Side by side
SimBio vs Virtual Laboratory
Both stand on virtual lab software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial MacWebWindows
SimBio offers instructors a choice of biology modules and tools for organizing and monitoring coursework. Students need an active subscription for content, and access to the newer system depends on course eligibility.
Visit SimBio Free plan Self-hostedWeb
Virtual Laboratory combines browser-based science activities with tools for authoring chemistry process maps. Some teaching and tracking features are planned rather than listed as available, so check whether the current collection covers your needs.
Visit Virtual LaboratoryThe facts
| SimBio | Virtual Laboratory | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Mac, Web, Windows | Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Virtual Labs (workbook and tutorial-style): $7.50 per student, paid once | Not published |
| Plans published | 4 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | simbio.com | virtuallab.az |
| On virtual lab software | #17 of 27 | #13 of 27 |
SimBio: what it does well
- Covers six listed biology subject areas.
- Web-based system runs on Chromebooks.
- Instructors can customize content and set assignments.
- SimUText scores can be exported to an LMS.
What to know first
- No free plan for students.
- Course access is limited to eligible courses.
- Some Active Learning System features remain under development.
- Classic SimUText requires software installation.
Virtual Laboratory: what it does well
- Offers 15 experiments and simulations across several subjects
- Lab Studio supports chemistry process-map authoring
- Runs in modern browsers without installation
- MIT-licensed code can be modified and self-hosted
What to know first
- Lesson plans and teaching guides are listed as planned
- Assessment and progress tracking are listed as planned
- Additional experiments and expanded language support are planned
Alternatives to SimBio Alternatives to Virtual Laboratory The whole list