EDC software pricing in 2026: three tiers, one honest guide
EDC pricing is not public, but the market falls into three clear tiers based on study size and scope. This guide lays them out with the ranges vendors actually charge, so you have a reference point before your first sales call.
- Three market tiers
- What drives cost up
- No sales call required to see ours
Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 aligned
- IRB/EC approved12-Aug-2026
- Contract executedConfirmed
- Site initiated / SIV completed02-Sep-2026
- Delegation log completeConfirmed
Pre-launch readiness
1 site activated
1 form not yet approved
$10K-$50K
small / academic, single site
$50K-$150K
mid-market, multi-site Phase 2
$150K-$500K+
enterprise, multi-region Phase 3
30-92%
typical implementation overhead on top
The three tiers
Where your study probably falls
Based on commonly cited industry pricing research across enterprise, mid-market and small-trial EDC deals.
Small / academic
$10,000 to $50,000. A single-site Phase 1 or academic study with a straightforward build.
Mid-market
$50,000 to $150,000. A multi-site Phase 2 study with a moderate implementation.
Enterprise
$150,000 to $500,000 and up. A large, multi-region Phase 3 program with a multi-month rollout.
Implementation overhead
Commonly adds 30 to 92 percent on top of the license, depending on scope and how many systems you are integrating.
What drives the price up
The line items that push a deal into the next tier
The base license is rarely the whole story. Sites, users, modules and integrations each add their own cost, and stacking separate systems for EDC, ePRO and eConsent multiplies license and implementation fees rather than sharing them.
- More sites and more named users, priced per seat on many platforms
- Extra modules such as randomization or safety reporting sold separately
- A validation and UAT package for regulated studies
- Change orders for protocol amendments after go-live
- SO
Study owner
Builds and configures the study
- PI
Principal investigator
Oversees the site, signs off the casebook
- SI
Sub-investigator
Enters and signs clinical data
- SC
Study coordinator
Screens subjects, enters visit data
- CRA
Monitor (CRA)
Verifies data, raises queries
- DM
Data manager
Reviews, freezes and locks data
- PT
Participant
Completes their own questionnaires
The alternative
Quote-first vendors vs a free sandbox
Before you switch
What to check before committing to a number
Cost
Build and test your exact study free first, so the number you eventually pay is not a guess.
Compliance
21 CFR Part 11-aligned controls and audit trails are included, not a paid add-on module.
Setup time
Most teams have a working study build the same day, not after a multi-month rollout.
Migration
Bring an existing study across the same way, whichever system you are leaving.
Support
Email support, typically under 24 hours, included at every tier.
Skip the sales call and see the real number
Build your exact study free. Pay only once you go live.
Why is EDC software pricing so hard to find?
Enterprise vendors quote each deal individually based on user count, modules and implementation scope, so a public price list would undercut their own negotiations. Smaller vendors are more transparent but often still gate pricing behind a demo request.
What does a small trial typically pay for EDC?
Based on commonly cited industry pricing research, a single-site Phase 1 or academic study typically falls in the $10,000 to $50,000 range for license and setup, before implementation overhead.
How much does implementation add on top of the license?
Commonly cited industry figures put implementation and validation overhead at 30 to 92 percent on top of the base license, depending on scope.
Why do EDC, ePRO and eConsent cost more when bought separately?
Each is usually its own product with its own license and implementation fee. Buying them from one platform, as with Capture, means one license and one build instead of three.
Does Capture charge a setup fee?
No. There is no setup fee. You build and test the full study free, and pay only once you go live with real participant data.
Is there a public price list for Capture?
Rather than a fixed price list, we let you build your exact study in a free sandbox first. That gives you a real number for your specific study instead of a generic tier.
Keep exploring
Related pages
Affordable EDC systems
What "affordable" looks like for lean biotech and academic teams.
EDC cost calculator
Estimate a typical cost range for your own study size.
Best EDC software (2026 roundup)
An honest, per-vendor "best for" breakdown.
Free trial, no credit card
Build your study free before you decide on a budget.
How much does a clinical trial cost
The bigger picture beyond just the EDC line item.
Clinical trial software for biotech founders
Budgeting for your first trial without a large ops team.
See your real number, not a tier
Build your exact study free. No credit card, no sales call.