline structure type, electron configuration, ionization energy, isotopic composition, state of matter, hardness according to Mohs, basic state, oxidation numbers, percentage of mass in Earth’s crust, year of discovery, half-life, and much more. - Visualized element properties: atomic radius, atomic radius graphic, electronegativity (according to Allred-Rochow and Pauling), ionization energy, relative atomic mass, state of matter, ranking list of properties, discovery, classifications. - Molar mass calculator: simple entry field for chemical formulas. Calculate molar mass simply and quickly. - Offline use. No Internet needed. All contents in one app.  - Streamlined handling of access rights. - Interactive operation: smart operating elements and numerous selection options. - Variety of languages: German, English, French and Spanish.

Screenshots

HudsonAlpha iCell3 screens
EMD PTE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: EMD PTE at 4.6 against HudsonAlpha iCell's 3.0. EMD PTE also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 70%). HudsonAlpha iCell's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 8 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EMD PTE holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 294 and 124 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of HudsonAlpha iCell's written reviews are positive against 90% of EMD PTE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HudsonAlpha iCell ships an update every 4 weeks, EMD PTE every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
HudsonAlpha iCell versus EMD PTE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHudsonAlpha iCellEMD PTE
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (294 ratings)4.6 (124 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.8% of reviews90.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings294 — better124
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHudsonAlpha Institute for BiotechnologyMerck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany)

Customer experience

HudsonAlpha iCell

All ratings289 ratings
Positive46.4%
Neutral9.7%
Negative43.9%
Written reviews324 reviews
Positive69.8%
Neutral6.8%
Negative23.5%

EMD PTE

All ratings121 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.8%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews126 reviews
Positive90.5%
Neutral4.0%
Negative5.6%

User reviews

HudsonAlpha iCell

From 294 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

EMD PTE

From 124 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent user interface
  • 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 💡 Comprehensive information on elements
  • 🔍 Detailed element properties and data
  • 🎨 Visually appealing design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
  • 🔍 Missing some advanced features
  • 🔧 Needs optimization for newer devices
  • 🔢 Inconsistent unit display (Fahrenheit vs Celsius)

Bugs and requests

HudsonAlpha iCell

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

EMD PTE

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Incorrect atomic radius data for some elements
  • Glitches when switching between screens

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add search functionality
  • Provide more customization options
  • Include isotope and mass data
  • Improve navigation between elements

In-app purchases

None

HudsonAlpha iCell

No in-app purchases

None

EMD PTE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HudsonAlpha iCell free?
HudsonAlpha iCell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EMD PTE free?
EMD PTE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HudsonAlpha iCell or EMD PTE?
EMD PTE is rated higher. HudsonAlpha iCell averages 3.0 out of 5 from 294 ratings, while EMD PTE averages 4.6 from 124 ratings.
Do HudsonAlpha iCell or EMD PTE have ads?
Neither HudsonAlpha iCell nor EMD PTE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HudsonAlpha iCell or EMD PTE?
HudsonAlpha iCell ships an update every 4 weeks, and EMD PTE every 8 months. Most recently, HudsonAlpha iCell was updated on October 21, 2026 and EMD PTE on October 21, 2026.

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