Comparison

BaseSpace 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

BaseSpace

Monitor your sequencing Runs and Analyses from anywhere. Receive push notifications for completion and track the status of your projects with key metrics and charts.

Highlights
  • Real-time progress monitoring
  • Push notifications for completion
  • Status tracking for Runs and Analyses
  • View metrics and SAV charts
  • Detailed analysis status
Features
Read full description

Easily monitor the progress of your BaseSpace sequencing Runs and Analyses from anywhere. - Get push notifications the moment they are complete - Monitor the status of Runs including metrics & SAV charts - View the detailed status of Analyses

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

BaseSpace4 screens
Plasmids X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Plasmids X at 3.4 against BaseSpace's 2.7. Plasmids X also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (33% vs 25%). BaseSpace's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, 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. BaseSpace asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Plasmids X holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of BaseSpace's written reviews are positive against 33% of Plasmids X's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BaseSpace ships an update every 2 months, Plasmids X monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
BaseSpace versus Plasmids X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBaseSpacePlasmids X
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (12 ratings)3.4 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews33.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIllumina, Inc.Amin Mahpour

Customer experience

BaseSpace

All ratings12 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative62.5%

Plasmids X

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

In-app purchases

None

BaseSpace

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 BaseSpace free?
BaseSpace 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, BaseSpace or Plasmids X?
Plasmids X is rated higher. BaseSpace averages 2.7 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Plasmids X averages 3.4 from 7 ratings.
Do BaseSpace or Plasmids X have ads?
Neither BaseSpace nor Plasmids X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BaseSpace or Plasmids X?
BaseSpace ships an update every 2 months, and Plasmids X monthly. Most recently, BaseSpace was updated on October 3, 2026 and Plasmids X on October 9, 2026.

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