Comparison

Plasmids X vs SciNote

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

Head to head
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

About

SciNote

Features
Read full description

SciNote electronic lab notebook, a leading ELN solution trusted by FDA, NIH, USDA and over 90+k scientists across the globe, now offers a mobile app as well! With the SciNote mobile app, you can say goodbye to printing out your protocols on paper. Organize your data in SciNote, and take it to the lab bench on your smartphone or tablet to level up your note-taking. Access your planned tasks in the SciNote mobile app on your smartphone or tablet. You can find your recent tasks on the home page, or browse through all the tasks accessible to you on the Tasks page. Use different filters to narrow down the list of tasks by project, experiment, and task status. You can also use the search function to find the task you want to work on. Monitor the progress directly in the app by completing the protocol steps on the fly. Step attachments can be downloaded and opened on your device. You can also add comments to protocol steps or read those added by others. Open the task details, notes, and protocol description when needed. Find a list of assigned items to prepare all of the needed materials for your laboratory experiment. Spend less time writing your notes and recording results. Simply create text results and attach images or other files to the task results directly in the app. With this, you avoid copying your hand-written notes into your computer at the end of your work day. All the updates you do in the mobile app will be reflected in your web account right away. When you’re done with your work, easily update the task status right in the app. You can use the same app for accessing all SciNote teams you are part of. Switch between different SciNote teams on the Account page. You must have an active SciNote account to use the SciNote mobile app. The actions made in the mobile app are reflected on your web account only if the device is connected to the internet. Without an internet connection, the actions are not performed and recorded. This is a beta version of the SciNote mobile app; the app is available to all Premium and Free users. The app is not yet available for Platinum and locally hosted customers. Please contact your Customer Success Manager for more information. Your feedback is very valuable and highly appreciated. You can submit your feedback through this email address support@scinote.net or to your Customer Success Manager. Terms of Service: https://www.scinote.net/legal/terms-of-service/ Privacy policy: https://www.scinote.net/legal/users-privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Plasmids X4 screens
SciNote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SciNote at none against Plasmids X's 14. SciNote also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). Plasmids X's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, 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. SciNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Plasmids X ships an update monthly, SciNote every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Plasmids X versus SciNote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlasmids XSciNote
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB66 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperAmin MahpourScinote LLC

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
None

SciNote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Plasmids X free?
Plasmids X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SciNote free?
SciNote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Plasmids X or SciNote have ads?
Neither Plasmids X nor SciNote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Plasmids X or SciNote?
Plasmids X ships an update monthly, and SciNote every 4 months. Most recently, Plasmids X was updated on October 24, 2026 and SciNote on September 28, 2026.

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