# Spotxel® Reader vs Lab.Hacks

The clearest difference is rating: Lab.Hacks at 4.9 against Spotxel® Reader's 2.4. Lab.Hacks also leads on ratings volume (136 vs 7). Spotxel® Reader's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spotxel® Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Lab.Hacks sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lab.Hacks holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lab.Hacks has 136 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Spotxel® Reader's written reviews are positive against 96% of Lab.Hacks's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spotxel® Reader | Lab.Hacks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spotxel-reader/id1340235876/reviews) | **[4.9 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labhacks/id1462593060/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **136** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 96.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sicasys Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1340235875) | [Lab.hacks GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1746977613) |

## What reviewers say

### Spotxel® Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spotxel-reader/id1340235876)

This app allows you to capture images of microplates, detect and measure color signals, and analyze sample concentrations. It supports various assay formats and can save, load, and export data.

**Highlights:** Capture microplate images, Detect and measure color signals, Analyze sample concentrations, Save and load assay setups, Export assay data to PDF, Supports row, column, and microarray formats

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time-Unlimited License | $8.99 | one-time |


### Lab.Hacks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labhacks/id1462593060)

This app serves as a laboratory assistant, offering a collection of essential tools, calculators, and guides for students, researchers, and technicians. It simplifies everyday lab tasks with features like dilution calculators, timers, and protocols, all accessible offline.

**Highlights:** Dilution, molarity, and unit conversion calculators, Smart lab timers, Quick reference tables, Step-by-step protocols and guides, Offline access, Minimalist design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lab.hacks Ad-free monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Lab.hacks Ad-free annual | $28.99 | per year |
| Donate 1$ | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donate 5$ | $3.99 | one-time |
| Donate 10$ | $8.99 | one-time |
| Donate 20$ | $17.99 | one-time |
| Donate 50$ | $44.99 | one-time |
| Donate 100$ | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spotxel® Reader free?

Spotxel® Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lab.Hacks free?

Lab.Hacks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Spotxel® Reader or Lab.Hacks?

Lab.Hacks is rated higher. Spotxel® Reader averages 2.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Lab.Hacks averages 4.9 from 136 ratings.

### Do Spotxel® Reader or Lab.Hacks have ads?

Lab.Hacks shows ads; Spotxel® Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, Spotxel® Reader or Lab.Hacks?

Spotxel® Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Lab.Hacks every 2 months. Most recently, Spotxel® Reader was updated on October 3, 2026 and Lab.Hacks on October 12, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*