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Head-to-head · PACS Software

Sectra PACS vs Orthanc

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Sectra PACS #3 in PACS Software 7.7/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Sectra
Orthanc #8 in PACS Software 6.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Orthanc

Sectra PACS leads on 1 check, Orthanc on 1, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSectra PACS · 7.7/10
  • Free planonly Orthanc
  • Most featuresSectra PACS · 4 of 4

Sectra PACS scores higher on our rubric for pacs software: 7.7 against 6.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #8.

Orthanc offers free plan; Sectra PACS doesn't. On deployment, Sectra PACS gives you Hybrid where Orthanc offers On-premises. Sectra PACS offers mobile viewing; Orthanc doesn't.

Sectra PACS is the better fit for compliant radiology teams needing 3D web access. Orthanc is the better fit for developers and facilities wanting free extensible PACS.

  • Sectra PACS fits best

    Compliant radiology teams needing 3D web access

  • Orthanc fits best

    Developers and facilities wanting free extensible PACS

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Sectra PACS 7.7/10 Visit ↗ Orthanc 6.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.7 6.7
Ranking #3 in PACS Software #8 in PACS Software
Best for Compliant radiology teams needing 3D web access Developers and facilities wanting free extensible PACS
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows Windows, macOS, Linux, Web
Support Docs Docs, Community
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Sectra PACS 4/4 · Orthanc 3/4
Diagnostic viewer ✓ ✓
DICOM support ✓ ✓
Web viewer ✓ ✓
Mobile viewing ✓ (best) —
Specs
Deployment Hybrid On-premises
Supported modalities CT, MRI, ultrasound; vendor-neutral modality interfaces DICOM modalities, including CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and nuclear medicine
Our review
Pros
  • 2D, 3D, and MPR diagnostic viewing with measurements and annotations.
  • Vendor-neutral CT, MRI, and ultrasound interfaces with DICOM conformance.
  • Web access plus RIS/EMR integration for distributed care teams.
  • Free open-source edition for self-hosted DICOM storage and management
  • REST API, DICOM networking and official DICOMweb plugin support
  • Plugin architecture extends databases, storage and automation with Lua
Cons
  • Pricing requires a contact-sales process; no free plan is offered.
  • Support is documented through docs, which may not fit teams needing direct assistance.
  • Designed for health systems and imaging organizations, not individual consumers.
  • Self-hosted deployment requires your team to operate the infrastructure
  • Mobile viewing is not supported
  • Support is centered on documentation and community channels
Our verdict

Sectra PACS manages, stores, and reviews medical images for radiology teams across healthcare organizations. It supports diagnostic workflows for imaging modalities including CT, MRI, and ultrasound, while giving clinicians and care teams…

Read the review →

Orthanc is an open-source, self-hosted DICOM server for storing, querying, transferring and accessing medical images. It suits healthcare organizations, imaging researchers and developers that need a PACS or DICOM gateway on their own…

Read the review →
  1. Sectra PACSPACS Software 7.7Pricing on request
  2. OrthancPACS Software 6.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Sectra PACS — where it wins

    • 2D, 3D, and MPR diagnostic viewing with measurements and annotations.
    • Vendor-neutral CT, MRI, and ultrasound interfaces with DICOM conformance.
    • Web access plus RIS/EMR integration for distributed care teams.

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a contact-sales process; no free plan is offered.
    • Support is documented through docs, which may not fit teams needing direct assistance.
    • Designed for health systems and imaging organizations, not individual consumers.

  • Orthanc — where it wins

    • Free open-source edition for self-hosted DICOM storage and management
    • REST API, DICOM networking and official DICOMweb plugin support
    • Plugin architecture extends databases, storage and automation with Lua

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires your team to operate the infrastructure
    • Mobile viewing is not supported
    • Support is centered on documentation and community channels

More comparisons

All PACS software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update