DifCal vs Lattica
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DifCal
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Calculate diffraction angles for a particular crystal with a defined orientation matrix. New crystals can be added to the database. Energy/wavelength can be changed. Currently knows about 4-circle, Z-Axis and Theta-Theta diffractometers as well as 2-circle, powder and amorphous diffraction modes. Current crystals include silicon, diamond, GaAs, Muscovite (mica), graphite, many 3-5 and 2-6 crystals. There are separate screens for setting the crystal (or creating a new one), defining the orientation matrix, defining the diffractometer mode, and calculating either angles, given h,k,l, or hkl given a set of angles. With the larger screen of the iPad all the controls are visible on a single page.
Lattica
Visualize atomic arrangements and lattice systems in stunning 3D. This educational tool brings complex crystal structures to life, making it ideal for students and researchers in chemistry, materials science, and crystallography.
- 3D Crystal Models
- Lattice Visualization
- Interactive Exploration
- Zoom and Rotate Structures
- Detailed Visuals
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Save crystal structures, organize them in a personal library, and inspect unit cells and atomic positions in 3D. CrystalStructure helps you keep lattice parameters, space groups, and atomic sites together so you can quickly return to structures from papers, textbooks, or your own notes.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Lattica at Free against DifCal's $1.99. DifCal's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). On update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Lattica is free to download; DifCal costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DifCal ships an update every 15 months, Lattica every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on May 16, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DifCal | Lattica |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 3.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Every 9 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sean Brennan | Sota Iguchi |
In-app purchases
DifCal
No in-app purchases
Lattica
No in-app purchases








