The new MolView
In 2024 we launched a new app to continue what we started on molview.org. Read about the differences with the old app, and alternatives for legacy features.
Refocus
Redefining the scope
The old app is a chemistry multitool that unites a range of databases and visualization tools. In the new app we decided to narrow the feature set in order to focus on the sketcher and small molecules.
Motivation
Since 2014 we have proudly served our old app for free on molview.org. In 2024 we started developing a new app with the goal of implementing a range of improvements and building a new foundation for our chemical sketching technology. We decided that sketching and visualization of small molecules should be the focus of our new app.
We also had to deprecate some features to relieve the codebase of mounting complexity. This includes viewing proteins, crystal lattices, spectra, and Jmol visualizations.
We also believe that for most use cases other online tools already exist that are more appropriate at offering these features. At the bottom of this page we listed a few alternatives.
Variant comparison
New app
app.molview.com
Sketcher
- Basic structural formulas
- Yes
- Lewis structures
- Yes
- Reaction mechanisms
- Yes
- Custom styles
- Yes
- SVG image export
- Yes
Viewer
- Crystal lattices
- No
- Protein structures
- No
- Measurements (Jmol)
- No
- MEP surfaces and dipoles (Jmol)
- No
- Live synchronization
- Yes
- Multiple models
- Yes
- Custom styles
- Yes
Other
- Spectroscopy
- No
- Information card
- Yes
- Save in the cloud
- Yes
Old app
molview.org
Sketcher
- Basic structural formulas
- Yes
- Lewis structures
- No
- Reaction mechanisms
- No
- Custom styles
- No
- SVG image export
- No
Viewer
- Crystal lattices
- Yes
- Protein structures
- Yes
- Measurements (Jmol)
- Yes
- MEP surfaces and dipoles (Jmol)
- Yes
- Live synchronization
- No
- Multiple models
- No
- Custom styles
- No
Other
- Spectroscopy
- Yes
- Information card
- Yes
- Save in the cloud
- No
Variant comparison
Sketcher
| Feature | New app variant | Old app variant |
|---|---|---|
| Basic structural formulas | Yes | Yes |
| Lewis structures | Yes | No |
| Reaction mechanisms | Yes | No |
| Custom styles | Yes | No |
| SVG image export | Yes | No |
Viewer
| Feature | New app variant | Old app variant |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal lattices | No | Yes |
| Protein structures | No | Yes |
| Measurements (Jmol) | No | Yes |
| MEP surfaces and dipoles (Jmol) | No | Yes |
| Live synchronization | Yes | No |
| Multiple models | Yes | No |
| Custom styles | Yes | No |
Other
| Feature | New app variant | Old app variant |
|---|---|---|
| Spectroscopy | No | Yes |
| Information card | Yes | Yes |
| Save in the cloud | Yes | No |
Alternative tools
For each legacy feature we recommend some free online alternatives. To chemistry teachers looking for interactive demonstrations we highly recommend ChemTube3D. We also recommend the Mol* web app for advanced use cases.
| Legacy feature | Basic | Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| 3D measurements | Use old MolView app. | Use Mol* web app. |
| MEP surface and dipoles | View Dipoles and Electrostatic surfaces at ChemTube3D. | Use old MolView app. |
| View protein structures | Browse RCSB or PDBe directly. | Use Mol* web app. |
| View crystal lattices | View Crystal Structures at ChemTube3D. | Browse Crystallography Open Database directly. |
| View spectra | Use an image search engine. | Browse NIST Chemistry WebBook or SDBS directly. |
