A molecular modeling workflow can depend on several specialized tools. But finding the right extension—and knowing whether it is included, free to add, or subscription-based—can interrupt the work you came to do. A useful approach is to treat extension management as a small, deliberate workflow: check compatibility, understand the access option, try or add the extension, then remove anything you no longer need.
Check before you add
In the SAMSON Extensions marketplace on SAMSON Connect, open an extension’s page before adding it. The page describes what the extension does, identifies its authors, lists supported operating systems, and shows which SAMSON versions are supported. Checking these details first can help you avoid choosing an extension that does not match your computer or installation.
It is also worth checking how the extension is made available. Extensions may be included with your current plan, freely available to add, or offered through a subscription. The plan matters: some SAMSON functionality and the number of free extensions available may vary by plan. SAMSON has a free Starter plan, though some features and free extensions may be limited.
Choose a low-friction way to evaluate it
If an extension is freely available, sign in to SAMSON Connect and select Add. The extension will be marked as added. After you restart SAMSON, it downloads and installs automatically. In other words, adding it on the website is not the final installation step; plan for a restart before expecting to use it.
If an extension requires a subscription, you may be able to request a trial before subscribing. The documentation notes that requesting a trial does not require credit card information. This offers a practical way to assess whether an extension fits your work before choosing a monthly or yearly subscription. Academic subscriptions are available when you have academic status.
During this decision, keep the question specific: does this extension support the task you need, on your operating system and SAMSON version, and is its access option suitable for your plan? A quick check of those points is more useful than collecting extensions simply because they are available.
Keep your installation manageable
When an extension is no longer useful, you can remove a free extension from its marketplace page. Sign in, open the extension, and hover over the Added button; it changes to Remove. Click it, then restart SAMSON for the removal to take effect.
For subscriptions, go to Account > Settings > View my subscriptions to manage them. After restarting SAMSON, an unsubscribed extension is removed from the installation. It remains visible under Account > Settings > View my extensions, so you can find it again if you want to add it later.
A simple habit helps keep the process clear: check compatibility, identify the access type, add or trial only what you need, and remember that changes may require a restart. For the complete overview of SAMSON Connect—including downloads, account settings, shared documents, and developer resources—see the SAMSON Connect documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.