Feature-for-feature comparison
ConductCompliance vs IRBNet
IRBNet is the most-deployed IRB management software in the US, with roughly 2,300 IRBs and 250,000 users (per WCG, the parent company). We match what they ship, ship it modern, and charge ~30% less. Below is the honest accounting.
What's the same
The workflow surface that an IRB office actually uses. Same shape, modern UX. Some features ship later — we mark each row with the stage in our build plan when they arrive. Stages are gated on customer demand, not calendar.
| Feature | IRBNet | ConductCompliance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online submission portal | Yes | Yes | Day 1 |
| Document version control + redlines | Yes | Yes | Stage 8 (parity completion) |
| Reviewer assignment + conflict detection | Manual | Auto-detected | Stage 3 — same-department + prior-collaborator detection |
| Reviewer workflow (inline comments + voting) | Yes | Yes | Stage 3 |
| Board agenda generator | Manual | Auto-built | Stage 4 |
| Board meetings (attendance, quorum, minutes) | Yes | Yes | Stage 4 |
| Determination letters | Templated | Citation-grounded templates | Stage 4 |
| Continuing review tracking | Yes | Yes | Stage 5 |
| Amendment workflow | Yes | Yes (auto-classifies minor/major) | Stage 5 |
| Adverse event reporting | Yes | Yes (deadline-tagged templates) | Stage 5 |
| CITI training integration | Yes | Yes | Stage 5 |
| Multi-board support | Yes | Yes | Stage 8 |
| sIRB reliance tracking | Form-based | Engine-flagged | Stage 8 |
| Audit trail + export | Yes | Yes | Stage 6 |
| User roles | Admin / Chair / Reviewer / PI / Coordinator / Read-only | Same set |
Sign-in and patient data: the cloud edition signs people in with a one-time email link and isn't set up to hold PHI. The offline edition signs people in through your institution's own system and keeps data on your own network.
What's different
| Feature | IRBNet | ConductCompliance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cited regulatory pathway resolution at intake | No | Yes | The engine. Day 1. |
| AI-assisted protocol drafting | No | Yes | Stage 1 |
| AI reviewer summarization | No | Yes | Stage 3 |
| Modern UX (mobile-responsive, fast) | No | Yes | Day 1 |
| Public regulatory engine API | No | Yes | Free, rate-limited |
| Pricing transparency | Hidden (request quote) | Published on /pricing | |
| Pricing — small institution | $15K–$30K / yr | $10K / yr (Starter) | |
| Pricing — mid-size | $30K–$60K / yr | $30K / yr (Professional) | |
| Pricing — R1 / AMC | $40K–$80K / yr | $60K+ / yr (Enterprise) | |
| Pilot pricing | Not offered | $5K / 60 days |
Stage gating: honest about what is shipped
We launched lean. Phase 0 ships the regulatory engine, the public API, the marketing site, the PI submission portal, the AI-assisted rationale packet generator, and the basic study workspace. Reviewer workflow, board meetings and lifecycle features ship as we sign design partners.
This is the right way to run a category. We do not ship vapor. If a feature is gated on Stage N, we say so. Sign as a design partner and we build it with you. That is more honest than the "everything ships day 1" claim a competitor would make.
Honest about what IRBNet does well
- Reach. 2,300 IRBs and 250,000 users. The installed base is real.
- DoD/VA penetration. WCG umbrella unlocks federal installations. We do not have FedRAMP yet (Stage 10).
- Stability. Software you have used for 10 years has compounding switching cost. We are new.
If those things matter to your institution today, IRBNet is a reasonable choice. If you want modern UX, AI assistance, transparent pricing, and a vendor that ships features quickly, try our demo.
Don't take our word for it. Click through the demo with a sample workspace. See the wizard. Generate a rationale packet. Decide for yourself.