Labster vs WhimsyLabs
Labster
labster.comWhimsyLabs
whimsylabs.aiSide by side
| Figure | Labster | WhimsyLabs |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $416.67/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Virtual Lab Software | 8.4 (#6) | 7.8 (#13) |
| Assessment | The platform includes automatic grading, customizable quizzes, and a modular assignment builder. | The assessment system evaluates students’ processes and techniques, with follow-up questions tied to their experimental data. |
| LMS integrations | Labster lists compatibility with Canvas, Google Classroom, Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology, and D2L Brightspace. | The site names Google Classroom, Canvas, and Schoology as LMS integrations and also says the product supports LTI. |
| Security | Labster states that it achieved SOC 2 Type 2 compliance in May 2026 and holds TX-RAMP Level 2 certification. | The security page says administrative accounts require MFA and each school’s data is encrypted with unique keys. |
| Support | Labster provides live support through Help Center chat and lists [email protected] for email support. | The services page says a dedicated support team is available during school hours and onboarding and ongoing professional development are included at no extra cost. |
Plans
In their own words
Labster
Labster provides interactive virtual lab assignments for teaching science concepts and practicing laboratory techniques. Its catalog includes more than 300 simulations across STEM subjects. Learners follow guided scenarios, repeat work at their own pace, and receive immediate feedback. Instructors can use automatic grading, customizable quizzes, and a modular assignment builder. A course mapping tool helps match simulations to a syllabus, and listed LMS integrations include Canvas, Google Classroom, Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology, and D2L Brightspace.
Simulations run in supported browsers on Windows and Mac computers. Some are available on iPads and Chromebooks through the Labster app; smartphones, including iPhones and Android phones, are not supported for playing them. Purchases are available to instructors, faculty, and administrators at educational institutions. A free trial is offered, but there is no free plan. Pricing is on request; institutional or department engagements typically begin at $5,000 a year, billed annually, with final pricing dependent on the solution and implementation requirements.
WhimsyLabs
WhimsyLabs is virtual laboratory software where students conduct simulated experiments in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Electronics. Its simulation engine models fluids, heat, and molecular behavior, including impurities and differences between samples. WhimsyCat guides students in response to their lab actions without a student chat window, while assessment evaluates experimental processes and techniques and asks follow-up questions tied to experimental data. Teachers can paste a written lab protocol into the AI Experiment Builder to create a custom lab scenario without programming. The platform includes a teacher dashboard and names Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, and LTI among its integrations. It runs in a browser on desktops, laptops, and Chromebooks, with optional VR headsets; Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows are also listed. Accessibility options include control remapping, text-to-speech, self-paced modes, and low-bandwidth operation. Labs can be cached or downloaded for offline use. Institutional pricing is by request, and a free trial is available, with no duration specified.