# HudsonAlpha iCell vs EMD PTE

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.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | HudsonAlpha iCell | EMD PTE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (294 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hudsonalpha-icell/id364882015/reviews) | **[4.6 (124 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emd-pte/id377393859/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **294** | 124 |
| Positive reviews | 69.8% of reviews | **90.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 83 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology](https://appshunter.io/developer/364882018) | [Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany)](https://appshunter.io/developer/370548001) |

## 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


### EMD PTE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emd-pte/id377393859)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect atomic radius data for some elements
- Glitches when switching between screens

**Requested features**

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


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