Software Alternatives & Startups

FigTree VS Chromas

Compare FigTree VS Chromas and see what are their differences

FigTree logo FigTree

FigTree is designed as a graphical viewer of phylogenetic trees

Chromas logo Chromas

Two software applications are available from Technelysium: Chromas and ChromasPro.
  • FigTree Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-24
  • Chromas Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-20

FigTree features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    FigTree offers a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to visualize and manipulate phylogenetic trees, even if they have limited experience with similar tools.
  • Customization Options
    The software provides a variety of options for customizing the appearance of trees, including fonts, colors, and branch styles, which helps in producing publication-quality figures.
  • Supports Multiple File Formats
    FigTree supports several common file formats for phylogenetic trees, such as NEXUS and Newick, easing the process of data import and export.
  • Annotation Features
    It allows users to annotate trees with labels, node bars, and other markers, providing more detailed visual information about the phylogenetic data.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    FigTree is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Possible disadvantages of FigTree

  • Lack of Advanced Analytical Tools
    The software is primarily focused on visualization and lacks advanced analytical tools that some other tree visualization software might offer.
  • Limited Online Resources
    There are fewer online tutorials and resources available compared to more popular phylogenetic analysis software, which could be a hindrance for new users.
  • Basic Editing Capabilities
    While FigTree offers customization, its editing capabilities can be seen as basic for users who need more complex manipulations of their phylogenetic trees.
  • Dependence on Other Software
    For performing comprehensive phylogenetic analyses, users will need to rely on additional software applications to complement FigTree's visualization capabilities.
  • Outdated Design
    The interface design of FigTree may feel outdated to some users, which might affect user experience, especially when compared to more modern software tools.

Chromas features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Chromas offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, making it accessible for users who may not be highly experienced with sequencing software.
  • Fast File Opening
    The software is capable of quickly opening and displaying ABI and SCF chromatogram files, which enhances productivity and efficiency in data analysis.
  • Free for Basic Use
    Chromas is available as a free version that is suitable for basic chromatogram viewing and printing, making it a cost-effective option for individuals and small labs.
  • Direct Sequence Output
    Users can easily copy sequences to the clipboard or save them as text files, which facilitates further analysis and data handling.

Possible disadvantages of Chromas

  • Limited Advanced Features
    The free version of Chromas lacks some advanced features that might be necessary for comprehensive analysis, such as batch processing or advanced editing capabilities.
  • Windows-Only Software
    Chromas is only available for Windows, which limits its accessibility for users on other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • No Sequence Assembly
    The software does not support sequence assembly, requiring users to employ additional software for tasks beyond basic viewing and editing.
  • Paid Version Required for More Functions
    To access more advanced features such as file conversion or additional analysis tools, users need to purchase ChromasPro, which incurs additional costs.

Analysis of Chromas

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Chromas is generally considered a good tool.

Why this product is good

  • Chromas by Technelysium is widely appreciated for its user-friendly interface and robust features for DNA sequence analysis. It is particularly known for its ability to handle large sequences efficiently and for its straightforward installation and operation. Users often praise its speed and accuracy in editing and viewing chromatograms, making it a popular choice for geneticists and researchers working with sequencing data.

Recommended for

    Chromas is recommended for researchers, geneticists, and laboratory professionals who need to view, edit, and analyze DNA sequence chromatograms. It's especially useful for those involved in Sanger sequencing and require a reliable tool for sequence data interpretation.

FigTree videos

Review Figtree Hotel

Chromas videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FigTree and Chromas)
Typography
100 100%
0% 0
Other Education Tech
0 0%
100% 100
Fonts
100 100%
0% 0
Other Bio Tech
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100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FigTree seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 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.

FigTree mentions (3)

  • phylogeny software
    Most published papers with phylogenies as a major result should include the tree in some form as part of the supplementary material. For just visualizing trees, I'd recommend something like FigTree, which is pretty straightforward and has a nice interface (though limited ability to actually do much with them). It should be able to read files with .tre, .nexus, or .newick extensions (the latter of which is just the... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Beginner wanting to build a phylogenetic tree...but not really?
    Again, this is an overall about phylogeny, not knowing how your data looks like I would sugges futher reading, the programs commonly used are: PAUP, MEGA, PHYLIP, TREE-PUZZLE and MrBayes. Options are: FigTree, PRABI and BEAST. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How to interpret posterior means of phylogenies?
    Yes, because TRACER has nothing to do with the tree log file, and (almost) never records anything to do with the tree. First, locate the summary tree output file. This is produced by one of the following functions: consensusTree() mapTree(), mccTree(). Then make sure you have tree viewing software installed like figtree. Then open the summary tree file in your tree viewing software, and find the appropriate menu... Source: over 5 years ago

Chromas mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FigTree and Chromas, you can also consider the following products

Inter 4.0 - Workhorse typeface crafted for a wide range of applications

BioEdit - Biological sequence alignment editor

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DNADynamo - DNA analysis, cloning and sequencing software

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SnapGene Viewer - SnapGene offers the fastest and easiest way to plan, visualize, and document DNA cloning and PCR. You can easily annotate features and design primers.