20 of the most expensive iPhone and iPad apps in the world

While some professional and educational apps may be worth their high price tags, others are just plain ripoffs. Judging by the customer reviews, that seems to be the case for Perfect Penalty 2012. It's a soccer video game that supposedly has the "most realistic graphics," but a review describes it as the "worst game ever."

Price: $299.99

Water Globe is just a set of interactive screen toys. You can play around with globes and make them snow, change gravity, and snowflake size. We're not sure why anyone would pay almost $300 for this app, when you can probably get a real snow globe for way cheaper.

Price: $299.99

This full-featured communication app is for people who have difficulty using their natural voice. Specifically, the app is for those who have autism, Down's Syndrome, ALS, apraxia, and other conditions that affect a person's ability to speak.

Price: $299.99

SafeSession Voice encryption is an app that lets you make secure VoIP calls over the internet. The company says your calls are protected by voice encryption algorithms. The person you're talking to also needs to have the app installed for you to have a secure conversation. Of course, there are dozens of VoIP apps out there that accomplish the same thing at a fraction of the price.

Price: $299.99

This game pits the huge rival soccer clubs against each other. The graphics look great, but we're not sure why this app is so expensive.

Price: $349.99

Mobile Cam Viewer lets you control and watch your live security and surveillance cameras. It supports several Webcam models, and multiple people can view the same camera at the same time.

Price: $349.99

Tap Menu is a picture-based app for restaurants, hotels, shops, and other companies that makes your menu, book, or any other medium digitally visual.

Price: $399.99

This app assists veterinarians with overviews of conditions affecting animals.

Price: $399.99

Alchemist SMS isn't a crazy new way to send text messages. It's actually a utility app for steel and scrap metal recycling in order to reduce costs.

Price: €449.99, or about $489.

DDS GP Yes! is an app for dentists. It helps professionals show patients specific treatment plans in a neat presentation.

Price: $499.99

Alpha-Trader is a global trading suite for investment pros. The app gives real-time stock prices, price alerts, portfolio risk indications, asset correlation, and asset category charts.

Price: $999.99

MobiGage NDI is made for inspecting manufactured parts and assemblies. It has the ability to create, edit, and run measurement plans.

Price: $999.99

Agro helps agronomists by taking the headache out of filing paperwork and keeping track of inspections, chemicals, crops, and pests on a farm. It seems pretty pricey for something that could probably be organized on a spreadsheet for free.

Price: $999.99

QSFFStats lets you keep track of Flag Football stats for all passing leagues and is made specially for the company's website. Keeping track of flag football leagues has never been more ... expensive?

Price: $999.99

This tool for professional piano tuners claims to be both very accurate and easy to use. And users tend to agree: It has five stars from the 51 people who've reviewed it.

Price: $999.99

app.Cash is a virtual cash register for the iPhone. There's little detail beyond the developer's short description in the iTunes Store, but it looks like it'll process transactions through to a printer to generate receipts. It's unclear why the app is so expensive — there are several free or less expensive point-of-sale apps in the App Store.

Price: $999.99

Though the BarMax Bar Exam & MPRE Review app itself is free, you'll have to pay up for all its features, which include feedback from people who have graded bar exams previously, lectures from Harvard Law School-educated professors, and more. It's a steal when you consider that BarBri, the company behind the app, typically offers this kind of bar exam prep for $3,000 to $4,000.

Price: $999.99

LogMeIn's Ignition gives you remote access to your computer from your other devices, effectively letting you control your Mac or PC right form your phone. Or you can just download LogMeIn, which does the same thing, but for free.

Price: $999.99

This app is known as "The Millionaire's App." Users get VIP treatment from the company's luxury partners. Once you purchase the app, you have to verify that your assets are above $1 million to be accepted.

Price: $1,199.99