Clinical trial software explained for buyers: EDC, CTMS, ePRO, eConsent and recruitment platforms, when to buy or build, compliance, and UK development costs.
Short answer. Most trials run on a mix of established products: electronic data capture (EDC), a trial management system (CTMS), patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) and eConsent. Custom software pays off where your process is different from the standard: recruitment and sponsor matching, site or sponsor portals, patient apps and the integrations between your systems. At Magora a custom first release costs from £10,000 in 6–8 weeks, a full production system typically £25,000–£60,000, and regulated or integration-heavy platforms £80,000–£120,000. Figures exclude VAT.
This guide is for research organisations, sponsors and healthtech founders deciding what to buy, what to build and what it costs.
Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Types of clinical trial software
| Type | What it does | Usually |
|---|---|---|
| EDC | Electronic case report forms and trial data capture | Buy an established product |
| CTMS | Sites, milestones, budgets, monitoring visits | Buy, or build for a niche process |
| ePRO / eCOA | Patients and clinicians report outcomes on a phone or tablet | Buy, or build a branded patient app |
| eConsent | Informed consent explained and signed digitally | Buy, or build into a patient app |
| Randomisation and supply | Assigns arms, manages drug supply | Buy an established product |
| Recruitment and matching | Connects studies, sites, patients and sponsors | Often built: the process is the product |
When it makes sense to build
- Your process is the product, such as a platform that matches research organisations with sponsors.
- Patients need a simple, branded experience that a generic tool does not give.
- Data is retyped between EDC, CTMS, finance and the sponsor's systems.
- Sites or sponsors need a portal that shows their studies, documents and payments in one place.
Example: Anova, a clinical-trial matching platform
We built the Anova web platform, which matches research organisations with sponsors and standardises the trial process for doctors, research organisations and sponsors. It now has more than 30,000 active studies, more than 15,000 sponsors and more than 40,000 research projects. A platform of this scope is scoped after Discovery, typically £80,000 to over £500,000.
Compliance questions to settle first
- Personal data: UK GDPR, a DPIA and clear data controllership between sponsor, site and supplier.
- Trial data integrity: audit trails, access control and validation that support Good Clinical Practice; 21 CFR Part 11 if data goes into US submissions.
- Medical-device status: a patient app that interprets results or advises on treatment can be a medical device. See our SaMD guide.
- NHS sites: DTAC, DCB0129 and DSPT evidence. See NHS software compliance.
This is a general guide, not regulatory advice: confirm the requirements for your trial with your regulatory team.
We build patient-facing apps and clinical software with privacy and compliance designed in from the start. First release in 6–8 weeks; developers from £49/hour.
What custom clinical trial software costs
| Stage | Typical time | Magora band (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Free working prototype | 5–10 working days | £0 |
| Discovery: scope, architecture, fixed-price quote | 2 weeks | From £3,000 |
| First release (MVP) | 6–8 weeks | From £10,000 |
| Full production system | 3–6 months | £25,000–£60,000 |
| Regulated or integration-heavy system | 5–8 months | £80,000–£120,000 |
| Support after launch | Monthly | From £1,000 a month |
Rates behind the bands: from £49 an hour per developer, and £65–£70 an hour for a full team with QA and product ownership. Source: Magora UK software development pricing, 2 November 2026. Figures exclude VAT.
Planning trial software? Send us a short brief: we will tell you what to buy and what is worth building, and build a free working prototype of the custom part in 5–10 working days. See healthcare software development.
Frequently asked questions
What types of clinical trial software are there?
The main types are electronic data capture (EDC), clinical trial management systems (CTMS), electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO and eCOA), eConsent, randomisation and supply management, and recruitment or sponsor-matching platforms.
Should we buy clinical trial software or build our own?
Buy established products for regulated core functions such as EDC when they fit. Build where your process is different: recruitment and matching, sponsor or site portals, patient-facing apps and the integrations between the systems you already use.
How much does custom clinical trial software cost?
At Magora a first release starts from £10,000 in 6–8 weeks and a full production system typically costs £25,000–£60,000. Regulated or integration-heavy platforms typically cost £80,000–£120,000; a large platform such as Anova, matching research organisations with sponsors, is scoped after Discovery at £80,000 to over £500,000.
What compliance does clinical trial software need?
It depends on what it does and where the trial runs. UK GDPR applies to personal data. Software used for trial data is usually expected to support Good Clinical Practice, audit trails and electronic records rules such as 21 CFR Part 11 for US submissions. Confirm the requirements for your trial with your regulatory team.
Nick Selin
Nick is a Consulting Director at Magora. He focuses on driving growth and creating valuable partnerships. With a sharp eye for market trends and a natural ability to connect with people, Andrew leads initiatives that keep Magora at the cutting edge of innovation and success in the tech industry.
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