DICOM Viewer
Open DICOM studies on Windows, Mac and Linux, with nothing to install.
SoftDicom is a DICOM viewer and portable PACS on an external SSD. Plug it into any supported computer and your studies open straight from the drive, with no installer, no admin rights and no network.
Quick Summary
A DICOM viewer is software that opens medical images in the DICOM format, the standard written by CT, MRI, X-ray and other imaging equipment. Viewers come in three kinds: installed desktop software, web or cloud viewers, and portable viewers that run from a drive. SoftDicom is a portable viewer that runs on Windows 10/11, macOS 11+ and Ubuntu 20.04+ from one external SSD.
The three kinds of DICOM viewer
Installed desktop viewers
Software you install on one computer. Usually the most capable option, but it needs admin rights to install, a separate install on every machine, and a build for your operating system.
Web and cloud viewers
Open studies in a browser from a server or cloud account. Nothing to install on the workstation, but the studies have to be uploaded first and viewing depends on the network.
Portable viewers
The viewer travels with the studies on a drive and runs on whatever computer it is plugged into. No install and no network, at the cost of carrying the device. This is the kind SoftDicom is.
Find the right page for your setup
DICOM viewer for Windows
Windows 10 and 11, no installer and no admin rights.
DICOM viewer for Mac
macOS 11 Big Sur or newer, no .dmg to install.
DICOM viewer for Linux
Ubuntu 20.04+, no package manager and no root.
Portable DICOM viewer
How running from a drive works, and when it is the right choice.
Open a .dcm file
What a .dcm file is and how to open one.
Free for charities and research
The programme for charities, teaching hospitals and universities.
Medical image viewer
Viewing across modalities and image formats.
Radiology viewer
Reading-room tools: presets, cine and layouts.
PACS software
When you need an archive, not just a viewer.
Compare DICOM viewers
Side-by-side with the viewers people usually weigh up.
SoftDicom viewer at a glance
Full specifications are on the technical specifications page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DICOM viewer?
A DICOM viewer is software that opens medical images stored in the DICOM format — the standard that CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound and other imaging equipment writes to. It reads the image data and the metadata stored with it, such as patient, study and series, and gives you tools to scroll through series, adjust window and level, and play back multi-frame studies.
How do I open DICOM files?
You need a DICOM viewer; a normal image viewer cannot read the format. With SoftDicom you plug the SSD into a Windows, Mac or Linux computer and open the viewer from the drive, then open the study from its searchable database. Nothing is installed on the computer.
Which DICOM viewer should I choose?
It depends on where you view. If you control one computer and can install software, an installed desktop viewer is fine and several good ones are free. If studies already sit on a server, a web viewer avoids installs. If you move between machines, work on computers you cannot install software on, or have no reliable network, a portable viewer such as SoftDicom fits best.
Does SoftDicom work on Windows, Mac and Linux?
Yes. The same drive runs on Windows 10/11, macOS 11 or newer and Ubuntu 20.04 or newer, without reformatting and without a separate licence per operating system.
Is SoftDicom a free DICOM viewer?
No. SoftDicom is a one-time hardware purchase. It is provided free to registered charities, teaching hospitals, universities and individual researchers under a separate programme described on the free DICOM viewer page.
Do I need an internet connection to view studies?
No. Studies are read directly from the SSD, so no network, PACS or internet connection is involved. Connected capabilities such as cloud backup and direct console transfer are opt-in.
One drive. Every computer.
Choose a capacity and it ships ready to use on Windows, Mac and Linux.