ETH polybox vs SynStrategy
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
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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.
SynStrategy
This app categorizes organic reactions by the functional groups they form, aiding chemists in synthetic analysis. It offers over 500 transformations and 400 synthesis examples, with detailed subdivisions for clarity.
- Reactions categorized by functional group
- 27 main functional group categories
- Over 500 transformations
- Over 400 total synthesis examples
- Subdivided functional group categories
- Highlights synthetic use cases
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SynStrategy is an organic chemistry app for anyone studying or working in organic synthesis. Its key feature is the categorization of named reactions and unnamed chemical reactions by the functional groups they form, helping students and practitioners navigate the vast landscape of organic transformations. The app features 27 main functional group categories, each further subdivided (for example, Alcohols include primary, secondary, tertiary, allylic, and homoallylic alcohols, and more). This structured organization gives chemists a clearer view of available transformations during synthetic and retrosynthetic analysis. SynStrategy currently includes over 500 organic chemistry reactions, with their synthetic use cases highlighted in more than 400 total synthesis examples. NEW: We've added the mechanisms for a collection of classic named oxidation reactions, with more to come. Each mechanism includes literature references you can look up for further detail. The first set covers the Albright-Goldman, Anelli, Babler-Dauben, Baeyer-Villiger, Ball-Goodwin-Morton, Collins, Corey-Gilman-Ganem, Corey-Kim, Corey-Schmidt, Corey-Suggs, Criegee, Dakin, Davis, Davis Asymmetric, and TEMPO oxidations. Beyond the reference library, SynStrategy includes interactive tools to help you study organic chemistry and organize these transformations. Save specific reactions into custom datasets that can be exported and shared with colleagues. Test your knowledge with the app's study modes: a Quiz system featuring three formats with multiple-choice and advanced questions on chemical reactions and total synthesis steps, plus a traditional Flashcard mode. Both modes include session analytics so you can track your progress. NEW: A Statistics dashboard now lets you review your quiz and flashcard results, see what you've studied, and get an overview of your activity in the app over time (More → Statistics). Whether you're preparing for an organic chemistry (orgo) exam, reviewing named reactions and mechanisms, or planning a synthesis in the lab, SynStrategy aims to be a useful organic chemistry companion. There are countless exceptional total syntheses and synthetically relevant methodologies in the literature, and we aim to grow the selection over time. Have a particular organic reaction or total synthesis example you'd like to see added? E-mail us: serviceofsynthesis@gmail.com Summary of Features: - Named and unnamed reactions, categorized by functional group - Over 500 organic chemistry transformations - Mechanisms for selected reactions (more to come) - Over 400 total synthesis examples - Create, export, and import custom reaction datasets - Multi-format Quiz system with session analytics - Dedicated Flashcard mode for systematic review - Statistics to review your results and activity in the app over time If you need support, please contact serviceofsynthesis@gmail.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: SynStrategy at 9 against ETH polybox's 1. On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ETH polybox against 5.0 for SynStrategy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynStrategy has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
ETH polybox ships an update every 6 months, SynStrategy every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ETH polybox | SynStrategy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 9 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 229 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ETH Zurich | Willi M. Amberg |
Customer experience
ETH polybox
SynStrategy
In-app purchases
ETH polybox
No in-app purchases
SynStrategy
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ETH polybox free?
Is SynStrategy free?
Which has better reviews, ETH polybox or SynStrategy?
Do ETH polybox or SynStrategy have ads?
Which is updated more often, ETH polybox or SynStrategy?
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