AcuityMaster vs Chart 2020
Chart 2020 by Good-Lite is a widely used digital acuity system in optometry and ophthalmology. Here is a transparent comparison with AcuityMaster Cloud on the metrics that matter.
Quick verdict: AcuityMaster is browser-based and runs on both Mac and Windows with centralized multi-location admin and a 15-day free trial at $249/seat/year, giving practices a modern, cross-platform alternative to a traditional Chart 2020 (Good-Lite) setup.
Side-by-side comparison
Prices are market estimates based on publicly available information (2024–2025).
| Feature | AcuityMaster Cloud | Chart 2020 (Good-Lite) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (1 seat) | $249/seat/yr | ~$800–$2,000+ perpetual |
| Typical 5-lane office cost | ~$745/yr ongoing | ~$4,000–$10,000 upfront |
| Platform | Mac + Windows + iPad | Windows only |
| Browser-based (no install) | ✓ Yes | ✗ Local install |
| Free trial | ✓ 15 days, full-featured | Limited / contact sales |
| Automatic updates | ✓ Always current | Paid upgrades |
| ETDRS / LogMAR | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tumbling E / Landolt C | ✓ | ✓ |
| Color vision testing | ✓ Built-in | Varies by edition |
| Pediatric optotypes + video | ✓ Pictures, HOTV, video | ✓ |
| Worth 4-dot | ✓ | Varies by edition |
| Contrast sensitivity | ✓ | ✓ |
| Device lock-in | None | Yes — hardware-tied |
| Clinician-developed | ✓ MD-founded | ✗ |
The bottom line
Chart 2020 by Good-Lite is a solid Windows-based digital chart with a strong optotype library. However, it is device-bound, Windows-only, and does not offer a freely downloadable full-feature trial. AcuityMaster Cloud provides comparable or superior clinical breadth — including built-in color vision and Worth 4-dot — while running on Mac, Windows, and iPad without any installation, and at a lower total cost over a typical 5-year ownership cycle.
Looking for a Chart 2020 alternative?
Same clinical depth
Snellen, ETDRS, Tumbling E, Landolt C, HOTV, Lea Symbols, contrast sensitivity, color vision, Worth 4-dot — all included in AcuityMaster at no extra cost.
Mac and browser-based
Chart 2020 requires a Windows PC. AcuityMaster Cloud works in any modern browser — Safari, Chrome, Edge — on Mac, Windows, or iPad.
Try it risk-free
Download a fully functional 15-day trial with no sales engagement, no credit card, and no obligation — and run it in your actual exam lane.
Which is right for your practice?
Chart 2020 and AcuityMaster overlap heavily on core optotypes, so the right answer usually comes down to platform, caseload, and how you prefer to pay. Four common profiles:
The retina practice or clinical-trial site living in ETDRS
Both platforms provide ETDRS and LogMAR charts, and Chart 2020 has a deserved reputation for ETDRS strength — if your lanes are Windows-based and standardized-protocol ETDRS is the whole job, it can serve you well. AcuityMaster matches the ETDRS/LogMAR capability with ANSI Z80.21 and ISO 8596 calibrated presentation, and adds the flexibility of running the same charts on Mac, Windows, or iPad. For trial sites that must document calibration, letter sizes are auto-calculated from the clinician-entered test distance.
The pediatric-heavy clinic
Chart 2020 offers pediatric optotypes, but — based on its published editions — color vision and Worth 4-dot availability varies by edition, so verify that the edition you are quoted includes what you need. AcuityMaster builds all of it in at one price: Lea Symbols, HOTV, Tumbling E, picture optotypes, crowding bars for amblyopia work, video fixation targets, and mirror mode for short or compact exam lanes.
The Mac-based practice
Chart 2020 is a Windows application; AcuityMaster Cloud runs in any modern browser on Mac, Windows, or iPad, with no installation. If your practice standardized on Apple hardware, this alone typically settles the question — see our Mac eye chart software guide for how a browser-based lane is set up.
The solo practice deciding between perpetual and subscription
Here is the honest math: a Chart 2020 perpetual license (an estimated $800–$2,000+ based on published information) can cost less in nominal terms than a subscription if you hold it for many years — but weigh the paid upgrades and hardware-tied licensing against AcuityMaster Cloud at $249/seat/year with updates included, or AcuityMaster Legacy ($1,300 perpetual) if you simply prefer owning your software. Our buyer's guide to digital eye chart software walks through the total-cost comparison framework in detail.
Switching or starting fresh: the zero-risk path
Because the 15-day trial is fully functional and needs no credit card, the cheapest due diligence is to run AcuityMaster in one lane alongside your current chart for two weeks. Confirm your hardware against the system requirements, test it on real patients, then compare notes with current pricing in hand.
Common questions
Is AcuityMaster a good alternative to Chart2020?
Yes. AcuityMaster is a direct alternative to Chart2020, offering no per-patient or per-test fees, a broader optotype library, dual-monitor exam lane support, and a browser-based cloud version launching 2026.
How does AcuityMaster compare to Chart2020 for optometry?
AcuityMaster includes all standard optotypes plus color vision, pediatric charts, mirror mode, and video fixation targets. Chart2020 is strong in ETDRS but AcuityMaster provides a more complete all-in-one visual acuity solution.
Start your free 15-day trial today
No credit card required. Works on Mac and Windows. Full clinical feature set from day one.