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Software · head to head

Labster vs Pear Deck

Labster logo

Labster

Software

Virtual science labs for immersive learning

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pear Deck logo

Pear Deck

Software

Interactive presentations that engage every student

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pear Deck has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Labster customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes; Pear Deck the Teacher Dashboard, draggable and drawing responses and Reflect and Review require Teacher Premium at $149 per year
  • They diverge on capability: Labster covers Virtual simulations, Pear Deck covers Interactive slides.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Labster and Pear Deck actually diverge.

Attributes where Labster and Pear Deck differ
AttributeLabsterPear Deck
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Chrome Extension
Founded20112014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Labster

  • Virtual simulations
  • 3D environments
  • Theory pages
  • Quizzes
  • Lab reports
  • Progress tracking
  • Mobile access
  • Multiplayer

Only in Pear Deck

  • Interactive slides
  • Real-time responses
  • Formative assessment
  • Student-paced mode
  • Dashboard
  • Audio responses
  • Drawing
  • Vocabulary

Both cover

  • Canvas
  • Google Classroom
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Labster

  • Virtual labsnot Pear Deck
  • Pre-lab preparationnot Pear Deck
  • Supplemental learningnot Pear Deck
  • Remote educationnot Pear Deck

Pear Deck

  • Turning slide decks into interactive lessons with student responsesnot Labster
  • Running formative checks for understanding during classnot Labster
  • Student paced review activities and assessmentsnot Labster

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Labster

  • Customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
  • Simulations can lag or freeze depending on operating system and connection speed
  • Cannot fully replace hands-on physical lab experience and data collection
  • Students report preference for tactile physical lab experience over virtual simulations

Pear Deck

  • The Teacher Dashboard, draggable and drawing responses and Reflect and Review require Teacher Premium at $149 per year
  • Pear Assessment Premium is a separate $125 per year purchase from Pear Deck Premium
  • Standards aligned content, district library and efficacy reports are only in the Schools and Districts plan
  • SIS and LMS integration is only in the Schools and Districts plan
  • School and district pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Labster

On request
  • Student Access$49/month
    • Course simulations
    • Mobile access
    • Progress tracking
  • Institution$undefined/month
    • All simulations
    • LMS integration
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom content
    • API access
    • Priority support

Pear Deck

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 question types
    • Real-time responses
    • Student-paced mode
  • Premium$149.99/month
    • All question types
    • Audio responses
    • Flashcard factory
  • School/District$undefined/month
    • All Premium
    • Admin dashboard
    • Rostering

Which should you pick?

Choose Labster if

  • You need virtual simulations.
  • You also want 3d environments.
Labster review

Choose Pear Deck if

  • You need interactive slides.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome Extension.
  • You also want real-time responses.
Pear Deck review

Questions people ask

Is Labster or Pear Deck better?
Neither clearly leads. Labster starts at On request and Pear Deck at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Labster or Pear Deck?
Pear Deck has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Labster and Free for Pear Deck.
Does Labster or Pear Deck run on more platforms?
Labster runs on Web. Pear Deck runs on Web, Chrome Extension.
Can I use Pear Deck for free?
Yes. Pear Deck has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Labster starts at On request.
What is Labster best used for?
Labster is most often used for virtual labs, pre-lab preparation, supplemental learning, remote education. Of those, virtual labs and pre-lab preparation are not what Pear Deck is typically brought in for.
What can Labster do that Pear Deck cannot?
Labster covers Virtual simulations, 3D environments, Theory pages, Quizzes. Pear Deck covers Interactive slides, Real-time responses, Formative assessment, Student-paced mode. Both handle Canvas, Google Classroom, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Labster: What STEM subjects does Labster cover?

Labster provides interactive 3D simulations across biology, chemistry, physics, and other STEM subjects, designed for university, college, and high school students.

Labster: How many students has Labster served?

Labster has served over 6 million students and thousands of institutions globally with its virtual lab simulations.

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Related pages

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