Comparison

Magpie vs Gemology Notes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Magpie

Features
Read full description

Magpie is a free molecular visualisation and scientific post-processing app for iPhone and iPad, designed for computational chemistry research, teaching and learning. KEY FEATURES • Open and inspect computational chemistry outputs, molecular coordinates, trajectories and volumetric data. • Explore interactive 3D structures, vibrational modes, reaction paths, spectra and potential-energy surfaces. • Export high-resolution PNG images with transparent backgrounds in standard mode or black backgrounds in red/blue 3D mode, ready for figures, presentations and teaching materials. • Export molecular structures and surfaces as GLB or USDZ 3D models, and trajectories, molecular vibrations and model rotation as USDZ animations. Save images and models to Files or share them through the system share menu. • Edit atoms, bonds and geometries, then optimise structures with UFF or MMFF94s force fields. • Generate quantum-chemistry input files, including ab initio molecular dynamics workflows, plus XYZ, MOL2, CIF and PDB files. • Play XYZ and DCD trajectories, inspect changing molecular structures and measurements, and visualise dynamic bonds and hydrogen bonds. • Visualise molecular orbitals with fast on-device GPU calculation, and explore signed CUBE scalar fields. Connect to a remote server running Multiwfn for additional wavefunction analysis. • Organise files locally, import from other apps, or connect to your SSH/SFTP server for remote file browsing and terminal work.

About

Gemology Notes

An offline reference app for gemology students and professionals. Explore gemstone properties, crystal structures with interactive 3D models, and detailed identification points. Study gemology anywhere without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Gemstone Browser
  • 3D Crystal Models
  • Detailed Gemstone Notes
  • Offline Access
  • Systematic Classification
Features
Read full description

Systematic Gemology Notes An offline reference app dedicated to gemology learning, covering the fundamental properties, crystal structures, and systematic classification of common gemstones. KEY FEATURES • Gemstone Browser — Reference material organized by crystal system and gemstone species • 3D Crystal Models — Interactive displays of each gemstone's crystal structure; rotate and zoom to examine every angle • Detailed Notes — Systematic knowledge covering physical properties, optical characteristics, and key identification points • Fully Offline — No internet connection required; study anywhere, anytime Ideal for gemology students, professional gemologists and appraisers, jewelers, and collectors.

Screenshots

Magpie4 screens
Gemology Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Gemology Notes at 17.0 against Magpie's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magpie ships an update every 5 days, Gemology Notes every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 7 level
Magpie versus Gemology Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagpieGemology Notes
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuchen Zhou际 郭

In-app purchases

None

Magpie

No in-app purchases

None

Gemology Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Magpie free?
Magpie is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gemology Notes free?
Gemology Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Magpie or Gemology Notes have ads?
Neither Magpie nor Gemology Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Magpie or Gemology Notes?
Magpie ships an update every 5 days, and Gemology Notes every 4 days. Most recently, Magpie was updated on November 5, 2026 and Gemology Notes on October 31, 2026.

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