# Plickers vs Merge Explorer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Plickers at none against Merge Explorer's 4. Plickers also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 46%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Merge Explorer's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Plickers against 4.1 for Merge Explorer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 313 and 279 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Plickers's written reviews are positive against 46% of Merge Explorer's.

Plickers ships an update every 2 months, Merge Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Plickers | Merge Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (313 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plickers/id701184049/reviews) | [4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **313** | 279 |
| Positive reviews | **72.3% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 44 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Plickers Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/701184052) | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) |

## What reviewers say

### Plickers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plickers/id701184049)

This app allows educators to conduct instant polls and check for understanding in their classrooms without requiring students to have individual devices. Simply scan student response cards using a smartphone or tablet to gather data, which is then automatically saved online.

**Highlights:** Free classroom polling, No student devices required, Scan student response cards, Instant checks-for-understanding, Automatic data saving, Online data access

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Instant feedback and data
- 👍 Easy to use and set up
- 🤩 Students love it
- 📊 Helpful assessment tool
- 🏫 Great for the classroom

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Login/account issues
- 🔄 Difficult to navigate after updates
- 💰 Paywall for advanced features
- 🔍 Limited question customization

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing on launch
- Scanning issues and inconsistent response detection
- Syncing problems between app and website
- Disappearing questions and data loss
- Compatibility issues with newer OS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to share question banks between teachers
- More formatting options for questions and answers
- Improved data reporting and export capabilities
- Compatibility with more devices and platforms
- Easier class and student management


### 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 Plickers free?

Plickers 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, Plickers or Merge Explorer?

Plickers and Merge Explorer are both rated 4.1 out of 5 on the App Store, from 313 and 279 ratings respectively.

### Do Plickers or Merge Explorer have ads?

Plickers shows ads; Merge Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Plickers or Merge Explorer?

Plickers ships an update every 2 months, and Merge Explorer monthly. Most recently, Plickers was updated on October 4, 2026 and Merge Explorer on October 12, 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.*