TimeTree vs Codon One
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TimeTree
Explore a vast public knowledge base of evolutionary timescales and divergence times among organisms. This app uses a hierarchical system to find and present molecular time estimates from scientific literature, allowing users to compare species and view summary statistics.
- Explore evolutionary timescales
- View organism divergence times
- Access scientific literature data
- Hierarchical tree-based system
- Compute summary statistics
- Compare species divergence
Read full descriptionHide full description
TimeTree 4 is a public knowledge-base for information on the evolutionary timescale of life. This application allows easy exploration of the thousands of divergence times among organisms in the scientific literature. A tree-based (hierarchical) system is used to identify all published molecular time estimates bearing on the divergence of two chosen organisms, such as species, compute summary statistics, and present the results. Names of two taxa to be compared are entered in the search window and the results are presented on a set of self-explanatory tabs. TimeTree 4 contains data from 2,274 studies including 50,632 species. We will be adding more data in the future as it comes in from researchers. TimeTree 4 requires iOS 8.0 or newer. The TimeTree project is jointly directed by Blair Hedges (Center for Biodiversity, Temple University) and Sudhir Kumar (Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University). This project has been supported, in part, by grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, NASA Astrobiology Institute, and Science Foundation of Arizona.
Codon One
Master molecular biology, genetics, evolution, and life chemistry through interactive modules and quizzes. Explore essential concepts with clear diagrams and concise explanations. Includes helpful tools for sequence analysis and genetic code reference.
- Interactive learning modules
- Quick quizzes for comprehension
- Clear diagrams and plain language
- Molecule reference guide
- Sequence analysis tools
- Genetic code exploration
Read full descriptionHide full description
Codon One helps you learn biology step by step, with short lessons, quick quizzes, flashcards, and a searchable glossary. Build a solid foundation in molecular biology, genetics, evolution, cell biology, development, and the history of science. Each section breaks complex ideas into clear explanations, diagrams, and focused checks for understanding. Core course (Modules) Module 1: Chemistry of Life – atoms & elements, bonds, water, pH, biomolecules Module 2: Genetics – chromosomes, replication, transcription, translation, regulation Module 3: Evolution – history of life, phylogeny, selection, drift, speciation, molecular evolution Module 4: History of Science – ideas, methods, and experiments that shaped modern biology Module 5: Cell Biology – membranes & transport, organelles & energy, cytoskeleton, signaling, cell division Module 6: Development – fertilization & body plans, differentiation, pattern formation & morphogenesis, growth & repair, evo-devo Additional topics are planned for future updates, including Animal Physiology, Microbiology & Immunology, Plant Biology, and more. Glossary & Flashcards Look up the essentials in one place - key terms from every module, plus the 20 amino acids and the nucleobases. Turn any topic into a flashcard deck and review with smart, spaced practice that focuses on the cards you find hardest. Quiz & Progress Practice across biochemistry, genetics, evolution, cell biology, development, and science history in a dedicated quiz area. Track improvement with success rates and per-topic stats, and let the app resurface your weak questions for targeted review. Keep a daily streak going to build a steady habit. Got a good question? Submit it directly from the app. Built-in Tools Sequence Operator: paste DNA, reverse or complement it, transcribe to RNA, translate in all six reading frames, and view length, GC content, and melting temperature. Codon Picker: explore the genetic code, see which codons map to each amino acid or stop signal, and tweak bases to see the effect. Triplet Encoder: write a message in amino-acid single-letter code and encode it as a DNA triplet sequence, then decode it by translation. Found a bug or have suggestions? Email info@codon-one.com - we read every message.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Codon One at 4.5 against TimeTree's 3.5. Codon One also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months) and review sentiment (76% vs 65%). TimeTree's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, ads 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
Both are free to download. Codon One sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. TimeTree asks for nothing beyond the download.
Codon One holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of TimeTree's written reviews are positive against 76% of Codon One's.
TimeTree ships an update every 8 months, Codon One every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TimeTree | Codon One |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (12 ratings) | 4.5 (25 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 65.1% of reviews | 76.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 25 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 277 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arizona and Penn State Universities | Daniel Gebert |
Customer experience
TimeTree
Codon One
In-app purchases
TimeTree
No in-app purchases
Codon One
- Module 2: GeneticsFree
- Module 1: Chemistry of LifeFree
- Module 3: Evolution$2.99
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Module 4: Science History$2.99
- Module 5: Cell Biology$2.99
- Module 6: Development$2.99
- Unlock All$8.99
Questions
Is TimeTree free?
Is Codon One free?
Which has better reviews, TimeTree or Codon One?
Do TimeTree or Codon One have ads?
Which is updated more often, TimeTree or Codon One?
Other comparisons















