DICOM Viewer for Linux
Runs on Ubuntu with no installation, no root and no dependencies to resolve.
SoftDicom is a DICOM viewer and portable PACS that lives on an external SSD. Plug it into an Ubuntu 20.04+ machine and studies open straight from the drive — nothing is installed to the host, nothing needs sudo, and the same device works just as well on Windows and macOS.
Quick Summary
SoftDicom is a DICOM viewer for Linux that runs from an external SSD without being installed. It is supported on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and newer, needs no package manager, no repository and no root access, and works with the network unplugged. The same drive also runs on Windows 10/11 and macOS 11+, so one device covers a mixed environment.
Why it suits a Linux workstation
No package manager, no root
There is no .deb to fetch, no PPA to add and no dependency tree to satisfy. The viewer runs from the drive, so you do not need sudo on the machine — which is the usual blocker on a managed workstation.
One drive, Linux and everything else
The same device runs on Ubuntu 20.04+, Windows 10/11 and macOS 11+. Move between a Linux workstation and a Windows reporting station without a second tool, a second licence or a second copy of the study.
A study database, not loose files
Studies live in a searchable database on the device rather than as DICOMDIR folders you open one at a time — closer to a personal PACS than to a file viewer.
Fully offline
No server, no VPN, no login. Images are read from local flash, so behaviour is identical on an air-gapped machine and a connected one.
How this compares to the free Linux viewers
Linux is well served by free DICOM software. Weasis runs anywhere Java runs, Horos and Orthanc are open-source, and if you administer your own machine any of them is a reasonable choice. SoftDicom is not trying to be a cheaper viewer than free.
What it solves is the case where installing is the problem rather than the software: a locked-down workstation you do not own, a machine with no internet to fetch packages from, or a workflow that crosses Linux, Windows and macOS in the same day. In those situations a drive that simply runs is worth more than a licence fee saved. The Weasis comparison and the Orthanc comparison set out the trade-offs honestly, including where those tools win.
Linux specifications
Full imaging, software and security specifications are on the technical specifications page, and the portable DICOM viewer page covers how running from a drive works in general.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a DICOM viewer that runs on Linux without installing anything?
SoftDicom does. It is an external SSD that carries the viewer and your studies, so plugging it into an Ubuntu 20.04+ machine is the whole setup — no package to install, no repository to add and no root access needed. That last point matters most on managed or shared Linux workstations where you cannot install software at all.
Which Linux distributions are supported?
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and newer, 64-bit, is the tested and supported configuration. Other distributions are not part of the support commitment. If you need a specific distribution certified, contact sales and we can tell you where it stands rather than guess.
Do I need root or sudo to use it?
No. Nothing is installed to the host, no service is registered and no system files are modified, so the viewer runs as an ordinary user. Depending on how a machine is configured you may need permission to mount a USB device, but nothing beyond that.
Is there a free DICOM viewer for Linux?
Yes — several, and they are genuinely good. Weasis and Horos are free and open-source, and Orthanc is a free DICOM server. SoftDicom is not free software: it is a one-time hardware purchase, and what you are paying for is portability and zero installation rather than viewing features you cannot otherwise get. If you have a Linux box you fully control and can install software on, a free viewer may well be the right answer.
Can I use the same device on Linux and Windows?
Yes. The drive does not need reformatting when you move between Ubuntu, Windows 10/11 and macOS 11+, and the study database is readable on all three. This is the main practical difference from Linux-only or Windows-only viewers.
Does it work without a network connection?
Yes. 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 exist but are opt-in and inert until an administrator turns them on.
No install. No root. Just plug it in.
One drive that works on Ubuntu, Windows and macOS. Choose a capacity and it ships ready to use.