ETH polybox vs ISME Microbes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ETH polybox
This app provides secure online data storage and exchange for ETH Zurich members. It functions as a digital storage solution, offering 50 GB of space on campus servers to avoid external storage risks. Sync clients are available for easy access across devices.
- Secure online data storage
- Data exchange for ETH members
- 50 GB storage space
- Avoids external storage
- Sync clients for all OS
- ETH account required
Read full descriptionHide full description
Note: To use this app an ETH Zurich account is required! The polybox service is used for online data storage and is a safe place for ETH members to exchange data with each other. The polybox service covers the following use case: «polybox – Use it as a logical memory stick – save your data on the ETH campus» As an internal service provider, the ITS System Services (SD) offers all ETH members the service «polybox.ethz.ch» with 50 GB of storage space on the ETH Zurich’s storage facilities. The data stored on the polybox servers are stored on the central storage facilities of the ETH Zurich. Using the service polybox avoids the usage of external (uncontrollable) storage. Sync Clients are provided for an efficient and easy use of the service polybox for all common operating systems (mobile as well as desktop). All ETH members have access to the polybox service. On the first login on «polybox.ethz.ch» with the ETH account, an account with 50 GB of storage is created automatically.
ISME Microbes
Read full descriptionHide full description
ISME is the non-profit association in the field of Microbial Ecology. We connect, sponsor, provide platforms & information, organize events and are proud owner of The ISME Journal – published by Springer Nature. With this app you can easily browse through our journal, directory, jobs and events, find reports or newsletters and manage your membership account. Another great benefit is that within this application you can download the ISME conference app too! That way you have everything ISME related in one place. International Society for Microbial Ecology
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ISME Microbes at 13.4 against ETH polybox's 17.0. On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ETH polybox ships an update every 6 months, ISME Microbes every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on August 15, 2026 and June 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ETH polybox | ISME Microbes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 229 MB | 82 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ETH Zurich | International Society for Microbial Ecology |
In-app purchases
ETH polybox
No in-app purchases
ISME Microbes
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ETH polybox free?
Is ISME Microbes free?
Do ETH polybox or ISME Microbes have ads?
Which is updated more often, ETH polybox or ISME Microbes?
Other comparisons
