Comparison

Instrument Connect vs Plasmids X

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Instrument Connect

Monitor your cloud-enabled laboratory instruments remotely in real-time. Track run progress, view amplification plots, and ensure peace of mind by catching issues as they happen.

Highlights
  • Real-time instrument availability check
  • Monitor PCR run progress
  • View real-time amplification plots
  • Filter plots by sample or target
  • Remote access to cloud-enabled devices
Features
Read full description

Instrument Connect: Remote monitoring of instruments in real-time. Stay connected to cloud-enabled instruments and benchtop devices anytime, anywhere, using the Instrument Connect mobile app. With the Instrument Connect remote monitoring app powered by Thermo Fisher Cloud, you can stay connected to any Thermo Fisher Cloud-enabled instruments, including the Applied Biosystems™ QuantStudio™ 3 and 5 real-time PCR instruments, and the ProFlex™ and SimpliAmp™ end-point PCR devices. Key features include: · Check the availability of your Thermo Fisher Cloud-enabled, network-connected device · Monitor run progress of a basic PCR run · View amplification plots in real time (available for QuantStudio 3 & 5 instruments) · View plots and filter by sample or target in real time (available for QuantStudio 3 & 5 instruments) Best of all, remote monitoring delivers peace of mind in knowing that you can monitor your runs and catch issues while they are in progress.

About

Plasmids X

Design, create, and analyze custom DNA plasmids with this intuitive molecular genetics tool. Supports importing, editing, and sharing plasmids, with powerful in silico analysis features for researchers and students.

Highlights
  • Create plasmids from sequences
  • Import from .dna and Genbank files
  • Edit plasmids by adding features
  • In silico analysis (sequence alignment, PCR, digestion)
  • Share and collaborate on plasmids
Features
Read full description

PlasmidsX is a plasmid editor for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Open your constructs, see them as clear circular and linear maps, read every base with its annotations, and plan restriction digests, all on your device. MAPS AND SEQUENCE • Circular and linear plasmid maps with features, primers and restriction sites. Tap any feature to see its details. • A sequence view with both strands, translations, feature tracks and enzyme sites • Find sequences, select a range by its coordinates and copy exactly what you need ANNOTATE AND ANALYZE • Add, edit, sort and search features and primers • A primer library shared by all your plasmids • Find open reading frames • Restriction analysis with the commercially available enzymes from REBASE, aware of Dam, Dcm and CpG methylation • Digest & Gel: pick enzymes and see the fragments on a virtual agarose gel • Saved versions of every plasmid, so you can go back YOUR LIBRARY • Import GenBank, FASTA, SnapGene (.dna) and ApE files from Files, Mail or any other app • Export FASTA and images of the map and the sequence, or print them • A Home Screen widget with your recent and favorite plasmids • Built for iPhone, iPad and Mac, with keyboard shortcuts, pointer support, Dark Mode, Dynamic Type and VoiceOver PLASMIDSX PRO Viewing, importing, annotating and analyzing are free. A PlasmidsX Pro subscription adds: • Sequence editing: type, paste, cut and delete bases, reverse complement, set the origin • Cloning: restriction and ligation, Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate, Gateway and PCR • Alignment of sequencing reads to your plasmid • BLAST searches and sequence downloads from NCBI • GenBank and SnapGene export PlasmidsX Pro is an auto-renewing subscription, billed monthly or yearly. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless you cancel it at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for the renewal within the 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings. PRIVACY PlasmidsX has no account, no ads and no tracking. Your plasmids stay on your device. Data leaves your device only when you ask: a BLAST search sends your query sequence and contact email to NCBI, and a download from NCBI sends the accession number, your contact email and, if you set one, your NCBI API key. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://aminmahpour.com/privacy_plasmids.html

Screenshots

Instrument Connect4 screens
Plasmids X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Plasmids X at 3.4 against Instrument Connect's 2.9. Plasmids X also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (33% vs 25%). Instrument Connect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Plasmids X sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Instrument Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Plasmids X holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Instrument Connect's written reviews are positive against 33% of Plasmids X's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Instrument Connect ships an update every 3 months, Plasmids X monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Instrument Connect versus Plasmids X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstrument ConnectPlasmids X
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (11 ratings)3.4 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews33.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThermo Fisher ScientificAmin Mahpour

Customer experience

Instrument Connect

All ratings11 ratings
Positive45.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative54.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Plasmids X

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

Instrument Connect

No in-app purchases

14 purchases

Plasmids X

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time12
  • A cup of coffee!$1.99
  • Split View Support$1.99
  • Manual Cloning$3.99
Show 9 more
  • In-silico PCR Support$3.99
  • NCBI Entrez Support$3.99
  • Local Alignment Support$3.99
  • A box of joe!$4.99
  • BLAST Support$4.99
  • ApE File Support$4.99
  • Genbank Support$4.99
  • dna File Support$5.99
  • All Features$24.99

Questions

Is Instrument Connect free?
Instrument Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Plasmids X free?
Plasmids X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Instrument Connect or Plasmids X?
Plasmids X is rated higher. Instrument Connect averages 2.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Plasmids X averages 3.4 from 7 ratings.
Do Instrument Connect or Plasmids X have ads?
Neither Instrument Connect nor Plasmids X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Instrument Connect or Plasmids X?
Instrument Connect ships an update every 3 months, and Plasmids X monthly. Most recently, Instrument Connect was updated on October 8, 2026 and Plasmids X on October 9, 2026.

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