Metquay: ISO 17025, Uncertainty, Quote-Priced
- Where it runs:
- Cloud or on-premise. Set up with a consultant, not instant self-serve.
- Free plan:
- No permanent free plan. A consultant-provisioned free trial only.
- Pricing:
- Not published. Pricing is quote-based, arranged through a consultant.
Below: the full facts, what Metquay does well, what to weigh — and how CalibraCore compares if you want a cloud tool you can start on for $0, free forever for 20 instruments.
What is Metquay?
Metquay is calibration management software from Metquay Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Delaware, USA. It is built for commercial calibration labs — the firms that sell calibration as a service — with certificates, recalls, measurement uncertainty and customer portals. It runs in the cloud or on-premise, and deployment is set up with a consultant rather than instant self-serve.
Who it is for: Commercial calibration and testing labs that sell calibration services and need lab-operations depth, not internal-only gage tracking. CalibraCore is a different kind of option — a browser-based calibration system with a plan that is free forever, aimed at small teams that want to start fast and pay nothing until they grow.
In short: Metquay and CalibraCore both manage instrument calibration — CalibraCore adds a free, cloud, no-install way to do it.
CalibraCore vs Metquay
A fair, side-by-side look. Facts about Metquay are from their own website, checked 2026-07-21. Prices can change — always confirm on the maker's site before you buy.
| Capability | Metquay | CalibraCore |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Cloud or on-premise. Set up with a consultant, not instant self-serve. | Cloud — runs in any web browser, nothing to install. |
| Free plan | No permanent free plan. A consultant-provisioned free trial only. | Free forever — up to 20 instruments and 1 team member. |
| Pricing | Not published. Pricing is quote-based, arranged through a consultant. | Clear plans you can see online, from $10 per month. The free plan stays free. |
| Mobile & devices | iOS and Android apps. | Any device with a browser — Windows, Mac or tablet. |
| ISO 9001 & 17025 records | ISO/IEC 17025 certificates, plus FDA 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP-5 and ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 decision rules. | Yes — full history and a due-date schedule for every instrument. |
| Best for | Commercial calibration labs wanting deep ISO 17025 lab-operations tools. | Small teams and startups getting ISO-ready without cost. |
| Who it is built for | Commercial calibration labs that sell calibration services. | Small teams tracking their own instruments. |
| Getting started | A consultant provisions the trial and sends a quote. | Self-serve sign-up in minutes, no sales call. |
| Uncertainty & decision rules | Measurement-uncertainty worksheets with Z540.3 guard banding. | Calibration history and due-date scheduling (no built-in uncertainty engine). |
Why pick CalibraCore over Metquay?
- CalibraCore has a plan that is free forever. Metquay offers a consultant-provisioned trial only — despite the word 'free' in its marketing, there is no permanent free plan.
- CalibraCore is self-serve — sign up and start. Metquay is set up through a consultant with a quote.
- CalibraCore is built for small teams tracking their own instruments. Metquay is built for commercial labs that sell calibration.
- CalibraCore focuses on simple calibration tracking; Metquay bundles lab-operations tools like Z540.3 guard banding and customer portals.
In short: CalibraCore trades a heavy, paid setup for a free, cloud tool small teams can run in minutes.
What does Metquay do well?
An honest comparison names the other tool's strengths too. Metquay is a strong product for the right team.
- Deep ISO/IEC 17025 tools for commercial labs — uncertainty worksheets with Z540.3 decision rules.
- Fluke MET/CAL integration and accounting integrations (QuickBooks, NetSuite).
- A strong independent user rating on Capterra (4.6/5).
In short: pick Metquay if you need its depth; pick CalibraCore if you want a free, simple, cloud start.
Things to weigh about Metquay
These are facts from Metquay's own website, not opinions. They may or may not matter for your team.
- No permanent free plan — the 'free' wording in its marketing refers to a trial.
- Pricing is not published; a consultant sends a quote.
- Built for commercial labs, so heavier than a small team tracking its own gauges needs.
Who should switch to CalibraCore?
Small teams on a budget
Teams that do not want a paid licence or a sales quote to start. The free plan covers up to 20 instruments at $0.
People who want cloud, not installs
Anyone who would rather open a browser than install and update Windows software on every machine.
Startups going for ISO
New labs or factories that need a clean ISO 9001 or ISO 17025 calibration record from day one, without upfront cost.
How do you move from Metquay to CalibraCore?
You do not have to re-type your instruments. Export your list to Excel or CSV, then import it into CalibraCore in one upload — even on the free plan.
- 1
Export from Metquay
Get your instrument list out of Metquay (or your spreadsheet) as an Excel or CSV file.
- 2
Create a free account
Sign up with your email. No credit card is asked for. Your workspace is ready right away.
- 3
Import your instruments
Upload the file. CalibraCore adds every instrument in one go, with its details.
- 4
Set schedules and go
Give each instrument its interval. CalibraCore builds the due-date calendar and sends alerts.
What you get with CalibraCore
Every core calibration feature is on the free plan — up to 20 instruments and 1 team member, not a stripped-down demo.
- 20 Instruments
- 1 Team Member
- Import instruments in bulk via Excel or CSV file
- Calibration Plan Calendar
- Calibration History Record
- Store's Instrument Movement Activities
- Central Instrument Registry
- Dual Email & Desktop Alerts
- Multi-Sheet Excel Reports
- QMS Header Customization
- Retired Assets Management
- Advanced Analytics Dashboard
- Instrument Price & Asset Value Tracking
What instruments can you track?
Any measuring instrument that needs regular calibration. You add each one, set its interval, and CalibraCore tracks the rest.
Dimensional gauges
Ring, plug, snap and thread gauges, calipers, micrometers, height and bore gauges.
Pressure & temperature
Pressure gauges, transmitters, thermometers, thermocouples and temperature baths.
Electrical & electronic
Multimeters, clamp meters, oscilloscopes, insulation testers and power sources.
Weighing & mass
Balances, weighing scales and reference weights used across the shop floor.
Torque & force
Torque wrenches, force gauges and load cells that drift with heavy use.
Any custom instrument
Add any instrument with your own name, ID and calibration frequency.
Is CalibraCore enough for ISO 9001 & ISO 17025?
Yes. Like Metquay, CalibraCore keeps the two things every quality standard asks for: a calibration schedule and a full history for every instrument.
ISO 9001
Clause 7.1.5 asks you to identify, calibrate and keep records for monitoring and measuring resources. A live register with due dates and history covers exactly that.
ISO/IEC 17025
Calibration labs must show their reference equipment is itself calibrated and traceable. Track intervals, results and certificates for every instrument in one place.
IATF 16949 (automotive)
Automotive audits check that every gauge has a schedule, a calibration record and a way to recall it if found out of tolerance. CalibraCore keeps all of it per instrument.
In short: CalibraCore gives you the due-date control and audit trail that ISO 9001, ISO 17025 and IATF 16949 all expect.
What are calibration best practices?
Set the right calibration interval
Start with the maker's advice or once a year, then adjust from real history. An instrument used every shift needs checking more often than one used monthly. CalibraCore lets you set a different interval for every instrument.
Keep every certificate and result
Record the date, pass or fail result and certificate number for each calibration. A complete history turns an audit from a scramble into a two-minute lookup.
Act on overdue instruments fast
An overdue instrument should be pulled from use until calibrated. Automatic alerts and a red overdue view mean you catch these before a bad measurement reaches a product.
Have a recall plan for out-of-tolerance tools
If an instrument fails calibration, you may need to review what it measured. Keeping each instrument's usage and history in one system makes that review far quicker.
Frequently asked questions
Is CalibraCore a good Metquay alternative?
Yes. CalibraCore is cloud calibration management software with a plan that is free forever for up to 20 instruments and 1 team member. It runs in your web browser, keeps ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 records, and needs no install — a simple, low-cost way to move off Metquay or a spreadsheet.
What is the difference between CalibraCore and Metquay?
CalibraCore has a plan that is free forever. Metquay offers a consultant-provisioned trial only — despite the word 'free' in its marketing, there is no permanent free plan. CalibraCore is self-serve — sign up and start. Metquay is set up through a consultant with a quote. Both track instruments, schedules and calibration history, so the choice comes down to cost, hosting and how big your team is.
Is there a free Metquay alternative?
Yes. CalibraCore has a plan that is free forever — not a trial — for up to 20 instruments and 1 team member, at $0. You get the calibration calendar, full history and Excel or CSV import with no credit card and no expiry date.
Does CalibraCore support ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 like Metquay?
Yes. CalibraCore keeps a full calibration history and a clear due-date schedule for every instrument. That record is exactly what an ISO 9001 or ISO 17025 auditor asks to see. You get the same audit-ready trail on the free plan as on paid plans.
Can I move my data from Metquay to CalibraCore?
Yes. Export your instrument list from Metquay or your spreadsheet to Excel or CSV, then import it into CalibraCore in one upload — even on the free plan. You keep your existing data and skip re-typing every instrument by hand.
Does Metquay have a free plan?
No. Despite 'free' appearing in Metquay's marketing, it offers a consultant-provisioned free trial, not a permanent free plan — Capterra lists no free version. CalibraCore has a plan that is free forever for a small team, with no sales call.
What ISO 17025 and measurement-uncertainty features does Metquay offer?
Metquay generates ISO/IEC 17025 calibration certificates and provides measurement-uncertainty worksheets with ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 decision rules and guard banding, aimed at commercial labs. It also supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and GAMP-5. CalibraCore keeps ISO 9001 and 17025 ready records but is built for small teams, not commercial labs.
Is Metquay cloud or on-premise?
Both. Metquay can run on a cloud server or be installed on your own server, and deployment is arranged through a consultant. CalibraCore is cloud only — it runs in any browser with nothing to install and instant self-serve sign-up.
Compare other calibration tools
Facts about Metquay are taken from their official website, checked on 2026-07-21: Metquay, Metquay FAQ (deployment). Product names and trademarks belong to their owners. Prices and features can change — confirm on the maker's site.
Try the free Metquay alternative
Set up your instrument registry in minutes. No credit card, no install. Free for up to 20 instruments, forever.