Overview

Students can make decisions during experiments, observe outcomes, and repeat activities without the risks of a physical lab. The library contains more than 650 textbook-aligned activities, spanning chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics. That breadth makes Beyond Labz useful for courses that need simulations across multiple science subjects, though subject plans divide access for learners focused on a single discipline.

Beyond Labz is presented for higher education, high school, online schools, and homeschooling. Instructors can preview labs and build assignments at no cost, while students purchase access by subject or across subjects.

Key features

Experiments and assessment

Guided and open-ended activities let learners explore procedures and see the consequences of their choices. Auto-graded assessments return immediate feedback, which can help students identify gaps during practice rather than waiting for instructor review. These features support simulated lab learning, but do not replace work in a physical lab.

Procedure records for instructors

Lab Cam records and timestamps each student step during a lab. Instructors get a procedure log, adding visibility into how an answer was reached rather than relying only on the submitted result.

LMS assignment flow

Lab procedures integrate with LTI 1.0, 1.1, and 1.3-compliant platforms, including Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle. Students can receive, complete, and submit assignments without leaving their LMS, a practical advantage for courses already organized there.

Pricing

The free Instructor access plan is always free and supports teaching, lab previews, and assignment building. It is an instructor tool, not a substitute for student lab access.

Chemistry — 31.95 USD per once: One-time payment for 20-week access (140 days), 254 chemistry activities covering general and organic chemistry, student support, and Lab Cam. It fits a course centered on chemistry, but not learners needing the full multi-subject library.
Physics — 31.95 USD per once: One-time payment for 20-week access (140 days), 103 physics activities, core physics curriculum, student support, and Lab Cam. Best for a physics course with a defined access window.
Biology — 31.95 USD per once: One-time payment for 20-week access (140 days), 73 biology activities, core biology curriculum, student support, and Lab Cam. It is the focused option, with fewer activities than the chemistry plan.
All Subjects — 41.95 USD per once: One-time payment for 1-year access (365 days), all 650+ activities across chemistry, biology, and physics, student support, and Lab Cam. The longer term and broader subject coverage suit learners taking multiple science courses; the tradeoff is a higher upfront price than any single-subject plan.

Student plans include one learner. The access period is finite rather than an ongoing subscription, so match it to the course schedule before buying.

Platforms

Beyond Labz supports web, Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Web-based labs support current public versions of macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, iPadOS, and Android tablets, but not smartphones. A tablet or computer is therefore necessary for browser-based work.

Downloaded desktop versions require macOS Yosemite or later or 64-bit Windows 8 or later, plus 4 GB RAM and 3 GB free disk space. Support is available Monday through Friday, with a stated aim to respond within 24 hours during support hours. Authorized-user terms permit the company to collect and store information about users, their software use, and devices used to access the software.

Who it's for

Beyond Labz is a strong fit for science instructors who want simulated experiments paired with graded checks, procedure records, and assignment handling inside an existing LTI-compatible LMS. Its subject plans also suit students needing a particular course's simulations for a fixed term. It is a weaker fit for smartphone-only learners or anyone who needs continuing access beyond the stated plan period.

Pros and cons

Pros: More than 650 textbook-aligned activities cover four science areas, giving multi-course programs substantial breadth.
Pros: Lab Cam timestamps student steps, so instructors can review procedure as well as outcome.
Pros: LTI-compatible LMS workflows keep assignment receipt and submission in platforms such as Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle.
Cons: Browser labs do not work on smartphones, which rules out phone-only study.
Cons: Single-subject access lasts 140 days and All Subjects lasts 365 days, so access is bounded by the purchased term.
Cons: Desktop downloads require 4 GB RAM and 3 GB of free disk space, a constraint for older or low-capacity devices.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Science Learning Software, Chemistry Simulation Software, or Virtual Lab Software.

MEL Science is another freemium option, with Android, iOS, and web support and subscription plans; consider it when those platforms and subscription terms fit better.
MindLabs offers a freemium plan and a homeschool bundle for one educator and up to five students; consider it when a multi-student homeschool plan is the priority.
Inq-ITS offers tiered school and district plans priced by student count, including district-wide and multi-year options; consider it for school-scale purchasing.
LabXchange is free and supported by grant funding; choose it if a free educational resource platform is preferable to paid, term-limited lab access.
Legends of Learning has a free Basic Teacher plan with three concurrent live and queued assignments and one teacher seat; consider it when those assignment limits suit the need.
PhET Interactive Simulations provides free, open-source simulations online or as downloads; choose it when open-source access is more important than Beyond Labz's LMS procedure logs and paid activity plans.
ExploreLearning Gizmos offers a free account with a limited collection and paid school or district subscriptions; consider it when that format and purchasing route fit better.
Concord Consortium STEM Learning Tools provides free web-based resources for noncommercial use unless otherwise noted.

Verdict

Choose Beyond Labz when your students need guided or open-ended simulations across science subjects and instructors need LMS-integrated assignments, immediate feedback, and timestamped procedure records. Look elsewhere if learners depend on smartphones or need access that does not expire after a course-length term.

	Beyond Labz	Virtual Laboratory
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Assessment tools	Yes	—
Subject coverage	—	multi_subject
Experiment authoring	—	Yes

Beyond Labz vs Virtual Laboratory

Beyond Labz

Virtual Laboratory