WebMO Molecule Editor vs Backside Attack
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WebMO Molecule Editor
Create and explore 3D molecular structures, visualize chemical properties, and access extensive chemical databases. This tool is ideal for students and educators needing on-the-go access to molecular information and computational chemistry resources.
- 3D molecular editor
- Structure optimization
- Orbital and symmetry visualization
- Chemical database lookup
- Spectra visualization
- High-resolution image capture
- Computational chemistry program integration
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WebMO allows users to build and view molecules in 3-D, visualize orbitals and symmetry elements, lookup chemical information and properties from external databases, and access state-of-the-art computational chemistry programs. WebMO is recommended for students and faculty in high school, college, and graduate school who desire mobile access to molecular structures, information, and calculations. WebMO capabilities include: - Build molecules by drawing atoms and bonds in a 3-D molecular editor, or by speaking the name (e.g., “aspirin”) - Optimize structures using VSEPR theory or molecular mechanics - View Huckel molecular orbitals, electron density, and electrostatic potential - View molecular vibrations - View point group and symmetry elements of molecules - Lookup basic molecular information, including IUPAC and common names, stoichiometry, molar mass - Lookup chemical data from PubChem and ChemSpider - Lookup experimental and predicted molecular properties from external databases (NIST, Sigma-Aldrich) - Lookup IR, UV-VIS, NMR, and mass spectra from external databases (NIST, SDBS) - Capture high-resolution molecular images - Save and recall molecular structures locally - Export and import structures via email WebMO is also a front-end to WebMO servers (version 14 and higher): - Supports Gaussian, GAMESS, Molpro, MOPAC, NWChem, ORCA, PQS, PSI, Quantum Espresso, VASP, Q-Chem, and Tinker computational chemistry programs - Submit, monitor, and view calculations - View formatted tabular data extracted from output files, as well as raw output - Visualize geometry, partial charges, dipole moment, normal vibrational modes, molecular orbitals, and NMR/IR/UV-VIS spectra
Backside Attack
This educational game helps students grasp fundamental organic chemistry concepts, specifically focusing on the SN2 reaction. It explores key variables like leaving group ability, nucleophilicity, steric factors, and solvent effects to build a strong foundation in chemistry.
- Learn SN2 reaction mechanics
- Explore leaving group ability
- Understand nucleophilicity
- Analyze steric factors
- Study solvent effects
- Earn points with Check Yourself +50
- Unlock Chem Yourself feature
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Backside Attack is an educational app targeting students learning organic chemistry for the first time. The game focuses on the SN2 reaction, which is often one of the first reactions students learn when studying organic chemistry. The SN2 reaction is great for educational purposes, as it provides a forum for students to learn about many common variables associated with chemical reactions, such as leaving group ability, nucleophilicity, steric factors, and solvent effects. The Backside Attack project is led by Dr. Neil Garg, an organic chemistry Professor at UCLA. He and six UCLA students (now alumni) devoted countless hours to creating the game flow and all content. The heroic students are: Tara Kappel, Preeya Mehta, William Parsons Stefan Prisacaru, Ernst Schmid, and Justin Soffer. Backside Attack is powered by Element26, Inc., thanks to Dr. Daniel D. Caspi. Students, be sure to: Learn even more and earn points by using the Check Yourself +50 feature on the scoring screen! Unlock the Chem Yourself feature by completing each topic!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Backside Attack at 4.9 against WebMO Molecule Editor's 4.0. Backside Attack also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 60%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). WebMO Molecule Editor's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. WebMO Molecule Editor sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Backside Attack asks for nothing beyond the download.
Backside Attack holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 40 and 74 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of WebMO Molecule Editor's written reviews are positive against 95% of Backside Attack's.
WebMO Molecule Editor ships an update every 3 months, Backside Attack every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and July 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WebMO Molecule Editor | Backside Attack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (40 ratings) | 4.9 (74 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 60.4% of reviews | 95.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 40 | 74 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 178 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | WebMO, LLC | Element26, Inc. |
Customer experience
WebMO Molecule Editor
Backside Attack
In-app purchases
WebMO Molecule Editor
- WebMO Premium for paid usersFree
- WebMO Premium$4.99
Backside Attack
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is WebMO Molecule Editor free?
Is Backside Attack free?
Which has better reviews, WebMO Molecule Editor or Backside Attack?
Do WebMO Molecule Editor or Backside Attack have ads?
Which is updated more often, WebMO Molecule Editor or Backside Attack?
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