# BaseSpace vs Plasmids X

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | BaseSpace | Plasmids X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basespace/id942794217/reviews) | **[3.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plasmids-x/id1524584676/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Illumina, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/414049987) | [Amin Mahpour](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524584678) |

## What reviewers say

### BaseSpace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basespace/id942794217)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Plasmids X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plasmids-x/id1524584676)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| A cup of coffee! | $1.99 | one-time |
| Split View Support | $1.99 | one-time |
| Manual Cloning | $3.99 | one-time |
| In-silico PCR Support | $3.99 | one-time |
| NCBI Entrez Support | $3.99 | one-time |
| Local Alignment Support | $3.99 | one-time |
| A box of joe! | $4.99 | one-time |
| BLAST Support | $4.99 | one-time |
| ApE File Support | $4.99 | one-time |
| Genbank Support | $4.99 | one-time |
| dna File Support | $5.99 | one-time |
| All Features | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*