Castor EDC vs OpenClinica

TheraPlatform

Greenlight Guru Clinical

RedCap

Grooper

ClinCapture

ddSuite

Compare Castor EDC and OpenClinica based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Google Forms

Google Forms is a free form builder tool that enables users to create surveys and questionnaires online in order to collect and organize information

FormAssembly

FormAssembly is an easy-to-use, powerful web form and data collection platform. We help organizations get rid of inefficient data collection methods, streamline and connect their data with smart integrations, and reduce reliance on IT and development services.

Jotform

Jotform is a cloud-based form builder platform that helps businesses streamline form creation via ready-made templates, integrations with third-party applications, and design features that cater to organizations globally.

The only GCP & 21 CFR compliant system that's affordable for every researcher and has all the features of expensive systems. Start now.

21 CFR Part 11 Compliance

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Audit Management

Audit Trail

Clinical Study Management

Configurable Workflow

CRF Tracking

Customizable Branding

Customizable Fields

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Data Capture and Transfer

Data Extraction

Data Import/Export

Data Storage Management

Data Synchronization

Data Verification

Data Visualization

Digital Signature

Distributed Capture

Document Classification

Document Imaging

Document Management

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Electronic Data Capture

Electronic Signature

EMR/EHR

Enrollments/Onboarding

Forms Management

HIPAA Compliant

Metadata Management

Mobile Access

Monitoring

Multi-Language

Patient Management

Patient Monitoring

Progress Tracking

Randomization

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Monitoring

Real-Time Reporting

Reminders

Remote Data Capture

Reporting/Analytics

Role-Based Permissions

Secure Data Storage

Surveys & Feedback

Third-Party Integrations

Trial Design

User Management

Workflow Management

Castor EDC

Web-based

Basic

Research technician

The option to come back and add more answers to a multiple-choice question while still working on the form (this is not a change to an answer but merely an addition of data). If I complete a form and later modify the contents of more than one question, the messages should be specific to each change rather than general for the entire page, since the reasons for each change might be different.

Senior Research Nurse

Also, I use an Ipad to log in to castor most of the times and I am not sure that when I need to input numbers on multiple fields the keyboard doesn't stay in numbers and I have to constantly swap from letters to numbers.

I’ve been working with several EDC instruments and in Castor I’ve found an all in one tool with randomization, monitoring, high security level data storing, and a great flexibility to customize the eCRF.

Practicing physician. Director of clinical cancer research

In particular the survey was well designed to perform real-time quality assessment to promote completion of each section and provide feedback if answers were unclear. If there are any problems, human staff were readily available to resolve them.

Clinical Research Practitioner

As mentioned, the randomisation aspect is quick, however since one of the updates the button has now moved to the left of the screen and it just says "not randomised". Until you select this option is may not be obvious that this is how you randomise patients as it looks like a statement, rather than an option to select.

Clinical research coordinator

Easy to navigate, less auto queries, less system checks inhibiting data entry, given ts a web application with no requirement to download the soft ware on a desk top, it’s easier to work on from anywhere and anytime.

Physician PhD-student

Sometimes the automatic track changes is a bit too sensitive: when I'm filling in the questionnaire and make 1 mistake, I have to change everything and explain it for every changed field.

It might be helpful to have a comment box available for each of the cases reported, in case the person completing the survey has any question about what is being asked for or is not certain that their best response is exactly what is being asked for.

Research Data Abstractor

once subject ID# has been made, it cannot be edited/corrected anymore like for example entering the subject number in a wrong format (for multicenter studies).

Data Officer

I like that I can see repeated forms and access monitoring section to see any outstanding queries.

More time to make changes or the ability to come back and modify them at any time while still filling out the form.

Sometimes it's seems like there are multiple places for the introduction text and the only way to find out was to just trail and error.

Medical staff

I can add complete studies and capture different types of data.

PhD Student

You can add and remove based on your Case Reporting Form or questionnaires

Study Coordinator

What I liked least about Castor was that it did not collect all the information that, in my personal opinion, was necessary for the complete management of the trial.

Veterinary Technician

Needs a location to see a comprehensive list of pets due for another sample collection or next year visit

in clinical trials, we use it to collect data from patients

Senior Research Nurse Study Coordinator

Even the ability to send surveys/questionnaires to patients is very convenient.

study coordinator

Combination of patient personal information in the same database as clinical information

Clinicial Project Manager

Sometimes, the queries are not visible in which CRFs are located.

Clinical Trial Pharmacist

Depending in which language you chose, it allows you to log in.

It was helpful that a good amount of time was allowed to enter multiple case reports.  

None so far maybe because this is the first trial we have on this EDC and not a lot of participants and not a lot of information to enter.

PhD-student and psychological assistent

Overall it's intuitive and if you have a technical question, you can e-mail and will get a quick response.

The flexibility to customize the EDC intrument.

The fields are very well categorised and it is easy to see where the information you need is located.

Clinical Data Manager

To find out a list of all Notification given to all staff.

Site couldnt enter different units for lab results

Nurse supervisor

Very good experience in handling forms and participant data.

Research Analyst

Data Entry

The way they showed the queries because it was difficult to respond.

I like how the EDC looks because it is very visual, and it is easy to see what remains to be completed.

consutant analyst

ease of access, ease of navigation, user friendly in allocating the stuy i needed for analyses and report

Pharmacist

The presentation of the website but it could be improved,

it is great so far. when I enter data it automatically saves.

Lead Clinical Research Coordinator

It was easy to navigate with no lag time or slowness to entering in data.

Clinical Research Coordinator

It is extremely useful and definitely simplifies data capture

This is a not very intuitive website but it has many functionalities.

Research Scientist MD, MPH

Queries are not salient enough and are sometimes easy to miss

Technical Supervisor

Visually I feel formatting could be better.

This type of structure makes my work easier

In addition, it is fast and without visual noise.

Clinical Reasearch

This is my first job in data entry and Castor has made it easy.

Castor EDC is a website easy to access but it could be improved

Research assistant

I rarely had issues with it and when I did, they were quickly/ easily resolved.

User Interface

Questionnaires

Ease of Use

Query Management

Layout

Navigation

Clinical Trials

Bugs and Issues

Small Business

Mid-size Business

Large Enterprises

Freelancers

Castor

Captivate is a clinical trial management platform that offers multiple integrated modules for conducting research studies. The software includes electronic data capture, electronic patient-reported outcomes, electronic consent, randomization and trial supply management, electronic trial master file, and medical coding capabilities. Captivate is designed to support organizations involved in clinical research operations.

Medrio

Medrio is an electronic data capture (EDC) tool for clinical research teams with tools for capturing, storing, analyzing, & managing patient data during clinical trials. Medrio offers secure storage of patient data, automates regulatory compliance management & allows users to build custom studies.

Researchmanager – Clinical Research Suite

The Clinical Research Suite is an online platform tailored for managing clinical trials, facilitating organizations in planning, strategizing, and executing life science research. It empowers researchers to collect and analyze data in standardized formats, optimizing scientific research and decisio

OpenClinica is a compliant, all-in-one clinical data management platform offering electronic data capture with collaborative drag and drop interface for designing studies, randomization and supply management, patient reported outcomes (ePRO & eCOA), plus reporting tools with chart visualizations

Double Data Entry

Inventory Management

Reporting & Statistics

Scheduling

Web Forms

OpenClinica

Windows

Linux

University Intern

Our research on the efficacy and safety of medications was supported by OpenClinica's reporting and analytics capabilities, which gave us insights into patient demographics, treatment outcomes, and adverse events.

Data Manager

The support provided by the Openclinica team cannot be beat. If I may list two things, the OC system is incredibly user friendly.

CDM II

Some training sessions go really well, especially when you are with someone hire up on the support team, but there have been many sessions where the trainer is referring to a manual to instruct me on my question and I lose a lot of my "training hours" waiting for them to figure it out and then pass on the information.

The options for designing forms are diverse, though some of them require learning additional skillsets to be able to implement, which they don't explain to you in the training.  

For clinical research investigations, OpenClinica has a number of benefits.

The randomization tool is pretty sophisticated but it also costs extra and whenever you need to do updates to the tool it's a much more difficult process then simply publishing it to test.

Director of Operations

We would have liked training videos for the excel sheets if you didn't remember your superuser training functions.

Research Associate

The software is easy to use for data collection which is hugely important which many staff spread over many centres need to use it effectively.

This also adds layers of difficulty to the testing.

The forms are very powerful and have almost every feature you might need: conditional display, modern responsive interface, touch friendly, lots of question types, conditional requirement, programmable notes to users.

Senior Clinical Research Data Manager

The web-based interface is user-friendly, and the new features of real-time queries, and auto-saving features really improve the user experience for data entry persons.

Clinical Project Manager

I wish it would be integrated to a Finance system as well as a Clinical Trial Management System.

Sr. Director, Clinical Research

They trainers and programming consultants have been exceptional at helping us learn and navigate the system.  

Senior Trials Programmer

The ease of use has saved countless working hours but also produces high quality eCRFs - a product the OpenClinica team should be immensely proud of.

Castor EDC vs OpenClinica Comparison (2026)

Castor EDC

OpenClinica

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives