# SOS Remote vs Merge Explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SOS Remote at 100% against Merge Explorer's 46%. SOS Remote also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). Merge Explorer's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (279 vs 3). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. SOS Remote asks for nothing beyond the download.

SOS Remote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merge Explorer has 279 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of SOS Remote's written reviews are positive against 46% of Merge Explorer's.

SOS Remote ships an update every 8 months, Merge Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SOS Remote | Merge Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-remote/id476665630/reviews)** | [4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **279** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NOAA Science On a Sphere](https://appshunter.io/developer/476665633) | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) |

## What reviewers say

### SOS Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-remote/id476665630)

Control a Science On a Sphere® system with your mobile device. Adjust sphere orientation, manage datasets, and enhance presentations with interactive features. Ideal for educational settings.

**Highlights:** Adjust sphere orientation, Control dataset playback, Load presentation playlists, Search and browse data catalog, View dataset descriptions, Create presentation playlists, Draw on and zoom datasets, Dynamically adjust dataset layers

**In-app purchases:** none


### Merge Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606)

Explore over 100 interactive science simulations using a smartphone and a Merge Cube. Investigate volcanoes, sharks, the solar system, and more with hands-on activities and quizzes. Ideal for K-8 students learning science at school or home.

**Highlights:** Over 100 science simulations, Interactive Merge Cube experiences, Hands-on learning activities, Built-in quizzes, NGSS-aligned K-8 curriculum, Physical, Life, and Earth/Space Science topics

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Merge EDU Individual | $9.99 | per month |
| Explorer Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Merge EDU Individual | $99.99 | per year |
| Explorer Premium Annual | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy for young students
- 💡 Flexible for lesson needs
- 🔬 Used for research and experiments
- 💡 Introduces new content exploratorily
- 🤩 Engaging and versatile for learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive purchase
- 💰 Forced subscription for software
- 💰 Cannot view software before paying
- 💰 Money trap
- 💰 Only for rich people

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iPad
- App crashes when pressing play
- Camera not working in app
- Black screen when using cube or camera
- VR function broken

**Requested features**

- Make the app free to play
- Add more fun things, not just learning
- Bring back the fun apps (time bomb, block courses)
- Allow users to create their own games for the merge cube
- Add a way to reset quizzes for class sets of devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SOS Remote free?

SOS Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Merge Explorer free?

Merge Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SOS Remote or Merge Explorer?

SOS Remote is rated higher. SOS Remote averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Merge Explorer averages 4.1 from 279 ratings.

### Do SOS Remote or Merge Explorer have ads?

Neither SOS Remote nor Merge Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SOS Remote or Merge Explorer?

SOS Remote ships an update every 8 months, and Merge Explorer monthly. Most recently, SOS Remote was updated on November 1, 2026 and Merge Explorer on November 2, 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.*