Gizmos listed 31 free simulations in October 2026, and Labster says its annual engagements typically begin at $5,000 USD.
Yes, PhET Interactive Simulations and LabXchange both offer free virtual science labs for classroom use. In the guides we publish at Chalkbox, we pull every figure, limit, and policy straight from each provider's published pages. Each pick below names the grade band and subject it fits.
These picks cover standard curricula. If you teach high school or college courses that need lab simulations inside an LMS, look at the paid options below. Our evaluation would change if PhET restricted its open-source access or if LabXchange instituted paywalls for its lab sequences.
Every cell comes from each provider's own pages, checked in October 2026. Each provider's source page is linked in its section below, so confirm terms there before you assign anything.
| Virtual Lab Platform | Primary Subjects | Target Grades | Cost | Student Login Needed | Device Support | Teacher Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhET Interactive Simulations | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth & Space, Math | Elementary to University | Free (CC BY-NC 4.0) | No | Chromebooks, Windows, Mac, iPad (iOS 15+) | 3,702 submitted lessons, tips, offline download |
| LabXchange | Biology, life science (AP Biology labs) | No single band published | Free | No for browsing; Yes for classes | Not published | Custom pathways, private classes, progress tracking |
| CK-12 Foundation | Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science, Math | Middle School, High School | Free | Not published for simulations; free account saves progress | Not published | Adaptive practice, FlexBooks, class insights, AI tools |
| ExploreLearning Gizmos (Free Tier) | Math and science (physics, chemistry, biology, algebra, geometry) | Grades 3-12 | Free (31 listed Oct 2026; rotates Jan/Jul) | Yes (class code) | Any browser or device (ExploreLearning's claim) | Teacher guides, vocabulary sheets, student sheets |
| ExploreLearning Gizmos (Full License) | Math and science (physics, chemistry, biology, algebra, geometry) | Grades 3-12 | Quote-based | Yes (class code) | Any browser or device (ExploreLearning's claim) | 550+ sims, answer keys, assessment reports, heatmaps |
| Labster | Biology, Chemistry, Health Sciences | High School, Higher Ed | Quote-based; annual engagements typically begin at $5,000 USD | Yes (LMS or Labster Course Manager) | Not published | 300+ labs; works with Blackboard, Canvas, D2L, Moodle |
| MERLOT Virtual Labs | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Engineering | Higher Education | Free and fee-based directory | Not published | Not published | Directory of free and fee-based labs |
PhET Interactive Simulations was founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman at the University of Colorado Boulder. The PhET about page explains that it offers fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations. Its homepage reports 173 interactive simulations, 132 language translations, 3,702 teacher-submitted lessons, and over 1.8 billion simulations delivered. The unfiltered filter view displays 174 results, including legacy Java and Flash simulations.
Simulations run directly inside modern web browsers. According to PhET running sims help, HTML5 simulations run on Chromebooks (latest Chrome) and iPads (iOS 15+ with Safari). They also run on Windows (Edge, Firefox or Chrome) and Mac (macOS 14+ with Safari 16+ or Chrome). Android and Linux operating systems are not officially supported. If your school has unreliable internet connectivity, you can download the entire website via an offline installer.
The PhET licensing page states that HTML simulations are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC 4.0). Teachers and students can use them freely for non-commercial educational activities, including classwork and homework, provided proper attribution is given. Organizations seeking to embed simulations into commercial products or ad-supported websites need a commercial licence from CU Boulder.
Students never need a PhET account. Per PhET account guidelines, students cannot register for accounts and can run simulations without any sign-up process. Teachers can register for a free account to download lesson plans and tips submitted by other educators. One limit: PhET's customizable Studio sims are not part of the free set, and the site offers them through a free trial or a purchased licence.
LabXchange is an open digital science classroom created at Harvard University with support from the Amgen Foundation. The LabXchange overview states that its catalog contains over 34,000 free learning and teaching resources from more than 200 organizations (its homepage says over 175). It was envisioned by the late Dr. Robert Lue and received major foundation grants across 2018, 2022, and 2025. LabXchange's copyright is held by the President and Fellows of Harvard College.
The library includes virtual lab simulations, annotated videos, teaching guides, and interactive graphics. Its advanced biology virtual labs are based on AP Biology investigations and are free of cost. Audience materials feature curated pathways for high school students, secondary educators, and middle school life science classes.
As outlined in the LabXchange getting started guide, anyone can browse and launch resources without creating an account. Educators who create a free account can assemble custom learning pathways and set up private classes. These private classes let you assign content sequences directly to students and track their progress through the pathway. Specific device and hardware requirements are not published on the site.
CK-12 Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded through philanthropic donations and grants. The CK-12 help center confirms that CK-12 is completely free for students, teachers, parents, homeschool families, and schools. Creating a free account lets users save progress, join classes, and access integrated artificial intelligence tools.
The site features interactive learning modules known as PLIX, which stands for Play, Learn, Interact, and eXplore. According to CK-12 PLIX documentation, the catalog contains over 1,100 PLIX interactives filterable by subject, concept, keyword, and academic standard. PLIX are built for math and science learners.
For deeper laboratory investigations, CK-12 hosts dedicated simulation hubs. The CK-12 physics simulations page provides simulations covering forces, motion, electromagnetism, and modern physics correlated to physical science standards. Each simulation includes a downloadable worksheet. The CK-12 chemistry simulations page offers interactive models covering chemical matter, reactions, and electrochemistry. According to the CK-12 mission timeline, CK-12 has used Creative Commons BY-NC and, later, a CK-12 Curriculum License. The current licence terms for the simulations are not stated there.
CK-12 integrates directly with learning management systems. The CK-12 tools directory highlights compatibility with Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, Clever, and ClassLink. As detailed on the CK-12 teacher solutions page, educators can assign digital FlexBooks, monitor student insights, and use adaptive practice questions. The total number of full simulations across all disciplines is not published on the primary simulation index pages.
ExploreLearning Gizmos offers a limited free tier alongside its paid subscription. ExploreLearning and Learning A-Z operate together under the brand name ExploreK12, as confirmed in an announcement from Cambium Learning Group. Gizmos provides online STEM simulations and case studies designed for students in grades 3 through 12, according to the ExploreLearning Gizmos product overview.
Teachers can test the entire library through a 30-day trial. Per the Gizmos sign-up page, the trial grants temporary access to all 550+ math and science Gizmos. When the 30-day window concludes, accounts that do not convert to paid contracts become free Gizmos accounts. The free account provides access to a limited collection, which listed 31 Gizmos in October 2026 and rotates every January and July.
Each free Gizmo comes with supporting instructional printables. The Gizmos lesson materials overview explains that every simulation includes a Teacher Guide, Student Exploration Sheets, and a Vocabulary Sheet. Student Exploration Sheets can be customized as Word documents, PDFs, or Google Docs, as noted in the Student Exploration Sheet guide. However, the Gizmos answer keys article states that Student Exploration Answer Keys are not included in free accounts or standard trials. Answer keys are reserved exclusively for paid subscriptions or customized trials set up by an account representative.
Rotation changes what a free account can open. According to ExploreLearning free account rules, when the collection rotates in January and July, previously free Gizmos revert to 5-minute daily access. Any rotated Gizmo added to a class grays out, and students lose access. The Teacher Guide also becomes unavailable, though teachers keep past assessment results.
Students need a teacher's class code to join. As described in the Gizmos class code instructions, teachers display their class's Class Enrollment Code. Students navigate to go-el.com, select "Have a Class Code?", and register a unique username and password, as detailed in creating student accounts with class codes. For costs and class setup in detail, see our ExploreLearning Gizmos guide.
Several educational organizations host open science interactives and laboratory clearinghouses for specialized curriculum requirements.
Paid virtual lab software is worth the cost when a school needs answer keys and assessment reports (Gizmos) or LMS-linked lab simulations for high school or college (Labster). If your department relies solely on basic conceptual demonstrations, free virtual science labs will meet your instructional needs.
Labster sells immersive virtual lab simulations focused on high school and higher education STEM programs. Its catalog contains 302 interactive simulations covering biology, chemistry, and health sciences, as seen on the Labster simulations directory. Per the Labster pricing page, software pricing is custom and quote-based. In October 2026, its FAQ said annual engagements typically begin at $5,000 USD.
Institutions purchase Labster licenses across academic departments, or students buy access through a bookstore model. Labster integrates directly with learning management systems like Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, and D2L. If an institution does not use an LMS, learners access assignments through Labster's Course Manager. Labster fits a high school or college that wants biology, chemistry or health sciences labs inside Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle or D2L.
A paid ExploreLearning Gizmos subscription makes sense when a school wants full access to ExploreLearning's 550+ Gizmos without the free-set rotations. Paid subscriptions include teacher answer keys, formative assessment tracking, and real-time data heatmaps. ExploreLearning publishes no list price. Schools and districts call 866-882-4141 (option 2) or request a quote for a custom proposal.
Schools with zero software budget should not purchase these licenses. PhET and LabXchange cost nothing for classroom use.
Run a virtual lab as structured inquiry, with a prediction written before students touch the simulation. Virtual lab software works best as an evidence-gathering station inside a structured lesson.
Start your lab session using a Predict, Observe, Explain sequence. Before opening the computer screen, ask students to write down an explicit prediction about what will happen when a specific variable changes. For example, ask students how doubling the mass of an object will influence its acceleration. When students launch the simulation, they adjust the slider, observe the simulated outcome, and record the numerical data on paper.
Once students collect their simulation data, have them translate their observations into a formal scientific argument. You can structure this response using our claim, evidence, and reasoning framework. Students state a claim that answers the question and cite simulation data as evidence. Then they explain the science rule that connects the data to the claim. To help students organize their written thoughts, provide a structured CER template or review annotated CER examples across different science domains.
Virtual labs fit naturally into inquiry-oriented units. You can embed simulations directly into the explore phase of a 5E lesson plan. In this structure, students interact with the simulation to discover physical relationships before the teacher introduces formal academic vocabulary.
Keep in mind that virtual simulations cannot replace hands-on lab experiments. Digital tools allow learners to observe atoms, model planetary orbits, and test hazardous reactions safely. However, working on screens does not teach students how to pour liquids accurately, focus a physical optical microscope, handle hot glassware, or clean physical lab stations. Balance virtual simulations with physical materials whenever laboratory equipment is safely available.
For additional subject-specific guidance on pairing digital study tools with coursework, see our classroom guides covering AI for learning biology, AI for learning chemistry, and AI for learning physics.
This week, pick two free PhET or LabXchange simulations and run them on your students' devices. Then draft a one-page predict-observe-explain worksheet for each.
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Yes, several platforms provide free virtual science labs without subscription fees. PhET Interactive Simulations and LabXchange are entirely free for educational use. CK-12 Foundation offers free simulations and PLIX interactives across chemistry and physics. ExploreLearning Gizmos listed 31 free simulations in October 2026, and that set rotates every January and July.
Yes, PhET Interactive Simulations is free for non-commercial educational use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license. Students can run the HTML5 simulations in a browser without creating an account. Educators register for a free account only if they want to download teacher-submitted lesson plans and activity sheets.
PhET Interactive Simulations and CK-12 are the closest free alternatives to ExploreLearning Gizmos. PhET covers physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math with open inquiry tools that need no student login. CK-12 provides over 1,100 interactive PLIX modules alongside physics and chemistry simulation libraries, with a worksheet listed for each physics simulation.
Not for PhET Interactive Simulations. Students cannot create PhET accounts, and they run simulations without signing up. LabXchange browsing also needs no account. CK-12's simulation pages do not say whether a login is needed, though a free account saves progress and joins classes. In contrast, ExploreLearning Gizmos requires students to enroll using a teacher class code and create a unique username and password.
No, virtual labs cannot replace every physical laboratory skill. Virtual simulations allow learners to test unobservable variables, manipulate invisible forces, and repeat trials safely without chemical waste. However, working on screens does not build physical dexterity, glassware handling, or tactile measurement habits that students need in a wet lab.
For free classroom use across subjects and grades, PhET Interactive Simulations is the widest pick, with 173 simulations on its homepage counter and no student login. For paid lab software in high school or college, Labster lists 300+ labs, and its pricing page says annual engagements typically begin at $5,000 USD.
PhET Interactive Simulations is the widest free option, and its HTML5 simulations run in a browser on iPads, Chromebooks, Windows and Mac. PhET does not officially support Android. OLabs offers an Android app, but it follows India's Class 9 to 12 syllabus.