Comparison

Bacterial ID Virtual Lab vs Model ChemLab Lite for iPad

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

Head to head
About

Bacterial ID Virtual Lab

Explore the science and methods for identifying bacteria using DNA sequences. This interactive virtual lab simulates modern techniques applicable in research and forensics. It's designed for high school biology students and science enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Learn DNA sequencing techniques
  • Identify different bacteria types
  • Simulates real-world lab methods
  • Applicable to research and forensics
  • Interactive virtual lab environment
Features
Read full description

Learn about the science and techniques used to identify different types of bacteria based on their DNA sequences. Not long ago, DNA sequencing was a time-consuming, tedious process. With readily available commercial equipment and kits, it is now routine. The techniques used in this lab are applicable in a wide variety of settings, including scientific research and forensic labs. This app is geared for high school biology students and anyone interested in the biological sciences. The Bacterial ID Virtual Lab was first released in 2000 as a browser-based interactive lab. Since its inception, it and the other HHMI Virtual Labs have won several awards, including the Pirelli INTERNETional Award's top prize in 2002. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a nonprofit medical research organization that ranks as one of the nation’s largest philanthropies. HHMI plays a powerful role in advancing biomedical research and science education. HHMI brings the latest biomedical research into the classroom with the award-winning BioInteractive website and the Holiday Lectures on Science. BioInteractive features free resources for science education, including animations, videos, interactive features, and classroom materials. The Holiday Lectures on Science feature world-class scientists who bring their leading-edge research to the classroom.

About

Model ChemLab Lite for iPad

This interactive chemistry lab simulation allows users to perform virtual experiments with detailed procedures and observation recording. It's ideal for distance learning, pre-lab preparation, or simulating hazardous experiments.

Highlights
  • Interactive lab simulations
  • Digital lab notebook
  • Detailed experiment procedures
  • Animated equipment interaction
  • Simulates common lab equipment
  • Ideal for distance learning
Read full description

Model ChemLab Lite for iPad - an interactive Chemistry lab simulation for the iPad.  Model ChemLab is a unique product that incorporates both an interactive simulation and a lab notebook. Each lab includes a detailed Introduction with theory, lab procedure and an area for recording observations. Commonly used lab equipment and procedures are used to simulate the steps involved in performing an experiment. Users step-through the actual lab procedure while interacting with animated equipment in a way that is similar to the real lab experience. The Lite version for iPad is based on the standard (student) version for MacOS but only includes 5 lab experiments, instead of the 40+ lab experiments included with the full versions. Model ChemLab Lite includes the following labs simulations: Acid/base, fractional crystallization, gravimetric analysis, specific heat and the generic lab experiment. Model ChemLab is ideal for distance learning, hybrid labs, demonstrations, lab run-throughs, pre-lab work, dangerous and environmentally hazardous, expensive, or lengthy labs. ChemLab includes a large selection of lab equipment, including: beakers, calorimeter, centigram & electronic balances, electrochemical cell, Erlenmeyer flasks, test tubes, gas syringes with pressure gauges, graduated cylinders, burets, pipets, watch glasses, filtering flask with buchner funnel, bunsen burner, hot plate / Magnetic stirrer, stirring rods, distillation equipment setup, calorimeter, conductivity meter, geiger counter, potentiometer, spectrophotometer and more…

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Model ChemLab Lite for iPad at every 3 weeks against Bacterial ID Virtual Lab's every 14 months. Model ChemLab Lite for iPad also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%). Bacterial ID Virtual Lab's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bacterial ID Virtual Lab ships an update every 14 months, Model ChemLab Lite for iPad every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Bacterial ID Virtual Lab versus Model ChemLab Lite for iPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBacterial ID Virtual LabModel ChemLab Lite for iPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHoward Hughes Medical InstituteModel Science Software Inc.

Customer experience

Bacterial ID Virtual Lab

All ratings9 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%

Model ChemLab Lite for iPad

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Bacterial ID Virtual Lab

No in-app purchases

None

Model ChemLab Lite for iPad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bacterial ID Virtual Lab free?
Bacterial ID Virtual Lab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Model ChemLab Lite for iPad free?
Model ChemLab Lite for iPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Bacterial ID Virtual Lab or Model ChemLab Lite for iPad have ads?
Neither Bacterial ID Virtual Lab nor Model ChemLab Lite for iPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bacterial ID Virtual Lab or Model ChemLab Lite for iPad?
Bacterial ID Virtual Lab ships an update every 14 months, and Model ChemLab Lite for iPad every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bacterial ID Virtual Lab was updated on October 21, 2026 and Model ChemLab Lite for iPad on October 16, 2026.

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