One common roadblock that molecular modelers face is figuring out the value of software extensions before committing to a purchase. You may have found yourself wondering whether a particular tool in the SAMSON ecosystem will be useful for your modeling project—but hesitated to subscribe right away.
Fortunately, SAMSON Connect offers a simple, risk-free way to explore the capabilities of SAMSON Extensions: through free trials and easy add/remove features directly integrated into your user account. If you’re a researcher or student working with molecular simulations, docking, or cheminformatics, understanding this workflow could save you both time and money.
Explore Before You Commit
When you browse the Marketplace on SAMSON Connect, you’ll find a wide variety of SAMSON Extensions—small yet powerful modules that enhance the core functionality of SAMSON, from advanced simulation engines to visualization tools.
Some of these extensions are immediately available and free to use. For others, SAMSON Connect implements a subscription model. However, you don’t need a credit card to try them.
Click ‘Request Trial’—No Strings Attached
To test a subscription-based extension, simply click the Request trial button. You don’t need to provide any payment information. The extension will then be marked as Trying.
After restarting SAMSON, the extension will be downloaded and automatically installed. During the trial, you get to evaluate whether it fits into your workflow, all without committing financially or administratively.
Easy Subscription Management
If you decide that an extension is worth keeping, you can subscribe to it using monthly, yearly, or academic plans (the latter often being very cost-effective for students and researchers).
After subscribing, the extension will be clearly marked as Subscribed.
To make changes, including cancellations, you can head to Account > Settings > View my subscriptions. Accessible and transparent, this section provides you with active overview and control over your extensions.
Removing Extensions is Just as Simple
You can remove any free or trial extension easily by hovering over the Added button, which turns into Remove. Click it, and restart SAMSON for the changes to apply.
Removed extensions are still visible under Account > Settings > View my extensions, so you can re-add them later if needed.
Why This Matters
In scientific computing, especially when dealing with molecular modeling tasks like protein folding or structure-based drug design, flexibility is essential. SAMSON Connect allows you to match your tools exactly to your current task—without overcommitting or overspending.
Learn more about extension management on SAMSON Connect in the official documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download it for free at https://www.samson-connect.net.