Concord Consortium Lab vs Virtual Laboratory
Concord Consortium Lab
lab.concord.orgVirtual Laboratory
virtuallab.azSide by side
| Figure | Concord Consortium Lab | Virtual Laboratory |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 0 |
| Spec score · Virtual Lab Software | 7.8 (#9) | 6.9 (#23) |
| Founded | 1994 | 2025 |
| Intended users | Concord describes its work as creating research-based digital learning tools and STEM resources for students and partnering with publishers, districts, states, and education organizations. | The project aims to serve students worldwide, including communities without well-equipped physical laboratories. |
| License | The Lab Framework repository includes an MIT License granting permission to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies subject to its terms. | The project is released under the MIT License, and its code is freely available for educational use, modification, and distribution. |
| Maker | The Concord Consortium describes itself as a nonprofit research and development organization advancing STEM inquiry through technology. | Dr. Emil Jivishov is identified as the project's creator and lead developer. |
| Purpose | Lab is an HTML5 framework for scientific models, visualizations, graphing, and probeware. | Virtual Laboratory is an open-source educational project for interactive science simulations and virtual lab experiments. |
In their own words
Concord Consortium Lab
Concord Consortium Lab is an open-source HTML5 framework for scientific models, visualizations, graphing, and probeware. Authors define Lab Interactives in JSON, combining models with inquiry controls such as buttons, checkboxes, sliders, and graphs. Interactives can be created, shared, and embedded. Listed model types include Next Generation Molecular Workbench, Energy2D, and Probeware, with bar and line graphs available for activities. Lab combines simulations from multiple modeling engines with data collection from sensors and probes; one demonstrated model explores charged and neutral atoms through two-dimensional molecular dynamics. The framework runs on Android, iOS, and the web, requires SVG support, and lists iOS Safari and Chrome for Android among supported browsers. Concord says current desktop browsers provide the best performance, while simpler models may run on tablets and phones. The project uses Simplified BSD, MIT, or Apache 2.0 licensing. Download archives are available, and local content must be served through a web server. Concord says student and teacher data is confidential and not used for targeted advertising.
Virtual Laboratory
Virtual Laboratory has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.