SimpleTrials alternative: a CTMS that shares a record with your EDC
SimpleTrials is described as a cloud CTMS with an eTMF for sponsors, CROs and sites. This page shows what a standalone CTMS leaves to other systems, the questions to ask, and how Capture puts CTMS, eTMF and EDC in one platform for you to test.
- Listing-based, hedged
- CTMS and EDC in one record
- Free sandbox test
Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 compliant
Questions per vendor
8
Capture CTMS and eTMF
Full Platform
- Enrolment counts come from the EDC, not retypedAsk vendor
- Site list and milestones in one viewBoth
- Trial master file versions and audit trailAsk vendor
- Site contracts and paymentsNot claimed by Capture
- Hands-on trial before contractCapture sandbox
What to know first
- What public sources say: SimpleTrials, from Trial By Fire Solutions in Oakland, California, is listed as a cloud CTMS with eTMF for sponsors, CROs and research sites. Listings and press releases describe study and site management, milestone and start-up tracking, subject and visit tracking, documents and eTMF, and since a 2017 release, site contracts and payments. Directory pages say it can be used with third-party EDC platforms. The freshest vendor-authored material we found dates from 2018, so verify everything on the vendor's site.
- The central issue is the data seam. A standalone CTMS can only report enrolment and visit status accurately if someone enters it or an interface carries it from the EDC. Ask exactly how that works.
- What we do not claim: SimpleTrials pricing, compliance statements, customers or ratings, and nothing about whether it integrates with Capture.
- Capture's position: CTMS and eTMF are included in the Full Platform plan, in the same system as EDC, ePRO and eConsent, with enrolment shown from the same data as the EDC. Capture does not claim site contracts, payments or budget management.
- Test it free. The sandbox has nearly every feature, no card and no time limit.
The vendor
What listings and releases describe about SimpleTrials
Software directories describe SimpleTrials as a cloud-based clinical trial management system built around study and site management, subject tracking, financials and risk indicators, with document management and an eTMF. A 2017 trade release for version 2.0 said it added site contract and payment management that connects to subject and visit tracking, and a 2018 release described an electronic visit report tied to the visit calendar and eTMF. Directories list compliance statements and pricing; we do not repeat either.
These are vendor and directory descriptions, many of them years old, and we have not tested the product. The honest position is that a small, focused CTMS can be an excellent choice for a team that already has an EDC it is happy with. The question this page addresses is for teams that have not yet bought either, or that are tired of keeping two systems in step.
For the conceptual split, read EDC versus CTMS, EDC versus eTMF and eTMF versus a shared drive. For a shortlist view, see best CTMS for small studies.
Decision matrix
Eight questions for SimpleTrials and for Capture
The SimpleTrials column is a question to put to the vendor. Capture's column comes from its product and pricing pages.
| Question | Ask SimpleTrials | Capture's answer |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolment and visit status | Is it entered by hand, imported, or read from the EDC? Which EDCs? | Enrolment is shown from the same data as the EDC; nothing to reconcile. |
| Site management | How are sites, milestones and start-up tracked? | Sites, milestones, enrolment and study tasks in one CTMS view. |
| Trial master file | How are documents versioned, and what is in the audit trail? | eTMF stores TMF documents with versions and an audit trail of every change. |
| Contracts and payments | What is included and what is priced separately? | Not claimed. Handle site contracts and payments outside Capture. |
| Data capture | Which EDC do we use alongside, and who qualifies the pair? | EDC, ePRO and eConsent in the same platform, one audit trail. |
| Access control | How are sponsor, CRO and site users separated? | Role-based access with PII segregation; separate site coordinator portal. |
| Exit | What export do we get for the TMF and tracking data? | CSV/Excel with data dictionary for study data; confirm TMF export in a demo. |
| Total cost | What is the 24-month total for our studies and users? | Full Platform pricing on the pricing page; sandbox free. |
Verify every SimpleTrials statement on the vendor's own site. No SimpleTrials pricing or compliance claim is made here.
See CTMS and EDC from one record
Build a study in the free sandbox, enrol test participants and watch enrolment flow into the study view. No card.
Single record
Enrolment you do not have to retype
In a standalone CTMS, the number on the dashboard is only as current as the last person or interface to update it. In Capture, the study overview and the data come from the same place, so a site's enrolment is the enrolment recorded in the EDC. This is a demo-data view of a study status overview.
- Sites, milestones, enrolment and tasks in one view.
- By-site filtering and exports for the same data.
- CTMS and eTMF are included in the Full Platform plan.
Stack shape
Standalone CTMS plus EDC versus one platform
Decision aid
Who should pick which
You already run an EDC you like and need operations tracking
A focused CTMS such as SimpleTrials may suit you. Ask how it reads from your EDC.
You need site contracts and payment management inside your CTMS
Evaluate SimpleTrials or similar on that point; Capture does not claim it.
You are choosing EDC and CTMS together for one study
Test Capture, where both share a record. Start with the lightweight versus enterprise guide.
You are an academic group on a grant
Compare plan cost with the sandbox first; see the academic pages.
You need inspection-ready documents
Ask each vendor for a sample TMF index and audit trail export.
Process
A two-week CTMS evaluation
- 1
Days 1 to 3: list what you track today
Sites, milestones, documents, enrolment, tasks and payments. Mark what must stay.
- 2
Days 4 to 7: send the eight questions
Send the table above to each vendor and ask for written answers.
- 3
Days 8 to 10: build the same study in Capture
Set up two sites, enrol test participants and compare the overview with your tracker.
- 4
Days 11 to 14: decide
Compare the seam, the missing features and the 24-month cost.
Next steps
Related reading
See clinical trial management systems explained, the Capture eTMF page, and lightweight versus enterprise EDC. For vendor audits, use the EDC vendor audit checklist. For costs, see the EDC software pricing guide and the pricing page.
What is SimpleTrials?
Public listings describe SimpleTrials, from Trial By Fire Solutions, as a cloud CTMS with eTMF for sponsors, CROs and sites. Confirm the current product, ownership and modules with the vendor.
Does Capture include a CTMS and eTMF?
Yes, both are in the Full Platform plan, in the same system as EDC, ePRO and eConsent. Capture does not claim site contract, payment or budget management.
Can SimpleTrials work with Capture?
We make no claim about an integration between the two. If you want a mixed setup, ask both vendors what import or export is supported and test it before committing.
How much does SimpleTrials cost compared with Capture?
We do not quote SimpleTrials pricing; directory figures can be out of date. Ask the vendor for a written quote. Capture has a free sandbox and published plans on the pricing page.
Do I need a CTMS at all for a small study?
Not always. A spreadsheet can be enough for a few sites. Once you have several sites, milestones and a master file to keep inspection-ready, a CTMS and eTMF save time. See the best-CTMS-for-small-studies guide.
Is Capture compliant for a regulated study?
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 remains a shared responsibility with the sponsor.
Can I use Capture for Phase 3?
Yes. Capture supports Phase 1 through Phase 3, including SDV per field, freeze and lock, blinded roles and multi-site filtering.
Run CTMS and EDC from one record
Build a study, enrol test participants and see the overview in the free sandbox. No credit card.