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Research · head to head

Castor EDC vs GWI

Castor EDC logo

Castor EDC

Research

Electronic data capture and eConsent for clinical trials, built for investigator-initiated studies as well as sponsors

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GWI logo

GWI

Research

Access human insights and consumer insights from real people, instantly

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GWI has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Castor EDC nothing is published: pricing is quoted only after a scoping call and protocol review, so budgeting a grant application means asking for a quote months before the study is funded and hoping the scope holds.; GWI teams and Pro pricing requires contacting sales; no published rates for higher tiers
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castor EDC and GWI actually diverge.

Attributes where Castor EDC and GWI differ
AttributeCastor EDCGWI
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Research).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Castor EDC

  • Browser-based study build
  • 21 CFR Part 11 workflows
  • eConsent
  • ePRO and surveys
  • Randomisation
  • Per-study licensing
  • Grant-funded pricing paths
  • Data export

Only in GWI

Nothing recorded that Castor EDC does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Castor EDC

  • An academic hospital running an investigator-initiated trial that cannot fund a sponsor-grade EDC contract or a data management CROnot GWI
  • A medical device company collecting post-market clinical follow-up data with Part 11 audit trailsnot GWI
  • A multi-site registry that needs remote eConsent because participants are recruited nationally rather than at a clinicnot GWI
  • A biotech running a small phase two study that wants the database built by its own clinical team in weeks rather than commissionednot GWI

GWI

  • Supporting agency pitches with audience datanot Castor EDC
  • Selecting media channels with demographic insightsnot Castor EDC
  • Developing content strategies with consumer researchnot Castor EDC
  • Validating partnerships with market datanot Castor EDC

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Castor EDC

  • Nothing is published: pricing is quoted only after a scoping call and protocol review, so budgeting a grant application means asking for a quote months before the study is funded and hoping the scope holds.
  • Price scales on protocol complexity rather than a simple unit, so two studies with the same participant count can be quoted very differently and there is no public benchmark to argue against.
  • Modules such as eConsent, ePRO and randomisation are quoted on top of the base platform, so the headline EDC figure is rarely the number that appears on the final proposal.
  • It is deliberately lighter than the full sponsor suites, so a study that grows into a global registrational programme needing integrated CTMS, safety, IRT and full trial supply management will need additional systems and the interfaces between them.
  • Regulatory responsibility does not transfer with the software: the platform supports Part 11 compliant workflows, but system validation for your intended use, SOPs and audit readiness remain your obligation and your cost, which sponsors new to EDC consistently underestimate.

GWI

  • Teams and Pro pricing requires contacting sales; no published rates for higher tiers
  • Enterprise solutions and custom datasets require separate consultation

Pricing, plan by plan

Castor EDC

On request
  • Castor EDC$undefined/year
    • Priced per study on protocol complexity, duration, sites and modules
    • 21 CFR Part 11 and ICH GCP workflows
    • eConsent, ePRO and randomisation modules quoted separately

GWI

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 Agent Spark prompts monthly
    • Unlimited GWI Canvas decks
    • Chart generation
  • Plus$150/month
    • Unlimited Agent Spark prompts
    • Save and export charts
    • Unlimited GWI Canvas decks
  • Teams$null/month
    • Custom pricing
    • All Plus features
    • Access shared dashboards
  • Pro$null/month
    • Custom pricing
    • All Plus features
    • Unlimited platform access

Which should you pick?

Choose Castor EDC if

  • You need browser-based study build.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want 21 cfr part 11 workflows.
Castor EDC review

Choose GWI if

  • You want to start without paying.
GWI review

Questions people ask

Is Castor EDC or GWI better?
Neither clearly leads. Castor EDC starts at On request and GWI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castor EDC or GWI?
GWI has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Castor EDC and Free for GWI.
Does Castor EDC or GWI run on more platforms?
Castor EDC runs on Web, iOS, Android. GWI runs on Web.
Can I use GWI for free?
Yes. GWI has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Castor EDC starts at On request.
What is Castor EDC best used for?
Castor EDC is most often used for an academic hospital running an investigator-initiated trial that cannot fund a sponsor-grade edc contract or a data management cro, a medical device company collecting post-market clinical follow-up data with part 11 audit trails, a multi-site registry that needs remote econsent because participants are recruited nationally rather than at a clinic, a biotech running a small phase two study that wants the database built by its own clinical team in weeks rather than commissioned. Of those, an academic hospital running an investigator-initiated trial that cannot fund a sponsor-grade edc contract or a data management cro and a medical device company collecting post-market clinical follow-up data with part 11 audit trails are not what GWI is typically brought in for.
What can Castor EDC do that GWI cannot?
Castor EDC covers Browser-based study build, 21 CFR Part 11 workflows, eConsent, ePRO and surveys.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Castor EDC: Is there a free academic version?

No published free tier. There are academic, non-profit and grant-funded pricing paths, but each is quoted rather than self-service.

GWI: Is there a free GWI plan?

Yes, GWI offers a free tier with 10 Agent Spark prompts monthly and unlimited GWI Canvas decks.

Source
Castor EDC: Is it 21 CFR Part 11 compliant?

It supports Part 11 compliant workflows with audit trails and electronic signatures. Validating the system for your specific use remains your responsibility.

GWI: What is the difference between GWI Plus, Teams, and Pro?

Plus costs $150/user/month with unlimited prompts and 50K profiling points. Teams is custom-priced with all Plus features plus shared dashboards and multi-user discounts. Pro is custom-priced with unlimited access, up to 250K profiling points, and advanced research tools.

Source
Castor EDC: Do I need a programmer to build a study?

No. Case report forms are configured in the browser, which is the main reason academic groups adopt it.

GWI: How much does GWI charge for annual billing?

GWI offers a 15% discount for annual commitments. Plus annual pricing is $1,500/user annually (equivalent to $125/user/month).

Source
Castor EDC: How long does a quote take?

Castor states a full pricing proposal within five business days of sharing the protocol.

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