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Research · head to head

Castor EDC vs LabWare

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
LabWare logo

LabWare

Research

Enterprise laboratory information management system for regulated labs

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; LabWare implementation and validation take a year or more, and the services cost frequently exceeds the licence
  • They diverge on capability: Castor EDC covers Browser-based study build, LabWare covers Sample management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Castor EDC and LabWare differ
AttributeCastor EDCLabWare
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows, Web, Cloud, On-premise

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), 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 LabWare

  • Sample management
  • Instrument integration
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Stability studies
  • ELN
  • Configuration framework

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 LabWare
  • A medical device company collecting post-market clinical follow-up data with Part 11 audit trailsnot LabWare
  • A multi-site registry that needs remote eConsent because participants are recruited nationally rather than at a clinicnot LabWare
  • A biotech running a small phase two study that wants the database built by its own clinical team in weeks rather than commissionednot LabWare

LabWare

  • Pharmaceutical quality control laboratories subject to regulatory inspectionnot Castor EDC
  • Multi-site laboratory networks needing one method and specification librarynot Castor EDC
  • Contract laboratories managing chain of custody across many clientsnot Castor EDC
  • Laboratories replacing a validated legacy LIMS they can no longer maintainnot 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.

LabWare

  • Implementation and validation take a year or more, and the services cost frequently exceeds the licence
  • Pricing is entirely quote-based with no public reference point, even by enterprise standards
  • Extensive configuration means the finished system depends heavily on implementation quality, and outcomes vary widely between customers
  • The interface is functional rather than modern, which is a common objection from scientists used to consumer software
  • Substantially over-specified for research laboratories without regulatory obligations

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

LabWare

On request
  • LabWare LIMS$undefined/year
    • Sample management
    • Instrument integration
    • Regulatory compliance

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 LabWare if

  • You need sample management.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Cloud, On-premise.
  • You also want instrument integration.
LabWare review

Questions people ask

Is Castor EDC or LabWare better?
Neither clearly leads. Castor EDC starts at On request and LabWare at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castor EDC or LabWare?
Castor EDC starts at On request and LabWare at On request.
Does Castor EDC or LabWare run on more platforms?
Castor EDC runs on Web, iOS, Android. LabWare runs on Windows, Web, Cloud, On-premise.
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 LabWare is typically brought in for.
What can Castor EDC do that LabWare cannot?
Castor EDC covers Browser-based study build, 21 CFR Part 11 workflows, eConsent, ePRO and surveys. LabWare covers Sample management, Instrument integration, Regulatory compliance, Stability studies.

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.

LabWare: Why is LabWare so dominant in pharma?

Validation experience. In a regulated laboratory the software forms part of what an inspector examines, and decades of accumulated validation practice is not something a newer vendor can substitute for.

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.

LabWare: What does it cost?

Not published. Enterprise licensing plus implementation and validation services, and the services frequently exceed the licence.

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.

LabWare: How long is implementation?

A year or more for a regulated laboratory, including validation. Anyone quoting substantially less is either scoping narrowly or omitting validation.

Castor EDC: How long does a quote take?

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

LabWare: Does it include an electronic laboratory notebook?

Yes, LabWare offers ELN alongside LIMS on the same platform, which avoids the integration problem of running two vendors.

LabWare: Is it suitable for a research lab?

Usually not. Research laboratories without regulatory obligations pay for compliance machinery they do not need, and Benchling or a lighter LIMS fits better.

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