Colony.care vs PyRAT, Full Comparison for 2026
Summary
PyRAT is Scionics' web-based animal facility software, on the market since 2003 and available in 11 languages. It stands out for genotyping workflows (wellplate management, import of Transnetyx results), graphical rack displays, an experiments module with authorization tracking and scoresheets, and interfaces to Tecniplast DVC racks. A separate product, PyRAT Aquatic, covers fish colonies. Colony.care is a cloud colony management platform with 25 species in one product, QR code cage cards scanned with a phone, per diem billing, CCAC and IACUC reports, SSO/SAML and SCIM, a free Starter plan and published pricing in Canadian dollars. Pick PyRAT for genotyping logistics, rack visualization and a multilingual European team. Pick Colony.care for phone-first work at the cage, many species in one system, and same-day self-serve setup.
At a Glance
| Dimension | Colony.care | PyRAT (Scionics) |
|---|---|---|
| Languages | 2 (English, French) | 11 (Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish) |
| Access | Cloud, in the browser, installable as a web app | Web-based, in the browser |
| Getting started | Self-serve sign-up, free Starter plan | Free private demo installation on request |
| Species | 25 in one product (mammal, avian, aquatic, amphibian, social insect) | PyRAT, plus PyRAT Aquatic for fish colonies |
| Cage cards | QR code cards printed from the browser, scanned with a phone | Cage card and label printing in individual layouts |
| Breeding | Calendar, interactive pedigree, genotype overlay, consanguinity checks | Extended line and strain management, generation tracking, pedigree graphs |
| Genotyping logistics | Genotype fields on each animal; no wellplate management | Wellplate management, genotyping stickers for Eppendorf tubes, import of Transnetyx results |
| Graphical rack display | Not available | Location management with graphical rack display |
| Experiments | Not a dedicated module | Authorization management under Directive 2010/63/EU, authorization tracking, scoresheets |
| Smart rack integration | Not available | Interfaces to Tecniplast DVC and other systems |
| Quality system | No ISO certification | ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system |
PyRAT details are taken from scionics.com (October 2026).
PyRAT's Strengths
PyRAT has been in use since 2003, and Scionics develops it under an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system, which can matter in institutional procurement. Three areas stand out.
- Genotyping logistics: PyRAT manages wellplates, prints genotyping stickers for Eppendorf tubes, and imports genotyping results from Transnetyx files.
- Experiments: authorization management under Directive 2010/63/EU, authorization tracking and scoresheets sit in the same system as the colony.
- Facility view: location management with a graphical rack display, and interfaces to Tecniplast DVC and other systems.
PyRAT is available in 11 languages, which suits a facility whose staff do not all share one working language.
What You Get with Colony.care
Phone-first work: Colony.care installs on a phone as a web app. Staff scan a QR code cage card with the camera, record an observation at the cage and check the breeding calendar from the vivarium floor. Species: 25 species live in one product, each with its reproduction model: litters, single-offspring gestation, clutches and insect colonies. Pricing: the Starter plan is free and the Lab plan's price is published, so you can evaluate with your own animals before you talk to anyone.
- SSO/SAML and SCIM provisioning, included in the Lab plan
- Automated per diem billing with multiple rates and grant-ready chargeback reports
- An audit trail on every record, kept indefinitely, searchable and exportable
- Surgery records covering the pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative stages
- Procurement orders with receiving, and pharmacy inventory with a controlled substance log and expiry alerts
- Environmental monitoring: temperature, humidity and light cycles with threshold alerts
- Training and competency records, work requests and a REST API with API keys
- CCAC and IACUC annual reports
Colony.care Pricing
The Starter plan is free: 1 project and up to 100 animals. The Lab plan is CA$549.99/month, or CA$439.99/month billed yearly, with unlimited animals and members and 10 projects included. Additional projects are CA$34.99/month each. The Lab plan starts with a 14-day trial, no credit card required.
When PyRAT Fits Better
- Genotyping logistics are central to your operation and you want wellplate management and Transnetyx result import in your colony software.
- You want a graphical display of your racks.
- You need authorization tracking under Directive 2010/63/EU and scoresheets next to your animal records.
- Your staff need an interface in a language other than English or French.
- You run Tecniplast DVC racks and want your software to interface with them.
- An ISO 9001:2015 certified vendor quality system is a procurement requirement.
When Colony.care Fits Better
- Your staff need to scan cage cards and record observations from their phones.
- You manage several species, from mice to zebrafish to NHP, and want them in one system with the right reproduction model for each.
- You want to evaluate on a free plan with your own colony data.
- Published pricing in Canadian dollars matters to your procurement process.
- You want SSO/SAML and SCIM provisioning included in the subscription.
- You need per diem billing, procurement, pharmacy inventory, surgery records and environmental monitoring in one platform.
- Your team works in English and French, and you report to the CCAC or an IACUC.
- You want to sign up and start working today.
FAQ
Which languages do PyRAT and Colony.care support?
PyRAT is available in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. Colony.care's interface is fully bilingual, in English and French.
Which platform handles genotyping better?
For the logistics of genotyping, PyRAT: it manages wellplates, prints genotyping stickers for Eppendorf tubes and imports Transnetyx results. Colony.care records genotype as structured fields on each animal (strain background, alleles, zygosity, generation) and overlays it on the pedigree, with a Punnett square calculator for planning crosses. It has no wellplate management and no Transnetyx XML import. A transgenic core running high-throughput genotyping is better served by PyRAT.
Does Colony.care handle fish and other non-rodent species?
Yes. Zebrafish and medaka are tracked in tanks with clutch records, and the same account also holds rodents, rabbits, NHP, birds, frogs and social insects. All 25 species are part of every plan.