# iMolview vs PhET Simulations

The clearest difference is rating: PhET Simulations at 4.5 against iMolview's 3.6. PhET Simulations also leads on chart position (#37 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.

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 14, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iMolview | PhET Simulations |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.6 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imolview/id431002306/reviews) | **[4.5 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phet-simulations/id1134126831/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **49** |
| Positive reviews | **78.1% of reviews** | 65.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#37** |
| Size | 55 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Molsoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/431002309) | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) |

## What reviewers say

### iMolview

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imolview/id431002306)

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.

**Highlights:** 3D molecular visualization, Browse PDB, DrugBank, Pubchem, Customizable representations, Individual element coloring, Neighbor analysis, Electron density map contouring, Scene saving and management

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### PhET Simulations

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

**Currently charting:** #37 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 iMolview free?

iMolview costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PhET Simulations free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iMolview or PhET Simulations?

PhET Simulations is rated higher. iMolview averages 3.6 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while PhET Simulations averages 4.5 from 49 ratings.

### Do iMolview or PhET Simulations have ads?

Neither iMolview nor PhET Simulations shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iMolview or PhET Simulations?

iMolview ships an update every 2 months, and PhET Simulations every 14 months. Most recently, iMolview was updated on October 14, 2026 and PhET Simulations on October 15, 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.*