Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

3D Slicer VS OpenCFU

Compare 3D Slicer VS OpenCFU and see what are their differences

3D Slicer logo 3D Slicer

Slicer is a community platform created for the purpose of subject specific image analysis and...

OpenCFU logo OpenCFU

A powerful, user-friendly and free software to count and characterise bacterial (and other cell) colonies forming units from pictures.
  • 3D Slicer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-26
  • OpenCFU Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-12

3D Slicer features and specs

  • Open Source
    3D Slicer is open-source software, meaning it's free to use, modify, and distribute, promoting collaboration and sharing within the community.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    It is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility and accessibility to users across different operating systems.
  • Extensive Plugin Support
    3D Slicer supports a wide array of plugins and extensions, allowing users to customize and enhance its functionality to fit specific needs.
  • Advanced Visualization
    The software offers comprehensive tools for 3D visualization, making it suitable for detailed imaging tasks in medical and research fields.
  • Robust Community
    3D Slicer has an active community of users and developers who contribute to its improvement and provide support, fostering an environment for knowledge exchange.

Possible disadvantages of 3D Slicer

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Given its advanced functionalities, new users may find it challenging to learn and effectively use 3D Slicer without substantial time investment.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there are resources available, some users might find the documentation insufficient in covering all aspects or updates of the software.
  • Performance Issues
    On less powerful hardware, users might experience lag or slow performance, particularly when working with large datasets or rendering complex scenes.
  • Complex User Interface
    The interface can be overwhelming for beginners due to the multitude of options and settings available, which may complicate initial use.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with many open-source projects, users might encounter bugs or glitches, especially in newer features or extensions, requiring troubleshooting.

OpenCFU features and specs

  • Cost-effective
    OpenCFU is open-source and free to use, reducing the financial burden on laboratories and researchers who need to perform colony counting.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The software offers a simple and intuitive interface that facilitates ease of use even for users with minimal technical expertise.
  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    OpenCFU is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enhancing accessibility for a wide range of users.
  • Efficient Colony Counting
    The software enables fast and accurate counting of bacterial colonies, saving time compared to manual counting methods.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize settings and parameters to fit specific experimental needs, providing flexibility in its application.

Possible disadvantages of OpenCFU

  • Limited Support and Updates
    Being open-source, it might lack the regular updates and dedicated support that commercial software typically offers.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic functions are user-friendly, mastering advanced features may require additional time and effort, particularly for users unfamiliar with similar software.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Although cross-platform, certain system configurations might still encounter compatibility issues, which can be challenging to troubleshoot without commercial-grade customer support.
  • Dependency on Image Quality
    The accuracy of colony counting is heavily dependent on the quality of the images used, which may necessitate high-quality imaging equipment.
  • Limited Integration with Other Tools
    OpenCFU might not easily integrate with other laboratory software or data management systems, complicating workflows where data interoperability is necessary.

3D Slicer videos

3D Slicer Tutorial

OpenCFU videos

OpenCFU tutorial 1: Quick start

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to 3D Slicer and OpenCFU)
Graphic Design Software
100 100%
0% 0
Other Bio Tech
37 37%
63% 63
Digital Drawing And Painting
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, 3D Slicer seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

3D Slicer mentions (2)

  • I wanted to join the โ€œI printed my brainโ€ club
    Fun fact: DICOM is a standard medical format and there are a number of free or open source tools (this one's my favorite) that allow you to import virtually any MRI or CT scan data and produce a 3D .STL file from the data. Source: over 2 years ago
  • 3D printed anatomy from a CT scan. Have been doing this for a while now for my patients.with pectus excavatum (sunken chest). Thought I'd also share this here. Tips are welcome!
    Thank you! For those interested, software can be found here. Source: over 2 years ago

OpenCFU mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of OpenCFU yet. Tracking of OpenCFU recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing 3D Slicer and OpenCFU, you can also consider the following products

MicroDicom - DICOM viewer. MicroDicom is a free DICOM viewer. Export to the most common picture formats, movie, clipboard. It is equipped with most common tools for manipulation of DICOM images.

ImageJ - and Other Health Care

Horos - A free, open source 64-bit DICOM medical image viewer

Cortellis - Enter your description

AMIDE - AMIDE: a Medical Image Data Analysis Tool

MBioLIMS BioBanking - Designed for BRC, Biobanks and Cohorts, MBioLIMS BioBankingยฎ software solution manages and tracks the entire life cycle of your biological samples