# MEL Science vs Night Zookeeper

The clearest difference is rating: Night Zookeeper at 4.6 against MEL Science's 3.7. Night Zookeeper also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 39%) and ratings volume (621 vs 88). MEL Science's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Night Zookeeper sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. MEL Science asks for nothing beyond the download.

Night Zookeeper holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Night Zookeeper has 621 ratings behind it against 88, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of MEL Science's written reviews are positive against 78% of Night Zookeeper's.

MEL Science ships an update every 6 weeks, Night Zookeeper every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MEL Science | Night Zookeeper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mel-science-a-science-lab-app/id988394506/reviews) | **[4.6 (621 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-zookeeper-fun-learning/id6504489937/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 88 | **621** |
| Positive reviews | 39.1% of reviews | **78.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 130 MB | 393 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MEL Science Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/988394505) | [Wonky Star](https://appshunter.io/developer/573502316) |

## What reviewers say

### MEL Science

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mel-science-a-science-lab-app/id988394506)

Explore the world of science through interactive experiments and engaging games. This app guides you through real science activities, making learning fun and hands-on. Discover molecular structures and conduct your own science projects.

**Highlights:** Conduct real science experiments, Interactive experiment guidance, Learn molecular structures, Science games and activities, Experiment assistant, Knowledge check tests

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Amazing app for learning science
- 👍 Great for interactive scientific weekends
- 🤩 Cool experiments and explanations
- 🚀 User-friendly application
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fun for families

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🤔 Confusing app interface
- ❌ Instructions are incorrect or missing
- 📦 Kits are missing items or broken
- 👎 Experiments don't match app instructions

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately on iPhone 7
- App crashed my phone
- Code scanner broken, doesn't scan QR codes
- Instructions don't match kit contents
- System is not intuitive

**Requested features**

- Allow viewing others' photos and replying to comments
- Consolidate features from other apps into one
- Allow earning extra boxes and real prizes with coins
- More experiments in Kitchen Science
- More detail on formulae behind experiments


### Night Zookeeper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-zookeeper-fun-learning/id6504489937)

This app makes reading and writing engaging for children aged 6-12 through interactive games, video lessons, and personalized feedback from tutors. It covers a full English language arts curriculum, boosting spelling, grammar, and confidence. Parents can track progress via a dashboard.

**Highlights:** Interactive mini-games, Video lessons, Skill challenges, Tutor feedback on writing, Parent progress dashboard, Weekly writing competitions, Collaborative writing opportunities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NZK 1 Month - 1 License | $14.99 | per month |
| 1 Month - 2 Licenses | $17.99 | per month |
| NZK 1 Month - 3 Licenses | $17.99 | per month |
| 1 Month - 4 Licenses | $21.99 | per month |
| 3 Months - 1 License | $36.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 Months - 2 Licenses | $49.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 Months - 3 Licenses | $49.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly - 1 License | $118.99 | per year |
| Yearly - 2 Licenses | $154.99 | per year |
| Yearly - 3 Licenses | $154.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging
- 🚀 Helps improve writing skills
- 💡 Gamifies learning
- 👍 Motivates reluctant writers
- 👍 Constructive feedback from tutors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and laggy performance
- 🐛 Inconsistent difficulty levels
- 🔋 Drains device battery
- 🔒 Questionable subscription practices

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues
- Upside-down screen when creating new characters
- Audio not working consistently

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Compatibility improvements for older devices
- More content for older age groups


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MEL Science free?

MEL Science is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Night Zookeeper free?

Night Zookeeper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MEL Science or Night Zookeeper?

Night Zookeeper is rated higher. MEL Science averages 3.7 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while Night Zookeeper averages 4.6 from 621 ratings.

### Do MEL Science or Night Zookeeper have ads?

Neither MEL Science nor Night Zookeeper shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MEL Science or Night Zookeeper?

MEL Science ships an update every 6 weeks, and Night Zookeeper every 2 months. Most recently, MEL Science was updated on November 1, 2026 and Night Zookeeper on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*