Comparison

WebMO Molecule Editor vs 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 3D molecular editor
  • Structure optimization
  • Orbital and symmetry visualization
  • Chemical database lookup
  • Spectra visualization
  • High-resolution image capture
  • Computational chemistry program integration
Features
Read full description

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

About

3D Molecules View&Edit Lite

This application allows users to build and view 3D molecular models. It supports various bond types and visualization styles, and can load molecules from SDF and PDB file formats. Ideal for students, educators, and researchers.

Highlights
  • Build molecule models
  • Support for single, double, and triple bonds
  • Multiple visualization styles (Wireframe, Stick, Ball and Stick, Spacefill)
  • Load molecules from SDF and PDB files
  • View chemical element information
  • Open files from email attachments
  • Interactive 'Test yourself' mode
Read full description

"3D Molecules View&Edit Lite": is a free 3D molecule builder and viewer. for students, educators, and researchers. "3D Molecules View&Edit Lite" allows users to open and view molecules in SDF format files, for example, from NCBI's PubChem (http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), a public database of compounds or from RCSB Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb). FEATURES: • Building molecule model • Support of single, double and triple bonds. • Visualization of Wireframe style, Stick style, Ball and Stick, Spacefill (CPK) models. • T-shaped and «seesaw» molecular geometries. • Bond-angle optimization • Loading molecule in SDF file format • Loading molecule in PDB file format. • Availability of information about chemical element symbols in the molecule • Opening the molecule file directly from email attachments. • “Test yourself” mode to build some inorganic chemical compounds. The app includes tutorial how to create and delete models. The free version is a limited version of "3D Molecules Edit & Test"

Screenshots

WebMO Molecule Editor4 screens
3D Molecules View&Edit Lite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite at none against WebMO Molecule Editor's 2. 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 60%) and iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 12.0). WebMO Molecule Editor's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (40 vs 10). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. WebMO Molecule Editor sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WebMO Molecule Editor holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 40 and 10 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of WebMO Molecule Editor's written reviews are positive against 91% of 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WebMO Molecule Editor ships an update every 3 months, 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
WebMO Molecule Editor versus 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWebMO Molecule Editor3D Molecules View&Edit Lite
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (40 ratings) — better3.8 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews60.4% of reviews91.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings40 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.05.1.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWebMO, LLCVirtual Space OOO

Customer experience

WebMO Molecule Editor

All ratings40 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive60.4%
Neutral9.4%
Negative30.2%

3D Molecules View&Edit Lite

All ratings10 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative30.0%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive91.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative4.3%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

WebMO Molecule Editor

One-time2
  • WebMO Premium for paid usersFree
  • WebMO Premium$4.99
None

3D Molecules View&Edit Lite

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WebMO Molecule Editor free?
WebMO Molecule Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite free?
3D Molecules View&Edit Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WebMO Molecule Editor or 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite?
WebMO Molecule Editor is rated higher. WebMO Molecule Editor averages 4.0 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite averages 3.8 from 10 ratings.
Do WebMO Molecule Editor or 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite have ads?
Neither WebMO Molecule Editor nor 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WebMO Molecule Editor or 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite?
WebMO Molecule Editor ships an update every 3 months, and 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite every 4 months. Most recently, WebMO Molecule Editor was updated on October 7, 2026 and 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite on October 1, 2026.

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