NOVA Elements vs Solve the Outbreak
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NOVA Elements
Explore the periodic table and understand element properties. Learn how elements combine to form everyday objects through interactive games and educational videos.
- Interactive periodic table
- Learn element properties
- Understand element combinations
- Educational game
- NOVA program access
Read full descriptionHide full description
Did you ever wonder why the periodic table is shaped the way it is, what gives each element its own unique set of properties, or even how elements combine to make everyday objects such as a cup of coffee? With “NOVA Elements,” explore an interactive periodic table, play a game hosted by David Pogue, or watch the two-hour NOVA program, “Hunting the Elements.”
Solve the Outbreak
Become a Disease Detective and solve simulated outbreaks by analyzing clues and data. Make critical decisions to contain diseases and save lives, earning badges and climbing ranks. Learn about real-world disease investigation in an engaging, game-like experience.
- Solve simulated outbreaks
- Analyze clues and data
- Make critical decisions
- Earn badges and ranks
- Learn about diseases
- Challenge friends
Read full descriptionHide full description
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to get clues and analyze data to solve the outbreak and save lives! In this fun app, you get to be a Disease Detective. Do you quarantine the village? Interview people who are sick? Run more lab tests? The better your answers, the higher your score - and the quicker you’ll climb the ranks to become a decorated Disease Detective. In level 1, you’ll start as a Trainee and earn badges by solving scenarios — with the goal of earning the top rank: Disease Detective. Unlock Level 2 by mastering all the 12 outbreaks of Level 1. Then earn honors by solving new and more challenging scenarios. Earn recognitions like Surveillance and Treatment Honors. New outbreaks happen every day and CDC's Disease Detectives are on the front lines — working 24/7 to save lives and protect people. When a new outbreak occurs, Disease Detectives are sent in to figure out how the outbreak started before it spreads further. In this app, you'll also: • Learn about diseases and outbreaks in an engaging way. • See how CDC's Disease Detectives save lives around the world. • Have the option to post your scores on Facebook or Twitter and challenge your friends to play!
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Solve the Outbreak at 4.6 against NOVA Elements's 4.1. Solve the Outbreak also leads on review sentiment (96% vs 62%). NOVA Elements's advantage is ratings volume (254 vs 60) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Solve the Outbreak holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 254 and 60 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of NOVA Elements's written reviews are positive against 96% of Solve the Outbreak's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NOVA Elements | Solve the Outbreak |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (254 ratings) | 4.6 (60 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | 95.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 254 — better | 60 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 513 MB | 258 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | PBS | Centers For Disease Control and Prevention |
Customer experience
NOVA Elements
Solve the Outbreak
Bugs and requests
NOVA Elements
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Solve the Outbreak
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes when attempting to reset scores in settings
- Old scores and progress remain after reset attempt
- Accidental question selection due to bottom screen placement
Requested features
10 requests- Add more outbreak cases and scenarios
- Create harder difficulty levels for advanced players
- Include visual aids and images for better understanding
- Add background music and sound effects
- Implement branching storylines with different outcomes
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Create Level 3 with more complex cases
- Add ability for users to create custom outbreaks
- Improve text size and readability on smaller screens
- Release app on iPhone in addition to iPad
- Include more historical and special plague scenarios
In-app purchases
NOVA Elements
No in-app purchases
Solve the Outbreak
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is NOVA Elements free?
Is Solve the Outbreak free?
Which has better reviews, NOVA Elements or Solve the Outbreak?
Do NOVA Elements or Solve the Outbreak have ads?
Which is updated more often, NOVA Elements or Solve the Outbreak?
Other comparisons
