FoldVision vs ChemyLab
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FoldVision
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FoldVision turns the world's protein structures into something you can hold, turn, and understand. Search more than 200,000 experimentally determined structures from the Protein Data Bank, load AlphaFold and ESMFold predictions, or build a DNA or RNA helix from a typed sequence. Everything renders in interactive 3D — rotate it with a finger, zoom into an active site, and switch between ribbon, surface, ball-and-stick and space-filling views. EXPLAIN ANY PROTEIN Tap Explain and the app writes a plain-language account of what the protein does, grounded in curated UniProt data and generated privately on your device with Apple Intelligence. A guided tour walks you through the key regions, lighting up each one on the structure as it's described. Available in 11 languages. COMPARE TWO STRUCTURES Load two structures and see exactly what changed. Structural-change coloring shades every residue from blue (superposes) to red (diverges). Sequence-change coloring separates conserved residues from substitutions. Watch a smooth morph between two conformations, or set them side by side. EXPLORE THE DETAIL • Annotations — domains, active and binding sites, modifications, variants and mutagenesis, drawn from UniProt. Tap any one to spotlight it on the structure. • Sequence view — the full amino-acid sequence with secondary structure, hydrophobicity, charge and B-factor tracks. Tap a residue to find it in 3D. • Color by secondary structure, chain, hydrophobicity, charge, domain or confidence (pLDDT), with color-blind-safe palettes throughout. • Measure distances, pin points of interest, and see the ligands and ions bound in the structure. NUCLEIC ACIDS Fold an RNA sequence into its predicted secondary structure with ViennaRNA, or build an idealized DNA or RNA double helix from any sequence. SHARE YOUR WORK Export a still image, a spinning video, or a 3D USDZ model you can drop into a presentation or an AR scene. BUILT FOR EVERY DEVICE Designed for iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro, with layouts tuned to each. Structure and annotation data come from the RCSB Protein Data Bank, UniProt, AlphaFold DB, ESM Atlas, InterPro and Reactome. Full credits are in the app.
ChemyLab
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Step into the ultimate interactive chemistry playground! Chemy: The Visual Laboratory bridges the gap between abstract chemical symbols and tangible physical properties. Designed to build deep visual intuition, Chemy provides a state-of-the-art interactive periodic laboratory for students, educators, and science enthusiasts. Whether you want to visualize atomic structure, simulate thermodynamic states of matter, hear the sounds of light spectra, or build molecules in an interactive sandbox, Chemy brings the microscopic universe to life with premium visuals and responsive simulation mechanics. *** CORE INTERACTIVE MODULES & FEATURES *** INTERACTIVE PERIODIC TABLE (ATLAS) Explore the elements through an immersive, responsive catalog: • Dynamic Grid Layouts: Switch seamlessly between the Classic Periodic Table and the mathematically curved Curled-Ribbon Periodic Grid. • 3D Voxel Blocks: Toggle 3D voxel representations of elements, rendered with custom isometric projections. • Interactive Highlights: Color-code and filter the grid by Cosmic Nucleosynthesis Origin (Big Bang, massive stars, supernovae) or Chemical Families (Noble Gases, Alkali Metals, Halogens, etc.). • Deep Element Inspector: Dive into any element to inspect its scientific details: Bohr Card: Interactive Bohr model visualizer showing concentric electron shells and atomic properties. Electron Apartments: Maps complex quantum orbital configurations (s, p, d, f) to an intuitive apartment room layout filling dynamically based on Hund's Rule and the Aufbau principle. Quantum Forces: Visualize atomic grip forces (ionization energy and electronegativity) with dynamic vector lines. Spectral Signatures: View high-fidelity absorption and emission spectra. Auditory Spectra Synth: Synthesizes emission wavelengths into audible acoustic sine-wave frequencies. Listen to the unique sound of each element! REACTIONS CENTER & SANDBOX Experiment, balance, and build in an open-ended molecular lab: • Reaction Sandbox: A drag-and-drop chamber where atoms float freely. Collide elements to form covalent or ionic binary compounds (like H2O or NaCl) based on electronegativity delta, valency hook counts, and temperature. • Equation Balancer: Input chemical equations using a specialized Periodic Element Keyboard to calculate and balance stoichiometric coefficients instantly. • Molecular Structure Generator: Procedurally generate and inspect molecular stick-and-ball covalent bond structural diagrams. CHAMBER STATE SIMULATOR (SOLID, LIQUID, GAS) Understand how temperature affects atomic motion: • Global Thermal Controller: Simulate temperatures from absolute zero (0 K) up to 6000 K (the surface of the Sun) with key milestones like boiling and melting points. • Atomic Motion Physics Canvas: Watch a dynamic particle engine simulate atomic behavior. See solids locked in a crystalline lattice, cohesive liquids sliding at the base, and high-velocity gases colliding elastically. DENSITY COMPARER (MASS & VOLUME) Build physical intuition for how elements differ in weight and volume: • Isometric 3D Cube Comparison: Compare the density of two pure elements (e.g., 1 kg of Lead vs. 1 kg of Lithium) in dynamically scaling 3D cubes. • Buoyancy & Balance Simulator: Simulate water displacement and balance scales to visualize weight-to-volume relationships. MEMORIZATION TRAINER & PROGRESS • Gamified Quiz Loops: Master symbols, names, atomic numbers, and families with speed and accuracy feedback loops. • Element Sticker Book: Unlock elements in the sandbox to add glowing, starred stickers to your catalog. • Trophy Badges: Earn beautiful rewards (e.g., "Water Creator", "Metal Monarch").
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ChemyLab at 13.0 against FoldVision's 26.0. 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | FoldVision | ChemyLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Daily | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Scot Federman | Cristi Citea |
In-app purchases
FoldVision
No in-app purchases
ChemyLab
No in-app purchases









