MARVLS vs Sci
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MARVLS
Explore plasma physics concepts with interactive augmented reality models. Visualize and manipulate these models using your phone and a downloadable Merge Cube. Navigate through various topics and bring complex scientific ideas to life.
- Augmented reality models
- Plasma physics concepts
- Merge Cube integration
- Interactive visualization
- Topic navigation
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View augmented reality models of plasma physics concepts through your phone. You'll need a Merge Cube (downloadable from the internet). Click on different button to navigate to different topics. Tap the camera icon and point your camera towards the Merge Cube to visualize and interact with our MARVLS.
Sci
Explore STEM concepts and problem-solving skills through hands-on activities tied to real-world locations. Search activities by site, STEM field, or curriculum standards. Activities are categorized for pre-visit, during-visit, and post-visit engagement.
- Hands-on STEM activities
- Location-based exploration
- Searchable by site name
- Filter by STEM field
- Curriculum standard alignment
- Pre/during/post visit activities
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This Sci-Map app encourages the exploration of STEM concepts right in your own community and promotes the practice of problem-solving skills. It is an efficient tool for educators, parents, or anyone seeking a guide to explore the world . The hands-on activities are searchable by name of the real-world site, by type of activity (sorted by STEM field and name of the activity) or by Florida Curriculum standards associated with the concepts or skills used in the hands-on activity. The activities are also sorted by whether they are useful while you are visiting the site (to guide you in your exploration) or if they are introductory activities (to prepare you before you visit) or extension activities (to further investigate after you visit and have explored the site).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Sci at every 2 days against MARVLS's every 5 months. Sci also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for MARVLS against 5.0 for Sci. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.
MARVLS ships an update every 5 months, Sci every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MARVLS | Sci |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 210 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michele McColgan | Hands On Gainesville Inc |
Customer experience
MARVLS
Sci
In-app purchases
MARVLS
No in-app purchases
Sci
No in-app purchases
