UCSF Chimera vs Jmol

Struggling to choose between UCSF Chimera and Jmol? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

UCSF Chimera is a Science & Education solution with tags like molecular-modeling, molecular-visualization, protein-structure, biomolecular-structure.

It boasts features such as Interactive molecular visualization, High-quality rendering, Analysis tools for conformations, surfaces, volumes, sequences, docking, Extensibility through Python scripting, Support for VR headsets, Multi-scale modeling, Integrates with online resources like PDB and PubChem and pros including Powerful visualization capabilities, User-friendly interface, Extensive toolset for analysis, Free and open source, Cross-platform compatibility.

On the other hand, Jmol is a Science & Education product tagged with chemistry, 3d, molecular-structure, education, research.

Its standout features include 3D visualization of molecules and chemical structures, Support for common chemical file formats like PDB, Mol, SDF, Interactive manipulation and measurement of molecular models, Analysis tools like molecular orbitals, electrostatics, etc, Scripting and programming interface for automation and customization, Platform independent (Java-based), Integration with web pages and applications, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Cross-platform compatibility, Powerful visualization and analysis capabilities, Support for major chemical file formats, Customizable and extensible via scripts, Actively developed and maintained.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

UCSF Chimera

UCSF Chimera

UCSF Chimera is an extensible molecular modeling and visualization program primarily designed for interactive visualization and analysis of molecular structures and related data. It offers highly integrated and fast rendering of molecules, sequence alignments, density data, and more.

Categories:
molecular-modeling molecular-visualization protein-structure biomolecular-structure

UCSF Chimera Features

  1. Interactive molecular visualization
  2. High-quality rendering
  3. Analysis tools for conformations, surfaces, volumes, sequences, docking
  4. Extensibility through Python scripting
  5. Support for VR headsets
  6. Multi-scale modeling
  7. Integrates with online resources like PDB and PubChem

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Powerful visualization capabilities

User-friendly interface

Extensive toolset for analysis

Free and open source

Cross-platform compatibility

Cons

Steep learning curve

Can be resource intensive for large molecular structures

Limited technical support due to open source model


Jmol

Jmol

Jmol is an open-source Java viewer for 3D chemical structures that allows users to visualize, manipulate, and analyze molecular models. It supports a variety of chemical file formats and can be used for education, research, and commercial purposes.

Categories:
chemistry 3d molecular-structure education research

Jmol Features

  1. 3D visualization of molecules and chemical structures
  2. Support for common chemical file formats like PDB, Mol, SDF
  3. Interactive manipulation and measurement of molecular models
  4. Analysis tools like molecular orbitals, electrostatics, etc
  5. Scripting and programming interface for automation and customization
  6. Platform independent (Java-based)
  7. Integration with web pages and applications

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Free and open source

Cross-platform compatibility

Powerful visualization and analysis capabilities

Support for major chemical file formats

Customizable and extensible via scripts

Actively developed and maintained

Cons

Steep learning curve

Limited documentation and support

Some features require programming skills

User interface could be more intuitive

Lacks some features of commercial alternatives