The Best Free Tools & Platforms to Practise Biotechnology Skills in 2025/26
Biotechnology is one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving career fields in the UK. From genetic engineering and synthetic biology to bioinformatics and bioprocessing, biotech professionals are shaping the future of healthcare, agriculture, and sustainability.
But here’s the challenge: while textbooks provide essential theory, employers increasingly want to see hands-on skills. That’s where free digital tools, platforms, and communities come in. They give you the chance to practise biotechnology skills at no cost, build a portfolio, and gain the confidence to apply for biotech jobs.
In this article, we’ll explore the best free tools and platforms available in 2025 to help you strengthen your biotechnology expertise — whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or professional looking to upskill.
Why Practising Biotechnology Skills is Essential
Biotech is an applied science. Recruiters and hiring managers look for candidates who can use lab and computational tools, not just understand the theory. By engaging with free biotech platforms, you can:
Gain real-world skills: Try out the same software tools used in biotech research & industry.
Develop a portfolio: Showcase projects in genomics, protein modelling, or bioinformatics.
Stay current: Learn emerging technologies like CRISPR and synthetic biology design tools.
Boost employability: Practical projects often give you an edge in biotech job applications.
1. NCBI Tools – Genomics & Sequence Analysis
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) offers a treasure trove of free resources.
Key Tools
BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool): Compare nucleotide or protein sequences.
GenBank: Access one of the largest public genetic sequence databases.
PubChem: Explore chemical and bioactivity data.
Why It’s Useful
NCBI tools are used globally in research labs. Practising with them will make you more confident in bioinformatics and sequence analysis roles.
2. Ensembl Genome Browser
Ensembl, developed by EMBL-EBI and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, is a free platform for exploring genomic data.
Key Features
Access annotated genomes of human, vertebrates, and model organisms.
Tools for variant effect prediction (VEP).
Comparative genomics for evolutionary studies.
Why It’s Useful
For biotech students interested in genomics or personalised medicine, Ensembl is a must-use tool.
3. Benchling – Free Academic Edition
Benchling is a cloud-based lab notebook and molecular biology platform.
Key Features
DNA sequence design & cloning tools.
CRISPR design modules.
Collaboration-friendly electronic lab notebook (ELN).
Why It’s Useful
Benchling is widely used in biotech startups and research organisations. The free academic plan lets you practise modern biotech workflows just like industry scientists.
4. SnapGene Viewer – DNA Visualisation
While the full version of SnapGene is paid, the SnapGene Viewer is free.
Key Features
Visualise DNA plasmid maps.
Simulate cloning procedures.
Easy import/export of GenBank files.
Why It’s Useful
It’s perfect for visual learners who want to understand genetic constructs and cloning workflows.
5. UCSC Genome Browser
The UCSC Genome Browser is another powerful free genomics platform.
Key Features
Visualise genomic data from multiple species.
Integrate custom datasets.
Analyse gene expression and regulatory regions.
Why It’s Useful
This is an industry-standard bioinformatics tool, and familiarity with it adds weight to your CV.
6. RCSB Protein Data Bank (PDB)
The Protein Data Bank is the go-to resource for 3D structures of proteins, nucleic acids, and complexes.
Key Features
Access to thousands of experimentally determined protein structures.
Free molecular visualisation tools.
Integration with software like PyMOL (student edition).
Why It’s Useful
Understanding protein structures is crucial in drug discovery and structural biology.
7. Galaxy Project – Open Bioinformatics Platform
Galaxy is a free, web-based platform for data-intensive biology.
Key Features
Analyse NGS (next-generation sequencing) data.
Run workflows without coding.
Reproducible, sharable pipelines.
Why It’s Useful
Galaxy is excellent for beginners who want to practise bioinformatics workflows without installing complex software.
8. iGEM & SynBioHub – Synthetic Biology Resources
If synthetic biology excites you, platforms like SynBioHub and the iGEM community resources are invaluable.
Key Features
SynBioHub: Repository of genetic parts and design standards.
iGEM: Open-source project archives from international student teams.
Why It’s Useful
You can study real synthetic biology projects, design circuits, and even contribute to open-source biology.
9. UniProt – Protein Knowledgebase
UniProt is a free, comprehensive database for protein sequence and functional information.
Key Features
Functional annotations.
Cross-references to other major databases.
Protein family and domain information.
Why It’s Useful
If you’re aiming for biotech jobs in drug development or proteomics, UniProt skills are highly relevant.
10. R & Bioconductor – Free Bioinformatics Software
R is a free statistical programming language widely used in bioinformatics.
Key Features
Bioconductor packages for genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.
Powerful data visualisation.
Large community and documentation.
Why It’s Useful
Learning R with Bioconductor is an asset for careers in computational biology and bioinformatics.
11. PyMOL (Free Educational Edition)
PyMOL is one of the most popular molecular visualisation tools.
Key Features
3D visualisation of protein and DNA structures.
Publication-quality images.
Integration with PDB data.
Why It’s Useful
PyMOL is essential for structural biology and molecular design.
12. KEGG – Pathway Databases
The Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) is a free bioinformatics resource.
Key Features
Pathway maps for metabolism, signalling, and diseases.
Gene and protein annotations.
Drug development insights.
Why It’s Useful
KEGG is ideal for students learning systems biology and metabolic engineering.
13. PubChem & ChEMBL – Free Chemistry Databases
Biotech often overlaps with chemistry, especially in drug discovery.
Key Features
PubChem: Chemical properties, bioactivity, and toxicity data.
ChEMBL: Bioactive molecule database for drug discovery.
Why It’s Useful
These tools help you explore structure-activity relationships and practise computational chemistry skills.
14. EMBL-EBI Free Tools
The European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) offers a wide range of free web services.
Key Features
Sequence alignment tools.
Structural biology resources.
Ontology and pathway databases.
Why It’s Useful
EMBL-EBI is one of the world’s top biotech research institutions. Their tools mirror what’s used in real research labs.
15. Online Learning & Community Platforms
Finally, don’t overlook free learning hubs and communities where you can practise biotech skills.
Recommended Platforms
Coursera & edX (audit mode): Free university-level biotech courses.
YouTube channels: From synthetic biology lectures to lab demonstrations.
Reddit (r/biology, r/bioinformatics): Active communities for Q&A.
LinkedIn groups: Connect with biotech professionals and recruiters.
How to Make the Most of Free Biotechnology Tools
With so many free resources available, the key is to approach them strategically:
Pick one area of focus – genomics, proteomics, or synthetic biology.
Choose the right tools – e.g. Benchling + NCBI for molecular biology, or Galaxy + Bioconductor for bioinformatics.
Work on mini-projects – such as analysing a gene variant, mapping a protein pathway, or visualising a structure.
Document your projects – share them on GitHub or LinkedIn to impress recruiters.
Engage with communities – feedback from peers accelerates learning.
Final Thoughts
Biotechnology is a field driven by curiosity, experimentation, and practical application. The good news is that you don’t need a fully equipped lab or expensive software to start practising. With the right free tools and platforms, you can learn genomics, design CRISPR edits, analyse protein structures, and run bioinformatics pipelines from your laptop.
Whether your goal is to land a biotech internship, prepare for postgraduate study, or transition into an industry role, consistent practice with these resources will help you stand out.
The future of biotech is being written now — and with these free tools, you can be part of it.
