Polychem
Polychem: A free desktop chemistry lab with simulations, modeling, assessments, and teacher tools. Ranked #10 of 33 in Chemistry Simulation Software by our editors (7.6/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free desktop chemistry teaching labs.
At a glance
- Editor score7.6 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree desktop chemistry teaching labs
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Virtual labsYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free individual and site use
- Covers virtual labs, molecular modeling, and equation practice
- Teacher customization and student activity records
Where it doesn't
- Available only on Windows and macOS
- Desktop delivery limits platform flexibility
- Published download information dates to version 8.5.2 in 2011
Our verdict on Polychem
Polychem is an interactive multimedia chemistry tutorial and simulation application for senior high-school and introductory college teaching. It suits classroom, network, and independent student use, combining tutorials, notes, computer-generated questions, assessments, laboratory simulations, games, videos, animations, and practical chemistry activities. Coverage spans analytical, organic, physical, and applied chemistry, with tools for molecular drawing, ball-and-stick model construction, chemical equations, and redox equations.
Its strongest area is the breadth of its virtual laboratory content. Students can work with simulated laboratory equipment and chemical processes, including titration, pH measurement, balances, spectrophotometry, buffers, gases, and electrochemistry. The software also supports chemistry games, puzzles, videos, and animations, while teachers can customize notes, examination questions, and multiple-choice tests. Activity records can include student marks, names, dates, and times, giving educators a way to track participation within the application.
Pricing is straightforward: the Free download plan provides free individual and site use, plus interactive questions, assessments, simulations, games, and activities. Polychem runs on Windows and macOS as desktop software. The official download information identifies version 8.5.2 as current at 17 December 2011, which makes operating-system fit an important consideration for schools planning deployment. Choose Polychem when free desktop access and wide chemistry teaching coverage matter most. Look elsewhere if your institution needs browser-based delivery or a platform designed around newer operating systems.
Your product? Our editors can test Polychem in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Polychem pricing
All 1 Polychem plans and prices →
Polychem fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Virtual labs | Yes |
| Molecular modeling | Yes |
| Reaction simulation | Yes |
| Equation tools | Yes |
| Delivery | Desktop |
| Student account limit | Not verified |
| Content languages | Not verified |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Support | |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | polychem.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Polychem
- McGraw Hill Virtual LabsA web-based virtual lab suite with strong McGraw Hill and LMS delivery.9.2
- Virtual ChemLabA broad desktop virtual lab for chemistry investigations, assignments, and theory-based practice.9.0
- PhET Interactive SimulationsA free, broad simulation library for classroom science and mathematics instruction.8.9
See all Polychem alternatives →
Used Polychem? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Polychem for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Polychem is listed in our Chemistry Simulation Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/polychem/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/polychem.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update