Software Comparison
Moustra vs SoftMouse vs mLIMS
Side-by-side feature and pricing comparison for the three most common mouse colony management platforms.
Try Moustra Free — No Credit Card RequiredAt a glance
- ✓ Free to use
- ✓ iOS + Android app
- ✓ AI assistant (Cheese AI)
- ✓ Barcode scanning
- ✓ No IT setup needed
- ✓ Limited Forever Free plan
- ✓ Paid plans from $350/yr (academic)
- ✓ iPad / Android tablet access (web)
- – No AI features listed on its site
- ✓ Colony & cage tracking
- ✓ Free single-user tier (up to 100 cages)
- ✓ Paid plans from $360/yr (academic)
- ✓ Mobile-friendly web access
- – No AI features listed on its site
- ✓ Broader LIMS: samples, inventory, equipment
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
A direct comparison across the features that matter most to lab managers, PIs, and vivarium staff. means the information is not publicly available or unclear.
| Feature | Moustramoustra.com | SoftMousesoftmouse.net | mLIMSbioinforx.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free to use | Limited free plan | Free tier (up to 100 cages) | |
| Unlimited users at no cost | |||
| Transparent public pricing | |||
| Starting paid price (academic) | Free | $350/yr (1 user) | $360/yr (1 user) |
| Native iOS app | |||
| Native Android app | |||
| Barcode scanning | |||
| AI assistant (natural language queries) | |||
| AI breeding recommendations | |||
| AI-powered data migration | |||
| Automated weekly PI reports | |||
| Excel-like data interface | |||
| Colony & cage tracking | |||
| Genotype & strain management | |||
| Breeding pair tracking | |||
| Health & treatment logging | |||
| Cost & billing analytics | |||
| Cloud-based, no IT infrastructure | |||
| Broader LIMS (samples, inventory, equipment) | |||
| No long-term contract required | 12-month contract |
Competitor details verified October 2026 from each vendor's website; vendors change plans often, so confirm current pricing and features with them. – means the vendor's site does not state it.
Verified October 2026 — sources
SoftMouse: academic pricing, Forever Free plan and mobile access.
mLIMS (BioInfoRx): academic pricing, free tier.
Also see: JAX JCMS (no longer developed or supported), PyRAT (Scionics).
Where Moustra is different
Mobile app (iOS & Android)
Scan cage barcodes, update records, and check your colony from the vivarium floor. SoftMouse and mLIMS describe browser-based mobile access (SoftMouse: iPad / Android tablet); neither site lists a native app with barcode scanning.
Ask your colony questions in plain English
Cheese AI reads your data and answers directly.
You: Which pairs should I retire?
Cheese AI: Pairs B12, C04, A07 — under 2 pups/litter for 3 cycles. Reallocating to D01–D06 could increase output ~35%.
Switch from SoftMouse in a day
Export your SoftMouse CSV, drop it into Moustra's migration tool, and it maps everything automatically. Free for all new accounts.
Pricing you can see before you call anyone
SoftMouse and mLIMS both publish academic pricing (from $350/yr and $360/yr for one user, as of October 2026) and offer limited free plans. Moustra is free for the whole lab, with unlimited users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SoftMouse have a mobile app?
SoftMouse's website describes access from a mobile device (iPad or Android tablet) through its web application and does not list a native app or barcode scanning; mLIMS describes itself as mobile-friendly web access. Moustra offers native iOS and Android apps with barcode scanning.
Can I import my SoftMouse data into Moustra?
Yes — export a CSV from SoftMouse and Moustra's migration tool maps it automatically. Free for all new accounts.
How much does SoftMouse cost?
SoftMouse offers a limited Forever Free plan and, as listed on its pricing page in October 2026, academic Basic Package plans of $350 per year (1 user), $450 (2 users), $595 (5 users), $835 (10 users) and $1,050 (15 users); larger packages require a quote. Moustra is free to use, with all features and unlimited users included.
How much does mLIMS cost?
BioInfoRx lists mLIMS academic and non-profit pricing on a 12-month contract as of October 2026: $360 per year (1 user), $400 (2 users), $600 (3-5 users), $840 (6-10 users) and $1,100 (11-15 users), with 16+ users by quote. It also offers a free single-user tier for up to 100 cages and 500 animals. Moustra is free to use, with unlimited users.
Is Moustra free?
Yes. Moustra is free to use, with all features and unlimited users. No credit card required.
Try Moustra free
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