SpectralBench
Browser-based FTIR analysis — no Thermo license, no Windows dependency, no $10,000 price tag
Vendor lock-in. OMNIC is tied to Thermo Fisher instruments — if your lab has spectrometers from multiple vendors, you need separate software for each. SpectralBench is vendor-neutral and reads data from any manufacturer.
Cost. OMNIC licenses cost $3,000–$10,000+ as part of instrument bundles, with proprietary reference libraries adding $500–$2,000 each. SpectralBench is free with 54,825+ reference spectra included.
Windows-only. OMNIC requires Windows and the full Thermo instrument software stack. Researchers using Mac, Linux, or working remotely have no access. SpectralBench runs in any browser on any device.
No collaboration. OMNIC is file-based with no sharing capabilities. SpectralBench offers shareable spectrum links, a community reference library, and PDF report generation for publications.
| Feature | OMNIC | SpectralBench |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Windows only (with license server) | Any browser (Mac, Linux, Windows, iPad) |
| Cost | $3,000–10,000+ (instrument bundle) | Free |
| License | Tied to Thermo instrument purchase | No license needed |
| Installation | Requires Thermo instrument software stack | Zero install — open browser |
| File Formats | SPA, SPC, JCAMP | 30+ formats — SPA, SPC, JCAMP, OPUS, and more |
| Reference Library | Proprietary libraries ($500–2000 each) | 54,825+ open spectra included free |
| Peak Identification | Manual or with paid add-ons | Automated with confidence scores |
| AI Interpretation | None | Claude-powered spectral analysis |
| Export | Limited (SPA, image) | CSV, JCAMP, SPC, JSON, MATLAB, SVG, PNG, PDF |
| Collaboration | None (file-based) | Shareable links, community library |
| Cross-platform | Windows only | Mac, Linux, Windows, iPad, Chromebook |
| Active Development | Last major version 2019 | Regular updates |
No download, no installation, no license key. Just open your browser and go.
Drag your OMNIC SPA, SPC, JCAMP-DX, or CSV file onto the viewer. Format is auto-detected.
Identify peaks, correct baselines, run PCA, match references, and export in any format.
SpectralBench reads OMNIC's native SPA and SPC formats directly — no conversion needed. Simply export from OMNIC or drag your files straight into SpectralBench.
OMNIC is Thermo Fisher Scientific's proprietary FTIR analysis software, bundled with their spectrometers. It requires a paid license and only runs on Windows with the Thermo instrument software stack installed.
No. OMNIC requires a paid license through Thermo Fisher instrument purchase, typically costing $3,000–$10,000+ as part of an instrument bundle. SpectralBench is a completely free alternative with no license fees.
Yes. SpectralBench reads SPA and SPC files (OMNIC's native formats) as well as JCAMP-DX and CSV exports from OMNIC. Simply drag and drop your files — format is auto-detected.
SpectralBench offers browser-based access from any device, AI-powered spectral interpretation, 54,825+ free reference spectra, shareable links, PCA analysis, advanced curve fitting, and community collaboration — all without license fees or Windows dependency.
Yes. SpectralBench is completely vendor-neutral and works with data from any FTIR instrument regardless of manufacturer — Bruker, Shimadzu, Agilent, PerkinElmer, Horiba, or any other brand.