Free EDC software: what is actually free in 2026
REDCap and OpenClinica Community Edition are free to license, but both need you to host and maintain them yourself. Capture’s sandbox is free to build and test in, with no time limit, and you pay only once you go live. Here is what "free" really includes for each.
- 3 real free options
- What each one leaves out
- No hidden time limit on our sandbox
Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 aligned
Demographics
SDTM DM
Vital signs
SDTM VS
ECG
SDTM EG
Physical examination
SDTM PE
Laboratory
SDTM LB
Medical history
SDTM MH
Adverse events
SDTM AE
Concomitant medications
SDTM CM
$0
REDCap license (self-hosted)
$0
OpenClinica Community Edition (self-hosted)
$0
Capture sandbox, no time limit
1
point where Capture starts charging: going live
The real options
What "free" includes, and what it does not
REDCap
Free license for eligible institutions. You host, upgrade and support the server yourself.
OpenClinica Community Edition
Free and open source. Also self-hosted, so setup and maintenance is on your team.
Capture free sandbox
No credit card and no time limit to build and test your entire study. You pay only once you go live with real participants.
The tradeoff
Self-hosted free vs a hosted sandbox
Build and test your study free
No credit card, no time limit, every feature included.
Is REDCap really free?
The REDCap license is free for eligible institutions, but you or your institution host, maintain and support the server yourself, which carries a real IT cost.
Is Capture free?
The sandbox is free with no credit card and no time limit: you can build and test your entire study. You pay only once you go live with real participant data.
What is the catch with OpenClinica Community Edition?
It is free and open source, but self-hosted, so you take on server setup, upgrades and support yourself, the same tradeoff as REDCap.
Does the Capture sandbox have a participant or form limit?
No credit card and no time limit apply to the sandbox itself. You go live, and start paying, only when you are ready to collect real participant data.
Which free option is best for an academic study?
If your institution already supports REDCap, that is a reasonable default. If you want eConsent and ePRO together without standing up your own server, try Capture’s sandbox first.
Keep exploring
Related pages
Capture vs REDCap
A full head-to-head, including the self-hosting tradeoff.
REDCap alternatives
Other options if REDCap does not fit your study.
Clinical trial software free trial
More on how the free sandbox works.
Affordable EDC systems
What comes next once you are ready to go live.
Best EDC software (2026 roundup)
How free options compare to paid ones.
Build and test your study free
No credit card, no time limit, every feature included.