Comparison

3D Molecules View&Edit Lite vs PDB Viewer

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

Head to head
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"

About

PDB Viewer

Features
Read full description

PDB Viewer turns your phone into a molecular microscope. Search the entire Protein Data Bank and over 200 million AlphaFold predictions, then explore any protein, virus, drug, or DNA structure in interactive 3D — free, with no account, no ads, and no sign-up. WHERE THE MOLECULES COME FROM • RCSB Protein Data Bank — 200,000+ experimentally determined structures • AlphaFold — 200M+ AI-predicted protein models • SWISS-MODEL — template-based homology models • PubChem and ChEMBL — millions of drugs and compounds • Crystallography Open Database — small-molecule crystals • NCI/CADD resolver — type a chemical name and get a 3D model Every source is free and needs no API key. You can also open your own .pdb and .cif files. WAYS TO SEE IT • Five representations: wireframe, ball-and-stick, space-filling (CPK), cartoon/ribbon, and a smooth molecular surface • Color by element, chain, secondary structure, rainbow, or AlphaFold confidence (pLDDT) • Biological assemblies: rebuild an entire icosahedral virus capsid from a few deposited chains • NMR ensembles: overlay every model in the bundle to watch a protein flex • Automatic secondary-structure detection MADE FOR TOUCH • Rotate, pinch-zoom, and pan with smooth native rendering • Tap any atom to see its element, residue, and chain • Recently viewed structures are cached, so they reopen instantly and work offline For students, researchers, teachers, and the simply curious. PDB Viewer makes structural biology beautiful and accessible. Structures are provided by their respective databases. PDB Viewer is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the RCSB PDB, EMBL-EBI, or AlphaFold.

Screenshots

3D Molecules View&Edit Lite4 screens
PDB Viewer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite at none against PDB Viewer's 1. 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite also leads on iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 16.0). PDB Viewer's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, 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. PDB Viewer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

3D Molecules View&Edit Lite ships an update every 4 months, PDB Viewer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
3D Molecules View&Edit Lite versus PDB Viewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter3D Molecules View&Edit LitePDB Viewer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (10 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews91.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS5.1.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVirtual Space OOOQvyshift LLC

In-app purchases

None

3D Molecules View&Edit Lite

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PDB Viewer

One-time1
  • PDB Viewer Pro$9.99

Questions

Is 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite free?
3D Molecules View&Edit Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PDB Viewer free?
PDB Viewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite or PDB Viewer have ads?
Neither 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite nor PDB Viewer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite or PDB Viewer?
3D Molecules View&Edit Lite ships an update every 4 months, and PDB Viewer monthly. Most recently, 3D Molecules View&Edit Lite was updated on October 23, 2026 and PDB Viewer on October 28, 2026.

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