AcuityMaster vs EyeCharts
EyeCharts offers an appealing one-time price and Smart TV support — but is it the right tool for a professional eye care practice? Here's the full picture.
Quick verdict: AcuityMaster is clinical software designed to ANSI Z80.21 and ISO 8596, with optotypes calculated for your exam-lane distance, whereas consumer "eye chart" apps are not validated for clinical use. For a professional ophthalmology or optometry practice, AcuityMaster is the appropriate choice.
Side-by-Side: AcuityMaster vs EyeCharts
| Feature | AcuityMaster | EyeCharts |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Annual subscription — $249 first seat/yr, graduated above | One-time purchase (free tier available) |
| Free access | free full-featured trial | Yes — limited free version |
| Platform | Browser-based — any Mac or Windows | Windows, macOS, Smart TVs, Android TV |
| Installation required | None — open in any browser | Yes — app download & install |
| Works offline | Chart display yes; sign-in needs a connection | Yes — after initial install |
| Automatic updates | ✓ Always current, cloud-delivered | ✗ Manual updates required |
| Snellen charts | ✓ | ✓ |
| ETDRS charts | ✓ | ✓ |
| LogMAR notation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Color vision (Ishihara) | ✓ | ✓ 36-plate |
| Binocular function (Worth 4-Dot, fixation disparity) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pediatric optotypes | ✓ Full suite — HOTV, pictures, tumbling E | Limited |
| Works with a second monitor | ✓ Full-screen chart, keyboard-driven | ✗ Not supported |
| Crowding bars & isolation | ✓ | Partial |
| Mirror mode (pediatric) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video fixation target | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart TV display | ✗ | ✓ LG, Samsung, Fire TV |
| Multi-language charts | English | ✓ 6+ languages |
| Centralized multi-location admin | ✓ Cloud licensing | ✗ |
| Built by eye care clinicians | ✓ Since 2012 | Not stated |
| US-based support | ✓ Phone & email | ✗ |
Our Verdict
EyeCharts' one-time pricing and offline operation are genuinely appealing — especially for budget-constrained settings or clinics without reliable internet. Its Smart TV support is a unique differentiator for practices that want a low-cost display solution.
But for a working ophthalmology or optometry practice, AcuityMaster is the clear professional choice. Second-monitor support, a full pediatric suite, video fixation targets, no installation, automatic cloud updates, and US-based clinical support are features that matter in a real exam lane. AcuityMaster has been built and maintained since 2012 by a practicing oculoplastic surgeon — EyeCharts was built as a general consumer app.
What you gain by switching
🖥️ True Dual-Monitor Setup
EyeCharts has no second-monitor support. AcuityMaster gives the patient a full-screen chart on the second display, driven from the keyboard, with H to hide the menu. You drive it from the keyboard at your desk.
👶 Complete Pediatric Suite
Mirror mode, crowding bars, reduced-contrast acuity, color overlay and video fixation targets — a deep pediatric toolset for a browser-based chart at this price.
☁️ Always Current — Zero Maintenance
EyeCharts requires manual updates. AcuityMaster is browser-based — open it and it's always the latest version. No IT, no installs, no compatibility worries.
Which is right for your practice?
These two products are aimed at different buyers, so the honest answer depends on what your setting actually needs. Four common profiles:
The screening program or budget-constrained setting
If you need a basic Snellen display for vision screening — a school program, an occupational setting, a mission clinic — EyeCharts' one-time pricing, free tier, and Smart TV support may genuinely serve you fine, and the verdict above says as much. AcuityMaster is built for the clinical exam lane, and a screening station does not always need clinical-grade calibration.
The office without reliable internet
EyeCharts works fully offline after installation. AcuityMaster Cloud installs as an offline-capable web app, so the chart display keeps working if the connection drops, but sign-in and license validation do need connectivity. If connectivity at your site is genuinely unreliable, weigh that honestly — it is a real reason to be cautious about any browser-based system. The system requirements page covers what AcuityMaster Cloud needs.
The pediatric-heavy or amblyopia-focused clinic
Here the gap is widest. EyeCharts' pediatric support is limited, with no mirror mode, no video fixation targets, and partial crowding-bar support, per the comparison above. AcuityMaster includes the full pediatric suite — HOTV, Tumbling E, Landolt C, picture optotypes, crowding bars, video fixation — plus mirror mode for compact exam lanes, all of which matter daily when your patients are four years old.
The multi-lane or multi-location professional practice
A working ophthalmology or optometry group needs the second-monitor lane (patient chart full-screen on the second display, driven from the keyboard), centralized licensing across locations, optotypes calculated to the ANSI Z80.21 and ISO 8596 designs, and someone to call — all of which are AcuityMaster features that EyeCharts, per the table above, does not offer. This is the profile the full feature set was designed around; the broader case is laid out on our Why AcuityMaster page.
Switching or starting fresh: the zero-risk path
If you are unsure which side of the clinical/consumer line your needs fall on, run the experiment: the AcuityMaster free trial is fully functional, requires no credit card, and runs in a browser on the Mac or Windows computer already in your lane. Test it on real patients over the seven-day trial, then decide with pricing in front of you.
Common questions
Is AcuityMaster a good alternative to EyeCharts?
Yes. AcuityMaster is a direct alternative to EyeCharts offering more chart types (ETDRS, LogMAR, color vision, pediatric optotypes), second-monitor support, and a subscription license option. Cloud pricing is graduated and competitive: $249 for the first seat per year, with lower rates for each additional seat.
How does AcuityMaster compare to EyeCharts in terms of features?
AcuityMaster includes Snellen, ETDRS, LogMAR, Decimal, color vision, HOTV, Tumbling E, Worth 4-Dot, fixation disparity, mirror mode, and video fixation targets — a broader library than EyeCharts in most configurations.
Which is cheaper, AcuityMaster or EyeCharts?
AcuityMaster Cloud uses graduated annual pricing with all features included — $249 for the first seat, lower band rates for each additional seat. EyeCharts pricing varies by configuration.
See AcuityMaster in your exam lane
free trial — full features, no credit card required.