Castor eConsent alternative: how to compare consent workflows
Castor eConsent is described by Castor as a remote and in-person consent module inside its platform. This page covers that module only: what to test, which signature and audit questions separate eConsent tools, and how Capture's eConsent works so you can compare it free.
- Module-level comparison
- Vendor claims hedged
- Free eConsent test
Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 compliant
| Castor eConsent | Capture | |
|---|---|---|
| Participant signature verified before signing | Ask vendor | Email OTP, mandatory |
| Investigator countersignature | Ask vendor | Password re-authentication |
| Witness and LAR signatures | Ask vendor | Optional witness, LAR supported |
| Signature bound to document content | Ask vendor | Cryptographic hash |
| Hands-on trial before contract | Ask vendor | Free sandbox |
What to know first
- What Castor says: its eConsent module supports remote or in-person consent, an ICF builder or upload of paper-signed forms, screening questionnaires before consent, video calls for identity checks and questions, multimedia content, real-time tracking of where each participant is in enrolment, and passing consent status into Castor EDC. These come from Castor's own product and help pages, so verify them on its site.
- Scope of this page: the consent module only. For Castor as an EDC, see Castor EDC alternatives and Capture vs Castor.
- What we do not claim: anything about Castor pricing, certifications, language coverage, customers, ratings or how reliably any feature works. Castor's eConsent comparison page is vendor-authored and favours Castor, so we use it as a source of questions.
- What Capture's eConsent does: on-screen participant signature confirmed by a mandatory email one-time code, investigator countersignature with password re-authentication, optional witness and LAR signatures, a signature hashed to the exact document content, and PDF export with embedded signature data and audit trail. It sits in the same study record as the EDC and ePRO.
- Capture does not claim video visits, multilingual consent or offline signing. If you need them, ask each vendor to demonstrate them.
The module
What Castor describes about its eConsent
Castor's product page positions eConsent for on-site and remote studies. According to the vendor, a coordinator can build an electronic informed consent form in an ICF builder or upload a form that was signed on paper, a participant can consent with or without a subject account, and screening questions can limit consent to eligible people. The help pages describe the signing steps and launch setup, and the vendor says built-in video calls let staff check identity and answer questions without leaving the platform.
The vendor also says consent materials can include videos, infographics and FAQs, that coordinators can see participants moving through the enrolment funnel, and that once consent is captured participant data can update in Castor EDC. Castor also states it meets major data protection and clinical rules; we do not repeat those statements and you should ask for the evidence you need.
Everything here is vendor-stated and we have not tested it. A useful way to evaluate any module is to separate the content layer (how clear the consent experience is) from the evidence layer (what you could show an inspector for one signature). The what is eConsent guide and remote identity verification for eConsent go deeper on both.
Evidence layer
Ten questions for one signed consent record
Ask both vendors to produce a sample record for one participant and answer each in writing.
| Question | Ask Castor | Capture's answer |
|---|---|---|
| Who signed, and how was identity confirmed? | Ask how remote participants are verified before signing, and what record is kept. | A two-step process with a mandatory email one-time code, plus an acknowledgement of the legal-binding statement. |
| Countersignature | Ask how the investigator signs and what authentication is used. | Password re-authentication with a legal meaning statement; the document is "Fully Executed" only after countersignature. |
| Witness and LAR | Ask whether and how witness or legally authorized representative signatures are captured. | Optional witness co-signature and LAR signature, with the LAR name and relationship recorded. |
| Integrity | Ask how a signature is tied to the exact document text. | Each signature is hashed to the document content at signing time. |
| Audit trail | Ask for an export of the consent audit trail. | Field-level and append-only; exported with the signed PDF. |
| Output | Ask what a signed consent looks like as a file. | PDF with embedded signature data, timestamps and audit trail. |
| Link to study data | Is consent in the same record and audit trail as the EDC? | Yes. EDC, ePRO and eConsent share one study and one audit trail. |
| Templates | Ask what starting content exists. | Templates for basic clinical trial, biobank, genomic research, multi-site, pediatric assent, pre-screening and more at /templates/consent. |
| Languages, video and offline | Ask for a live demonstration of each you need. | Not claimed by Capture; confirm needs on a demo. |
| Total cost | Ask for a written quote for consent only and for consent with EDC. | Plan pricing on the pricing page; sandbox free. |
Verify every Castor statement on the vendor's own site. No Castor pricing, rating or compliance claim is made here.
Sign a mock consent end to end
Build a consent from a template in the free sandbox, sign as a participant, countersign as the investigator and open the PDF. No card.
Hands-on test
Open the signed record, not the marketing page
The fastest way to compare eConsent products is to produce one signed consent and read it as an auditor would. Check who signed, in what order, with which authentication, against which version of the text, and whether the trail can be edited. This is a demo-data view of how a Capture signature record is tied to its document.
- The participant acknowledges the legal-binding statement before signing.
- Each signature is hashed to the document content at signing time.
- The signed consent exports as a PDF with signature data and audit trail.
Meaning of signature
I have reviewed this adverse event and confirm the assessment of seriousness, severity and causality.
Signer
Dr. A. Ozola, PI
Password
••••••••••
Packaging
Where the consent module sits
Decision aid
Who should pick which
You need video-assisted remote consent
Ask Castor to demonstrate it. Capture does not claim built-in video visits.
You want the signature chain to be easy to audit
Compare sample records side by side using the ten questions above.
Consent must sit in the same record as EDC and diaries
Test Capture, where all three share one audit trail.
Participants cannot consent for themselves (children, adults lacking capacity)
Check LAR and assent handling in both; Capture has pediatric assent and LAR options.
Your consent text will change mid-study
Ask each vendor to demonstrate version handling and what happens to existing participants.
Process
A four-day eConsent bake-off
- 1
Day 1: pick one real consent form
Use the same text, the same witness rules and the same version in each product.
- 2
Day 2: build
Build it in each tool; in Capture start from a template in /templates/consent.
- 3
Day 3: sign as a participant and countersign
Use a phone for the participant step, then complete the investigator step.
- 4
Day 4: read the record
Export the signed file and audit trail. Score identity, order, integrity and exportability.
Next steps
Related reading
See eConsent software for clinical trials, best eConsent software, eConsent for multi-site trials, impartial witness in eConsent and legally authorized representative consent.
If you also use Castor's EDC and are thinking of moving, read how to migrate from Castor. For cost, see eConsent cost per study and the pricing page.
What does Castor eConsent include?
Castor describes remote and in-person consent, an ICF builder or upload of paper-signed forms, pre-screening questionnaires, built-in video calls, multimedia content, enrolment tracking and a link to Castor EDC. Confirm the current module list and your plan on its site.
Is Capture a drop-in replacement for Castor eConsent?
Capture covers on-screen consent with email-OTP participant signature, investigator countersignature, optional witness and LAR signatures, templates and PDF export. It does not claim built-in video visits, multilingual consent or offline signing, so compare against your must-haves first.
Can I use Capture eConsent with Castor EDC?
We make no claim about connecting the two. Capture's eConsent runs inside the Capture study with its own audit trail. Ask both vendors what export or import is supported before planning a mixed setup.
How much does Castor eConsent cost compared with Capture?
We do not quote Castor pricing. Ask for a written quote covering consent alone and consent with EDC. Capture has a free sandbox and plan pricing on the pricing page.
How is a Capture consent signature protected?
The participant confirms by email one-time code, the investigator countersigns with password re-authentication, and each signature is cryptographically linked to the exact document content. The audit trail is append-only.
Are Capture's compliance claims verified?
Capture is ISO 27001 certified, 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, GDPR compliant, HIPAA compliant and ICH GCP E6(R3) compliant, with EU and US data hosting. Validated use is a shared responsibility with the sponsor.
Can I try Capture eConsent without a sales call?
Yes. The sandbox is free, has no credit card and no time limit, and includes consent templates you can sign end to end.
Sign a consent before you sign a contract
Build, sign and countersign a mock consent in the Capture sandbox. No credit card.