Online PhET Interactive Simulations

PhET Interactive Simulations compared with Wolfram Demonstrations and Labster
PhET Interactive Simulations	Wolfram Demonstrations	Labster
Subject coverage: Physics, math and statistics, chemistry, earth and space, and biology. Typical topics are buoyancy, gravity and pH. The emphasis is on concepts that a first-year student must visualise.	Subject coverage: Science, mathematics, engineering, technology, business, art, finance and social sciences, with thousands of free applications. The range is wider and often more technical or specialised than PhET.	Subject coverage: Simulated virtual labs for higher-education STEM in biology, chemistry, physics and health sciences, with more than 300 simulations. It also offers UbiSim, a separate VR product for nursing.
Pedagogical design: Each simulation is tested and evaluated through student interviews and classroom observation. The design follows research on how students learn.	Pedagogical design: Applications are contributed as individual demonstrations of a concept. A page for each one does not describe a pedagogical evaluation.	Pedagogical design: Course-oriented: automated grading, quiz customisation, unlimited attempts and assignment from within a learning management system.
Openness and platform: All simulations are open source. They run online, can be downloaded for offline use, and iOS and Android apps are available. The language menu lists about 47 options.	Openness and platform: Runs in a JavaScript-enabled browser. The page does not state whether the code is open.	Openness and platform: A hosted commercial platform sold to institutions. It integrates with learning management systems and with bookstore services for purchase.
Cost: Free. Sponsors support the project so students and teachers pay nothing.	Cost: The applications are described as free.	Cost: Quote-based pricing that depends on program size. No prices are published.
When to choose it: Choose it for free, tested, downloadable visual demonstrations in class or for self-study, including offline.	When to choose it: Choose it to explore a specific mathematical or engineering model beyond the standard curriculum.	When to choose it: Choose it when an institution needs graded lab-style activities that replace or prepare hands-on laboratory work.

PhET Interactive Simulations compared with Wolfram Demonstrations and Labster

PhET Interactive Simulations

Wolfram Demonstrations

Labster

Subject coverage: Physics, math and statistics, chemistry, earth and space, and biology. Typical topics are buoyancy, gravity and pH. The emphasis is on concepts that a first-year student must visualise.

Subject coverage: Science, mathematics, engineering, technology, business, art, finance and social sciences, with thousands of free applications. The range is wider and often more technical or specialised than PhET.

Subject coverage: Simulated virtual labs for higher-education STEM in biology, chemistry, physics and health sciences, with more than 300 simulations. It also offers UbiSim, a separate VR product for nursing.

Pedagogical design: Each simulation is tested and evaluated through student interviews and classroom observation. The design follows research on how students learn.

Pedagogical design: Applications are contributed as individual demonstrations of a concept. A page for each one does not describe a pedagogical evaluation.

Pedagogical design: Course-oriented: automated grading, quiz customisation, unlimited attempts and assignment from within a learning management system.

Openness and platform: All simulations are open source. They run online, can be downloaded for offline use, and iOS and Android apps are available. The language menu lists about 47 options.

Openness and platform: Runs in a JavaScript-enabled browser. The page does not state whether the code is open.

Openness and platform: A hosted commercial platform sold to institutions. It integrates with learning management systems and with bookstore services for purchase.

Cost: Free. Sponsors support the project so students and teachers pay nothing.

Cost: The applications are described as free.

Cost: Quote-based pricing that depends on program size. No prices are published.

When to choose it: Choose it for free, tested, downloadable visual demonstrations in class or for self-study, including offline.

When to choose it: Choose it to explore a specific mathematical or engineering model beyond the standard curriculum.

When to choose it: Choose it when an institution needs graded lab-style activities that replace or prepare hands-on laboratory work.