Comparison

Plasmids X vs Colony Manager

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

Colony Manager

Features
Read full description

Colony Manager is a private tool for running a laboratory-animal colony: mice, rats, and zebrafish, in one place, on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. It is built for researchers and animal-facility staff who would rather spend their time on the science than on spreadsheets, and it keeps your records with you, not on anyone else's server. WHAT YOU CAN TRACK - Animals and housing: cages and tanks, with a visual rack and system view. Zebrafish are handled as counted group stocks, with the option to pull out individuals when you need them. - Breeding: pairs, litters, clutches, weaning, and pedigrees. - Genetics: genotypes and zygosity. - Procedures and project licences, so you can see what is allowed and what has been done. - Welfare scoring, with humane-endpoint prompts. - Alerts and reminders, gathered on a Today board so nothing is missed. TOOLS - Dosing and breeding calculators, with a clear veterinary disclaimer: they are aids based on published defaults, never a substitute for your own judgement and your veterinarian. - Reference tables for species data and EU Annex VIII severity categories, with sources. - CSV and PDF exports, and reports that assist with EU and German record-keeping (Directive 2010/63, TierSchVersV, ALURES). The app assists with compliance; it does not certify it. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - No account, no adverts, no tracking, no third-party services. - Your data stays on your device and syncs only through your own private iCloud. The developer never sees it. - Works offline. Camera is used only to scan barcodes and attach photos. ALSO INCLUDED - An Apple Watch companion and Home Screen widgets for at-a-glance status and reminders. Colony Manager is completely free, with no subscriptions and no in-app purchases. Important: Colony Manager helps you keep your own records and reports. It is not veterinary, legal, or regulatory advice, and it does not certify compliance. Dosing values, welfare scores, and reference content are aids; verify them against current authoritative sources and your veterinarian, and always follow the law and your institution's requirements where you work.

Screenshots

Plasmids X4 screens
Colony Manager4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Colony Manager at none against Plasmids X's 14. Colony Manager also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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. Colony Manager asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Plasmids X versus Colony Manager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlasmids XColony Manager
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAmin MahpourUmut Tank

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

Colony Manager

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Plasmids X free?
Plasmids X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Colony Manager free?
Colony Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Plasmids X or Colony Manager have ads?
Neither Plasmids X nor Colony Manager shows ads.

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