🔭 Science, nature and the world · 🏫 Classroom tools
Labster
By Labster ApS. Visit Labster
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A library of 300+ 3D virtual science labs for high school and college biology, chemistry and physics. A student plays a scientist inside a story, uses virtual lab equipment, runs experiments that would be costly or dangerous in a real lab, and answers quiz questions along the way, with instant feedback and the option to retry. Teachers assign labs through their school's learning system and get automatic grades. Schools, colleges and campus bookstores buy access.
Our take: A good add-on for high school science classes that lack lab space or equipment; it should prepare students for hands-on labs, not replace them.
| Ages it suits | about 13-18 (high school), mostly college |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Terms say a child under 13 who is not a school-registered student cannot create an account without a parent's consent, and anyone under 18 outside school use must have a parent agree to the terms. School 'Student Users' are registered by their institution. (terms) |
| Price | Through schools. Custom pricing by quote for schools and colleges, or per course through campus bookstores (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad |
| Account | A school account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI tutor described on its pages; simulations follow scripted steps with built-in quizzes and automatic grading. |
What's good
- Lets students try experiments their school lab cannot offer
- Safe place to fail and repeat steps
- Automatic grading saves teachers time
Watch for
- Only through a school or college purchase
- A simulation is not the same as handling real equipment
- Aimed mainly at college; some labs may be too advanced for younger teens
Data and privacy
Schools share student details to set up accounts, and Labster records lab progress and quiz scores; its terms say it will not disclose students' FERPA records to third parties or use them for other purposes, and it does not sell personal information. Its marketing site uses ad trackers aimed at educators; nothing on AI training was found. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
Peer-reviewed studies exist but several include Labster-linked authors (Bonde et al., Nature Biotechnology, 2014, found gains in learning and motivation). An independent-led 2019 study found that adding VR headsets to a Labster simulation raised presence but lowered learning, compared with a desktop screen.
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Where these facts come from
- https://www.labster.com/
- https://www.labster.com/high-school
- https://www.labster.com/pricing
- https://www.labster.com/terms-of-service-and-use
- https://www.labster.com/privacy-policy
- https://www.labster.com/research
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/labster/id1600663267
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.2955
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2017.12.007
- Reviews on G2: https://www.g2.com/products/labster/reviews
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.