OsiriX Lite and MicroDicom are the two names that come up first when a dentist asks for a free DICOM viewer, and they rarely compete head to head: OsiriX Lite runs only on a Mac, and MicroDicom DICOM Viewer is a Windows program. So the short answer is decided by your computer. On a Mac, OsiriX Lite; on Windows, MicroDicom.
The differences that matter after that are the terms. OsiriX Lite is a demo of the paid OsiriX MD, with a “NOT FOR MEDICAL USAGE” stamp and a series size limit, so we class it as shareware (conditionally free). MicroDicom is free for non-commercial use only; a private practice needs a commercial licence. Neither is approved for diagnosis. Below, the two are compared task by task, the way a clinic actually uses them.
Side by side
| Item | OsiriX Lite | MicroDicom DICOM Viewer |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Pixmeo SARL, Geneva | MicroDicom Ltd, Sofia |
| Latest version | 14.2.x line (2026) | 2026.3 (10 June 2026) |
| Licence | Shareware (conditionally free): demo of OsiriX MD | Free for non-commercial use; commercial licence for professional use |
| Platforms | macOS 12 to 27, Intel and Apple Silicon | Windows Vista to 11; macOS only via a Wine package |
| Image stamp | “NOT FOR MEDICAL USAGE” on every image | None |
| Series limit | About 800 images at 512 x 512 | No limit stated by the vendor |
| 3D | 3D MPR, curved MPR and 3D rendering (demo level) | MPR, 3D MPR with slab thickness, volume rendering (since 2026.3) |
| Export and sharing | Screenshots and 3D renderings; CD creation (demo) | JPEG, PNG, TIFF and more, MP4/AVI video, anonymisation |
| Networking | DICOM query/retrieve and send, max two nodes | PACS client with DICOMweb |
| Clinical status | Not for primary diagnosis | No CE mark or FDA approval; not for clinical purposes |
Opening a patient’s CBCT disc
MicroDicom is faster for the everyday case. Choose File > Open, select the DICOMDIR file in the root of the disc, and the patient list appears; the portable ZIP edition even runs on a clinic PC where you cannot install software. If nothing shows up, you probably opened a single image file instead of the DICOMDIR, which many dental discs rely on.
OsiriX Lite works differently: it imports studies into its own database. Copy the disc to the Mac, drag the folder onto the database window and double-click the series. The import copies files, so watch disk space if you keep many CBCT scans. Once imported, studies stay sorted by patient, which helps if the same referrer sends scans regularly.
Reviewing a CBCT in three planes and in 3D
Both now do multiplanar review. MicroDicom’s 2026.3 release added 3D MPR with MIP, MinIP, average and slab thickness, plus volume rendering; it is newer and simpler than a dedicated 3D suite but covers scrolling through a region and turning the volume for a patient. OsiriX Lite offers 3D MPR and 3D rendering on the same code base as OsiriX MD, but only at demo level, and Pixmeo quotes MD as up to 80% faster.
The deciding factor for CBCT is size. OsiriX Lite opens only about 800 images per series, and a thin-slice CBCT can exceed that, so the volume loads partially. MicroDicom has no such limit stated. On a Mac, the workaround is a thicker-slice export from the imaging centre, or Horos, a free open-source (LGPL-3.0) macOS viewer without the Lite limit.
Panoramic-style views from CBCT
This is where OsiriX Lite has something MicroDicom does not advertise. Its 3D Curved MPR lets you click points along the dental arch on an axial slice and get a reconstructed panoramic-style image with cross-sections, which is useful for teaching and case presentations. It is demo-level and stamped, so it is not a diagnostic panoramic. MicroDicom’s feature list does not include curved MPR.
Measuring and discussing a case
Both measure distances and add annotations. MicroDicom also measures angles and regions of interest and lets you calibrate when an image has no pixel spacing data. OsiriX Lite provides length measurements on a bone window, which is usually all a case discussion needs. Neither has dental tools: no implant library, no nerve canal tracing, no tooth charting. Treat any measurement as a reference for discussion, not a planning value.
Sending images to a colleague or lab
MicroDicom is better here. It anonymises the study so the patient’s name and ID leave the DICOM header, exports slices to JPEG or PNG, and exports a scroll-through to MP4 for e-mail. OsiriX Lite can export screenshots and 3D renderings for slides; its CD creation and DICOM send functions are demo-level, and DICOM networking is capped at two nodes.
Using it in a practice: the licence question
Neither viewer is free for routine clinical use. MicroDicom’s free licence covers personal and educational use; professional use needs a paid licence from the vendor. OsiriX Lite may be used only for reviewing and scientific work, not primary diagnosis; the certified edition is OsiriX MD, which is FDA-cleared and CE-marked according to Pixmeo. For reports and treatment planning, use the certified software that comes with your scanner or imaging provider.
OsiriX for Windows, MicroDicom for Mac?
There is no OsiriX for Windows: Pixmeo states that OsiriX runs only on macOS. On a Windows PC, MicroDicom is the equivalent choice, and the JiveX DICOM Viewer (Personal Edition) is a second option (shareware, conditionally free; Windows 10/11 64-bit). MicroDicom has no native Mac version either; the vendor supplies a Wine-based package, so the Windows program runs through a compatibility layer rather than natively. On a Mac, a native viewer is the cleaner route. If you need a 3D model rather than a view, 3DimViewer runs on both systems and exports STL, but its last release is from 2017 and it may not run on current macOS.
Which one should you use
- Windows PC, opening what patients bring in: MicroDicom. Licence it commercially if you use it in the practice.
- Mac, reviewing referral scans or teaching CBCT navigation: OsiriX Lite, accepting the stamp and series limit.
- Mac with large thin-slice CBCT volumes: Horos, or ask for thicker-slice exports.
- Panoramic-style reconstruction for a presentation: OsiriX Lite’s curved MPR.
- Sharing anonymised images or videos: MicroDicom.
- Printable jaw model: neither; use 3DimViewer or MITK.
For the full list of free viewers, including Linux options, see our free DICOM viewers for dental CBCT hub.
FAQ
Is OsiriX Lite free?
It costs nothing to download and use, but it is the demo of the commercial OsiriX MD, with a “NOT FOR MEDICAL USAGE” stamp and a series limit of about 800 images, so we list it as shareware (conditionally free).
Is there OsiriX for Windows?
No. OsiriX runs only on macOS. On Windows, use MicroDicom or the JiveX DICOM Viewer.
Is MicroDicom available for Mac?
Not natively. The vendor provides a Wine-based macOS package and instructions for running it with Wine or CrossOver.
Is MicroDicom free for a dental practice?
No. It is free for personal and educational use; professional use requires a commercial licence from MicroDicom Ltd.
Can I use OsiriX Lite or MicroDicom for diagnosis?
No. OsiriX Lite is not certified for primary diagnosis, and MicroDicom states it has no CE mark or FDA approval and must not be used for clinical purposes.
Which is better for dental CBCT?
On Windows, MicroDicom, because it has no stated series limit and handles export and anonymisation. On a Mac, OsiriX Lite, whose curved MPR is useful for panoramic-style teaching views.
Last updated: 28 September 2026 · DentSoftPro editorial team. Licence, version and platform details are checked against each developer's official documentation; none of the tools listed here should be treated as a certified medical device unless its vendor says so.
