Comparison

Papers by ReadCube 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

Papers by ReadCube

Manage, read, and discover research literature on your mobile devices. Annotate PDFs, organize your library with custom lists and tags, and receive personalized recommendations for new papers. Syncs seamlessly with desktop and web applications.

Highlights
  • Read and manage research papers
  • Annotate PDFs with notes and highlights
  • Organize library with custom lists and tags
  • Discover new research with personalized recommendations
  • Search and download articles
  • Sync across devices
Features
Read full description

ReadCube is the simplest way to read, manage and discover research literature. ReadCube on your iPhone and iPad are the perfect companions to the ReadCube web and desktop software, enabling you to access your papers anywhere – read on the go, organize your library, and annotate PDFs with notes and highlights. Enhanced PDF: • Tap-able inline citations, reference lists, and author names so you can quickly find cited articles and related information • Supplements are automatically attached where available • Fullscreen or double-page PDF viewing plus multi-touch zoom/navigation for an optimal reading experience • Multi-color highlighting and note taking tools Easily find new papers: • Search the ReadCube databases within the app • Quickly download new articles with a single tap when you’re on campus or with your institutional proxy • Import directly from Safari, email attachments, and other apps • In your preferred browser, use any search engine to find article PDFs • Use the “Open In…” option from the browser or any app to add PDFs to your ReadCube library • Metadata is automatically resolved - no more guessing with cryptic file names Personalized Recommendations: • Discover relevant new papers based on your library or lists – you’ll never miss another important paper again! Stay organized: • Create custom lists and sort articles into one or multiple lists • Quickly search your entire library (and all annotations) • Add any number of #tags to further customize your library organization • Sync everything – papers, notes, highlights – between the ReadCube desktop and web apps or your other mobile devices Simplify your research life – try ReadCube for free on your iPhone, iPad, and computer. We love feedback from our users - please email support@readcube.com with any suggestions or issues. Thanks for using ReadCube!

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

Papers by ReadCube4 screens
Plasmids X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Papers by ReadCube at none against Plasmids X's 14. Papers by ReadCube also leads on ratings volume (555 vs 7) and rating (3.7 vs 3.4). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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. Plasmids X sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Papers by ReadCube asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Papers by ReadCube holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Papers by ReadCube has 555 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Papers by ReadCube's written reviews are positive against 33% of Plasmids X's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Papers by ReadCube ships an update every 2 months, Plasmids X monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Papers by ReadCube versus Plasmids X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPapers by ReadCubePlasmids X
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (555 ratings) — better3.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews41.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings555 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB18 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperDigital Science & Research Solutions Inc.Amin Mahpour

Customer experience

Papers by ReadCube

All ratings555 ratings
Positive65.9%
Neutral10.3%
Negative23.8%
Written reviews183 reviews
Positive41.0%
Neutral18.0%
Negative41.0%

Plasmids X

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

Bugs and requests

Papers by ReadCube

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Sync issues causing data loss and duplication
  • Unreliable PDF downloads and access
  • Inconsistent behavior of annotation tools
  • Compatibility problems with newer devices and OS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add eraser tool for handwritten annotations
  • Improve PDF viewing and navigation experience
  • Implement better organization and folder management
  • Integrate citation and bibliography tools
  • Provide more customization options

Plasmids X

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Papers by ReadCube

No 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

Questions

Is Papers by ReadCube free?
Papers by ReadCube is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Plasmids X free?
Plasmids X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Papers by ReadCube or Plasmids X?
Papers by ReadCube is rated higher. Papers by ReadCube averages 3.7 out of 5 from 555 ratings, while Plasmids X averages 3.4 from 7 ratings.
Do Papers by ReadCube or Plasmids X have ads?
Neither Papers by ReadCube nor Plasmids X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Papers by ReadCube or Plasmids X?
Papers by ReadCube ships an update every 2 months, and Plasmids X monthly. Most recently, Papers by ReadCube was updated on October 15, 2026 and Plasmids X on October 9, 2026.

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