Comparison

Helix Genetics vs PlasmidViewer Pro

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

Head to head
About

Helix Genetics

Features
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Helix is a focused reference and study tool for the genetic code — every codon, every amino acid, and a live transcription/translation playground in your pocket. Whether you are a biology student grinding for an exam, a med-school applicant brushing up on biochemistry, or a curious mind who just wants to understand how DNA becomes protein, Helix gives you the answer in one tap. KEY FEATURES • Full codon table — all 64 codons mapped to their amino acid, with start and stop calls • Amino acid reference — names, three-letter and one-letter codes, side-chain class, and structure • Transcribe & Translate — paste or type a DNA sequence and watch it become mRNA and protein in real time • Quiz mode — drill yourself on codon → amino acid, amino acid properties, and start/stop signals • Search any nucleotide triplet, three-letter code or one-letter code instantly • Clean, distraction-free design built for quick reference and longer study sessions • Fully offline — your sequences never leave your device DESIGNED FOR STUDY Helix stays out of your way. No accounts, no popups, no upsells. Open the app, find what you need, and get back to learning. PRIVACY No tracking. No accounts. No data collection. Sequences you paste stay on your device.

About

PlasmidViewer Pro

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PlasmidViewer is a fast, native plasmid map viewer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Open a sequence and see it the way you do in SnapGene or Benchling — as a circular map, a linear map, or an annotated sequence, with restriction sites, features, labels, ORFs and a ruler you can show or hide from a single View sidebar. Built for molecular biologists, students and ehtusiasts, it reads the file formats you already use and renders them cleanly on every screen size, with no account to create and nothing to upload to a third-party server. VIEW YOUR PLASMIDS • Circular, linear and annotated-sequence maps • A SnapGene-style "View" sidebar to show or hide enzymes, features, labels, ruler and ORFs • Pinch to zoom and pan anywhere on the map • Select features and restriction sites to inspect them RESTRICTION-ENZYME ANALYSIS • Full restriction-enzyme analysis over a bundled REBASE-style catalog • Scope the map to an enzyme set, or show and hide individual enzymes • See cut positions directly on the circular and linear maps OPEN THE FORMATS YOU ALREADY USE • SnapGene binary (.dna) • GenBank (.gb / .gbk) • FASTA (.fa / .fasta) • Raw sequences • Export back to .dna YOUR LIBRARY, BACKED UP TO ICLOUD • Save plasmids to your personal library • Backup and sync through your own private iCloud (CloudKit) • Your sequences stay in your iCloud account — we never collect or see them TRY IT FREE The bundled example plasmid is always free to open and explore, so you can see exactly how the maps and enzyme analysis work before subscribing. SUBSCRIPTION Opening, importing, saving and iCloud backup require PlasmidViewer Pro, an auto-renewable subscription at $19.99/month. One subscription activates the app on one device at a time; you can move the active device any time from Manage Devices inside the app. • Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. • The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Questions or feedback? Get in touch from the Support link below. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.biostudio.app/plasmidviewerpro/privacy/

Screenshots

Helix Genetics3 screens
PlasmidViewer Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Helix Genetics at none against PlasmidViewer Pro's 2. PlasmidViewer Pro's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. PlasmidViewer Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Helix Genetics asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 3 level
Helix Genetics versus PlasmidViewer Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelix GeneticsPlasmidViewer Pro
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLinh Phan Nhat KhanhMARTIN WILLIAMS

In-app purchases

None

Helix Genetics

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

PlasmidViewer Pro

Subscriptions2
  • PlasmidViewer Pro (Monthly)$19.991 Month
  • PlasmidViewer Pro (Yearly)$129.991 Year

Questions

Is Helix Genetics free?
Helix Genetics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PlasmidViewer Pro free?
PlasmidViewer Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Helix Genetics or PlasmidViewer Pro have ads?
Neither Helix Genetics nor PlasmidViewer Pro shows ads.

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