Castor
Castor is a comprehensive clinical trial platform providing electronic data capture and decentralized trial solutions to help researchers streamline data collection and accelerate medical breakthroughs.
OpenClinica
OpenClinica is a unified clinical data management platform that provides electronic data capture, participant engagement, and automated reporting to accelerate the speed and improve the accuracy of clinical trials.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Castor | OpenClinica |
|---|---|---|
| Website | castoredc.com | openclinica.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Custom |
| Starting Price | Free | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 0 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2012 | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Waltham, USA |
Overview
Castor
Castor provides a unified platform to help you run faster, more efficient clinical trials. You can manage every stage of your research, from designing your study and capturing patient data to managing consent and integrating wearable device information. The software replaces manual, paper-based processes with secure, cloud-based workflows that ensure your data remains high-quality and compliant with global regulatory standards like GDPR and HIPAA.
You can build your study in hours rather than weeks using a drag-and-drop interface that requires no coding knowledge. Whether you are conducting a small academic study or a large-scale international commercial trial, the platform scales to meet your needs. It focuses on reducing the burden on both researchers and participants through user-friendly interfaces and remote enrollment capabilities.
OpenClinica
OpenClinica provides a unified environment to manage your clinical research data from start to finish. You can build complex studies quickly using a drag-and-drop interface, capture data electronically through intuitive forms, and engage participants directly via their own devices. The platform eliminates manual data entry hurdles by automating the flow of information from electronic health records directly into your study database.
You can maintain high data quality with real-time edit checks and automated queries that flag inconsistencies immediately. Whether you are running a small academic study or a large-scale global trial, the system scales to meet your regulatory compliance needs, including 21 CFR Part 11. It helps you reduce study timelines by providing instant access to clean, analysis-ready data through built-in reporting and visualization tools.
Overview
Castor Features
- Form Builder Build complex electronic Case Report Forms (eCRFs) quickly using a visual drag-and-drop editor without writing any code.
- eConsent Enroll participants remotely and securely with digital informed consent forms that they can sign from any device.
- Real-time Validations Set up automated data checks to catch errors at the point of entry and ensure your trial data is clean.
- ePRO & Surveys Collect data directly from your patients through automated email surveys and mobile-friendly questionnaires to improve engagement.
- Randomization Implement complex randomization schedules directly within your study workflow to maintain the scientific integrity of your trial.
- Monitoring Dashboard Track your study progress and site performance in real-time with visual dashboards that highlight missing data or queries.
OpenClinica Features
- Electronic Data Capture. Build and deploy web-based case report forms quickly with a user-friendly designer that requires no advanced programming skills.
- Participate (ePRO). Collect data directly from patients on their own smartphones or tablets to improve engagement and reduce site visits.
- Clinical Data Mart. Access your study data in a flexible, relational format that makes it easy to create custom reports and visualizations.
- Data Integration. Connect your study directly to electronic health records to pull clinical data automatically and eliminate manual transcription errors.
- Automated Queries. Set up logic-based rules that automatically flag data discrepancies, allowing your team to resolve issues in real-time.
- Randomization. Manage subject assignments and drug supply logistics within the same platform to ensure your study remains blinded and balanced.
Pricing Comparison
Castor Pricing
- Available for non-commercial research
- Unlimited data points
- Standard EDC features
- Community support
- Self-service study building
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Commercial trial licensing
- Advanced randomization
- ePRO and survey modules
- Priority technical support
- Enhanced security and compliance
OpenClinica Pricing
Pros & Cons
Castor
Pros
- Extremely intuitive interface for non-technical users
- Fast study setup compared to traditional EDC systems
- Excellent free tier for academic and non-profit research
- Responsive and helpful customer support team
Cons
- Advanced logic requires some time to master
- Reporting tools can be limited for complex datasets
- Mobile app experience is less polished than desktop
OpenClinica
Pros
- Highly flexible form builder supports complex clinical protocols
- Strong compliance features for regulatory audits and security
- Active community support for the open-source edition
- Intuitive interface for site coordinators and data entry
Cons
- Self-hosted version requires significant technical expertise to maintain
- Advanced reporting features may require a learning curve
- Customization of complex workflows can be time-consuming