Comparison

Labscope 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

Labscope

Transform your ZEISS microscope into a WiFi-enabled imaging system. Capture images and videos of microscopic samples, add annotations, and generate reports. Ideal for laboratories, universities, schools, and hobbyists, it facilitates digital learning and easy sharing.

Highlights
  • WiFi-enabled microscope imaging
  • Image and video capture
  • Annotations and report creation
  • Image processing
  • Network and direct sharing
  • Digital classroom system
Features
Read full description

With Labscope, you transform your ZEISS microscope and camera into a WiFi-enabled imaging system. Be it in the laboratory, university, school or even for your hobby - Labscope snaps images and records videos of your microscopic samples, easier than ever. You can create annotations and reports, do image processing and save the files to your Windows network, or simply share them with anyone. Anywhere. Moreover, with Labscope you can easily create a high-quality digital classroom system, showing students a fun way of learning. Benefit from more than 160 years of experience in microscopy and explore the freedom of mobile digital imaging. Easy. Precise. Efficient. Download Labscope and test all features with the built-in virtual microscope! For more information visit www.zeiss.com/labscope Intended use - Labscope Labscope for iOS is a microscope software for control, image acquisition, image processing and image analysis. Typical application fields of the software are general tasks and applications in microscopy or image acquisition, among others for education, routine and research. The software is not intended to directly or indirectly produce medical diagnostic results.

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

Labscope4 screens
Plasmids X4 screens

Verdict

The call

Labscope and Plasmids X both sit at 3.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Labscope's written reviews are positive against 33% of Plasmids X's. Labscope also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Plasmids X's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Labscope sells 6 one-off in-app purchases 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.4 for Labscope against 3.4 for Plasmids X. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 7 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Labscope's written reviews are positive against 33% of Plasmids X's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Labscope ships an update every 3 months, Plasmids X monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Labscope versus Plasmids X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLabscopePlasmids X
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (5 ratings)3.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings57 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size296 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCarl Zeiss AGAmin Mahpour

Customer experience

Labscope

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Plasmids X

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

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Labscope

One-time6
  • Multi Channel (Free Trial)Free
  • AI Cell Confluency(Free Trial)Free
  • AI Cell Counting(Free Trial)Free
Show 3 more
  • Multi Channel$449.99
  • AI Cell Counting$499.99
  • AI Cell Confluency$499.99
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 Labscope free?
Labscope is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Plasmids X free?
Plasmids X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Labscope or Plasmids X?
Labscope and Plasmids X are both rated 3.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 7 ratings respectively.
Do Labscope or Plasmids X have ads?
Neither Labscope nor Plasmids X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Labscope or Plasmids X?
Labscope ships an update every 3 months, and Plasmids X monthly. Most recently, Labscope was updated on October 6, 2026 and Plasmids X on October 9, 2026.

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