Horos
Horos: A focused desktop viewer for local DICOM review, visualization, and network transfer. Ranked #13 of 17 in Radiology Software by our editors (8.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for mac users needing free DICOM viewing and 3D tools.
At a glance
- Editor score8.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMac users needing free DICOM viewing and 3D tools
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free, open-source macOS desktop software
- Combines 2D viewing with 3D visualization and reconstruction
- Supports local study storage, DICOM query/retrieve, and export
Where it doesn't
- No RIS functionality
- Limited to desktop viewing rather than a hosted cloud service
- Mac-only availability excludes users on other platforms
Our verdict on Horos
For clinicians, researchers, educators, and other Mac users who need local radiology image review, Horos is a free, open-source DICOM application. It brings study viewing and analysis into a desktop workflow, with 2D visualization, 3D visualization and reconstruction, and a local DICOM study database. Its scope is image review rather than a broader radiology information system, making it a fit for users whose needs center on viewing studies rather than managing RIS workflows.
Horos also covers key DICOM exchange tasks: it can query and retrieve studies over a DICOM network, and export or send DICOM images. Those features complement the local database, so the application spans local study handling and network-based retrieval without being presented as a hosted cloud service. Deployment is desktop software for macOS; that makes platform fit a central consideration. Users on other operating systems, or teams looking for access through a cloud service, should consider another option.
The product is distributed free and open source, so there are no paid tiers to compare in its published description. Support channels are community and documentation, a model likely to suit users comfortable relying on those resources rather than a commercial support channel. Horos is best suited to solo users and small or mid-market settings seeking a Mac-based DICOM viewer with 3D tools. Organizations that need RIS functionality or a wider radiology management system should look elsewhere; for focused local image review and DICOM transfer, its feature set is more aligned.
Your product? Our editors can test Horos in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Horos pricing
Horos fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| PACS included | Not verified |
| RIS included | No |
| Diagnostic DICOM viewer | Yes |
| Deployment | On-premises |
| Modality worklist | Not verified |
| Structured reporting | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | horosproject.org |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Horos
- Intelerad IntelePACSAn enterprise PACS spanning diagnostic viewing, specialty workflows and clinical integrations.9.2
- Sectra PACSA hybrid PACS combining diagnostic viewing, workflow tools, and clinical image access.9.1
- Fujifilm Synapse PACSA broad enterprise PACS for multi-specialty imaging, remote reading, and AI worklists.9.0
Also Ranked In
Horos is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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