iMolview vs PhET Simulations
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iMolview
Explore biological molecules in 3D. View proteins, DNA, and drug structures from major databases. Customize representations, select specific elements, and analyze molecular interactions. Sync your own files and save scenes for later.
- 3D molecular visualization
- Browse PDB, DrugBank, Pubchem
- Customizable representations
- Individual element coloring
- Neighbor analysis
- Electron density map contouring
- Scene saving and management
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Explore the fascinating world of biological macromolecules: iMolview lets you browse and view in 3D protein and DNA structures from Protein Data Bank, drug molecules from DrugBank, and small molecules from Pubchem. Search for drug names like 'ibuprofen' or 'gefitinib' in DrugBank, or proteins like 'insulin' or 'thyroid receptor' in PDB. Information associated with each molecule in these databases is also at your fingertips. Sync and view your own structure files via iTunes. Molecular view can be customized with a rich set of molecular representations (wires, balls-and-sticks, space filling, ribbon diagrams, molecular surfaces) and various coloring schemes. Select residues, atoms or chains and color or change their representations individually. Select 'neighbors' of a ligand or any other selection to identify interacting atoms or residues. Set 'inertia' to the maximum and let your molecule spin in 3D indefinitely. Save the current scene (viewpoint + representation) as a slide which can be easily accessed later. Save the whole molecular document with multiple slides. Load and contour electron density map
PhET Simulations
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.
- Interactive science and math simulations
- Offline play capability
- Multiple language support
- Customizable favorites collection
- Automatic simulation updates
- Easy simulation sorting
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Engage in learning science and math with the award-winning PhET simulations! Whether understanding atoms, exploring energy, or mastering multiplication, there is a sim for every learner. Perfect for at home, in class, or on the road, this app delivers all PhET HTML5 sims (over 75 sims) in one easy-to-use package. Developed by experts at the University of Colorado Boulder, PhET sims are used by millions of students every year. The PhET iPad app delivers these exclusive features: • Offline play: learn on the bus or at the park without a WiFi connection. • Multiple languages: app translate in many languages (great for bilingual learners). • Favorites: pick your favorite sims and create your own custom collection. • Automatic updates: get the latest HTML5 sims as soon as they are released. • Easy sorting: find the right sims for you. • Fullscreen: maximize your screen real estate for optimal sim exploration. PARENTS: Engage your child in science and math discovery. TEACHERS: Your favorite HTML5 sims at your fingertips, even without internet access. ADMINISTRATORS: Optimized for school use, so your teachers will be seamlessly up to date. STUDENTS: Tell your parents there’s an exciting app for learning science and math. Note: The app does not include PhET’s Java or Flash sims. In addition, although we are currently working on improving the accessibility of our sims, most of the sims included in this app do not include keyboard navigation or screen reader access. As accessible sims become available, they will be updated within the app. Proceeds from the app support the development of more HTML5 sims. On behalf of the PhET team and the students whose lives you have helped improve — Thank you!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PhET Simulations at 4.5 against iMolview's 3.6. PhET Simulations also leads on chart position (#17 vs unranked) and ratings volume (49 vs 13). iMolview's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
iMolview costs $0.99 and PhET Simulations $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 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 49 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 78% of iMolview'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.
iMolview ships an update every 2 months, PhET Simulations every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iMolview | PhET Simulations |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | 3.6 (13 ratings) | 4.5 (49 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 78.1% of reviews — better | 65.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 49 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 14 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #17 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 55 MB | 125 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Molsoft | University of Colorado Boulder |
Customer experience
iMolview
PhET Simulations
In-app purchases
iMolview
No in-app purchases
PhET Simulations
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is iMolview free?
Is PhET Simulations free?
Which has better reviews, iMolview or PhET Simulations?
Do iMolview or PhET Simulations have ads?
Which is updated more often, iMolview or PhET Simulations?
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