Chemistry apps help students learn the periodic table, practise equations, explore molecules in 3D and run experiments in a virtual lab. Some are quick reference tools, some are full courses and some are simulations teachers use in class. Ten options follow, in no particular order, grouped by what each one does best.
Chemistry has a habit of feeling abstract right up until you can see it. A molecule you can spin, a reaction you can run without goggles or a periodic table that lights up a trend makes the topic click in a way a textbook diagram rarely does.
The apps and tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the provider's own website or app store listing, read this week. For revision help that works alongside them, my guide to ChatGPT prompts for studying effectively has ready-made prompts for quizzing yourself.
Chemistry apps compared
I checked the free plan column on each provider's own website or app store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names the app, an account, a plan or a version of it as free. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start or a store download button, so check the provider's own page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChemCollective | Virtual labs and chemistry tutorials | Virtual lab practice for stoichiometry | Not stated |
| Chemistry: Learn, Quiz & AI | Android chemistry course and quiz app | Structured courses on a phone | Not stated |
| ChemistryMaster Periodic Table | Periodic table and chemistry toolkit | Balancing equations and molar mass | Not stated |
| MEL VR Science Simulations | VR and 3D science lessons | Seeing molecules in VR or 3D | Trial only |
| MolView | Online molecule viewer | Exploring molecules in 3D | Not stated |
| PhET | Free online science simulations | Interactive simulations teachers trust | Yes |
| Ptable | Interactive periodic table | Digging into element properties | Not stated |
| Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Table | Periodic table with history and podcasts | Element history and trends | Not stated |
| The Chemistry App | iPhone chemistry reference app | Quick reference during homework | Yes |
| Unreal Chemist | Chemistry lab game | Experimenting without a real lab | Not stated |
Ten chemistry apps and tools to try
ChemCollective
Best for: Sixth formers and undergraduates who want virtual labs, scenario-based activities and concept tests on topics such as stoichiometry, equilibrium and electrochemistry.
Chemistry: Learn, Quiz & AI
Best for: Android users who want structured chemistry courses, an interactive periodic table and quizzes covering topics such as thermodynamics and equilibrium.
ChemistryMaster Periodic Table
Best for: Revisers who want thousands of quizzes, an equation balancer, a molar mass calculator and a solver for exercises they scan.
MEL VR Science Simulations
Best for: Teachers and pupils who want VR or 3D lessons and tests covering school chemistry and physics, with a free trial of lessons.
MolView
Best for: Visual learners who want to search compounds and proteins and spin them as ball and stick or wireframe models in the browser.
PhET
Best for: Pupils and teachers who want free interactive simulations from the University of Colorado covering chemistry, physics, biology and maths.
Ptable
Best for: Anyone who wants an interactive periodic table showing electrons, isotopes, compounds and properties such as melting point and electronegativity.
Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Table
Best for: Curious learners who want each element explained with images, history, trends and podcasts from a respected chemistry society.
The Chemistry App
Best for: iPhone users who want a dynamic periodic table, polyatomic ions, a molar mass calculator and a unit converter in one clean app.
Unreal Chemist
Best for: Younger learners who want to mix substances and run experiments in a virtual chemistry lab where a mistake won't hurt anyone.
Which app helps with what
- Seeing molecules in 3D: MolView.
- Quick facts during homework: The Chemistry App.
- Virtual practicals for older students: ChemCollective.
- Classroom simulations: PhET.
- Playing with reactions safely: Unreal Chemist.
Why the periodic table sits at the centre
The Department for Education's key stage 4 chemistry content includes the principles underpinning the Mendeleev periodic table and how patterns in reactions can be predicted with reference to the periodic table. In other words, students aren't just expected to memorise elements but to use the table to predict behaviour.
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That's why so many chemistry apps are built around an interactive periodic table. Pick one that shows patterns across groups and periods, such as reactivity or electronegativity, rather than one that simply lists facts about each element.
Reference apps, simulations and full courses
Reference apps are the quickest to pick up. They've got the periodic table, common ions and calculators for molar mass, which is ideal when you're halfway through homework and you've got to find a value fast.
Simulations and virtual labs take longer, but they'll teach more. They let students change conditions and watch the result, which builds the intuition exam questions rely on. Full courses add structure, quizzes and progress tracking, which is what you'll want if you're revising alone.
Topics where an app helps most
- Bonding and structure. 3D models make shapes far easier to picture.
- Moles and calculations. Calculators let you check each step.
- Rates and equilibrium. Simulations show what changing conditions does.
- Practical skills. Virtual labs rehearse methods before the real thing.
The next science subject for many students is covered in a roundup of physics apps.
Using a chemistry app for exam revision
- List the topics your exam board covers and tick off what feels shaky.
- Use a simulation or model to see each shaky topic in action.
- Answer quiz questions on it the same day.
- Explain it out loud without the app open.
- Come back a week later and quiz yourself again.
Do you make chemistry apps, simulations or study tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on chemistry apps
I'd start with one reference app for everyday homework and one simulation or virtual lab for the topics that feel abstract. That pairing covers most students from GCSE to first-year university without overloading their phone.
Chemistry's also a subject that rewards little and often. If your teenager likes revising with background sound, my list of podcasts to listen to while studying might help those sessions stretch a bit longer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free chemistry app?
Several apps and tools on this list name free access on their own page, so use the free plan column to narrow it down.
Are there apps that show molecules in 3D?
Yes, molecule viewers on this list let you spin structures as ball and stick or wireframe models.
Can I do chemistry practicals in an app?
Virtual labs let you rehearse methods and see results, but they don't replace required practicals in school.
Is there an app for balancing chemical equations?
At least one app here describes an equation balancer alongside quizzes and a molar mass calculator.
Which chemistry app is good for GCSE?
Choose one that covers your exam board's topics and pairs a periodic table with practice questions.
Do chemistry apps work offline?
Some reference apps do once installed, while simulations and web tools usually need a connection.
