Lab.Hacks vs Plasmids X
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lab.Hacks
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.
- Dilution, molarity, and unit conversion calculators
- Smart lab timers
- Quick reference tables
- Step-by-step protocols and guides
- Offline access
- Minimalist design
Read full descriptionHide full description
Lab.hacks is your ultimate companion for everyday work in the laboratory. Whether you're a student, researcher, or lab technician, Lab.hacks provides you with a growing collection of essential tools, calculators, and practical hacks designed to make your lab life easier. Features: • Handy calculators for dilutions, molarity, unit conversions & more • Smart lab timers and quick reference tables • Step-by-step protocols and how-to guides • Offline access – always available when you need it • Minimalist design for maximum focus • No login required – just open and start using From pipetting shortcuts to buffer recipes – Lab.hacks brings efficiency to your fingertips. Stop wasting time searching for formulas and start working smarter in the lab! Get Lab.hacks now and discover how small tools can make a big difference. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lab.Hacks at 96% against Plasmids X's 33%. Lab.Hacks also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.4) and ratings volume (136 vs 7). Plasmids X's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Lab.Hacks sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Plasmids X sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 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 3.4. 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 point the same way: 96% of Lab.Hacks's written reviews are positive against 33% of Plasmids X's.
Lab.Hacks ships an update every 2 months, Plasmids X monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lab.Hacks | Plasmids X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (136 ratings) — better | 3.4 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 96.3% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 136 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lab.hacks GmbH | Amin Mahpour |
Customer experience
Lab.Hacks
Plasmids X
In-app purchases
Lab.Hacks
- Lab.hacks Ad-free monthly$2.991 Month
- Lab.hacks Ad-free annual$28.991 Year
- Donate 1$$0.99
- Donate 5$$3.99
- Donate 10$$8.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Donate 20$$17.99
- Donate 50$$44.99
- Donate 100$$89.99
Plasmids X
- Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Yearly3 Days trial$9.991 Year
- A cup of coffee!$1.99
- Split View Support$1.99
- Manual Cloning$3.99
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- 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









