--- title: "MasterControl Quality Excellence Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is MasterControl Quality Excellence the right Document Control solution for you? Explore 580 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/148577/MasterControl/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-11-03" --- MasterControl Quality Excellence 4.5 (579) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated November 3rd, 2026 # Reviews of MasterControl Quality Excellence Ease of use 4.1 Customer Service 4.5 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews Simone B Quality compliance specialistPharmaceuticals, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “One of its main strengths is the ability to centralize quality processes including CAPA, deviations, change controls, training management, document control and audit management within a single integrated environment.“ May 20, 2026 Phyllis F Sr QMS ManagerMedical Devices, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “However, reporting can be challenging with data "living" in multiple reports, requiring outside services to combine them into something usable (e.g., 6 fields you need are on one report, and 3 are on another) and the "new" report solution still has many data errors and latency issues.“ August 28, 2026 Simone B Quality compliance specialistPharmaceuticals, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “The workflow configuration is flexible and supports compliance with GxP requirements, electronic signatures and audit trails.“ May 20, 2026 MF Mikkel F Validation specialistMedical Devices, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Master Control can feel complex for beginners, with a steep learning curve and occasional glitches that disrupt workflow efficiency.“ May 20, 2026 Marco B IT Senior Application SpecialistBiotechnology, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “MasterControl Qx is a solid and compliance‑focused quality management system that delivers strong collaboration and form management features.“ February 16, 2026 Sheshank A Director, ComplianceBiotechnology, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Certain areas such as Supplier quality and Audit modules have been outdated and ignored for years.“ July 2, 2026 MF Mikkel F Validation specialistMedical Devices, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Master Control delivers a powerful, feature-rich experience, balancing strong performance with complexity that may challenge new users“ May 20, 2026 KB Karina B Manager, QMS systemPharmaceuticals, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The Audit module needs to be updated. When we were using it, there were many defects and work arounds that we had to use.“ July 30, 2026 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 579 available reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use MS Marissa S. Global eQMS administrator Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "MasterControl Qx Review" October 21, 2026 4.0 Overall, we have imported 16 sites and 7600 users and the experience has been most easy. It’s been a lifesaver to develop import tools that we can reuse. Pros I like the ease of use and configuration, specifically around vaults and custom fields. With a company our size, we rely on custom fields for searches. Cons The workflows are not as flexible as they should be. We have issues where we are unable to reject workflows and must abort/start over. Review Source R Reviewer Document Control Specialist II Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Innovative solutions " October 21, 2026 4.0 I have been using mastercontrol for almost 7 years now. It was the first eQMS I had used, and nothing compares to it. It doesn’t matter the size of your business, the system can work for you. Pros Helps my company stay compliant. MC strives to bring many systems into one to reduce the amount of outside integration required. Cons They have a hard time prioritizing because of how many improvements are always in the works. There are upsides to this, as us users are treated an asset that helps them continuously improve and grow. Review Source Gigi D. Project Manager Quality and Compliance Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Great but could use some improvements " October 21, 2026 4.0 It has had its ups and downs. There are many times when our APIs go down and the systems we connect to aren’t able to get the data which has created downtime Pros I appreciate the integration with AQEM and the ability to see your tasks in ADAPT. Being able to use the advanced search is also great. Cons Need better searching for info areas and linking of info cards with AQEM and maybe better search functionality across platforms and products Review Source Ryan K. Manager, Quality Systems Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "New Qx User" October 21, 2026 4.0 We’re still implementing so we don’t have a lot of experience but the user experience will take a lot of getting used to. Pros The lack of customization options will end up being a benefit as it is preventing us from building overly complex systems. Cons The documents workflows require a significant number of clicks compared to our previous system which isn’t as user friendly. Review Source R Reviewer Quality Assurance Specialist Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "MasterControl Qx is Excellent" October 18, 2026 5.0 MasterControl QX has a friendly User Interface and makes initiation and tracking of quality events seamless utilizing its integration to MasterControl Documents and Training modules. Pros Qx is Easy to Use and integrates easily with Documents and Training module allowing for a robust Quality Management System. Qx provides a value for money as it eliminates the need for paper tracking of quality evetns and allows for seamless collaboration. When bugs and issues arises, there is prompt customer response from MasterControl support and Account Managers. Cons The configuration, editing, and implementation of FBS forms can be a daunting task. Qx events also rely on JReports, which are less user friendly, for event tracking and KPIs. Review Source AS Adam S. Quality Systems Manager Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Great eQMS with good integration" October 16, 2026 5.0 Overall experience has been very positive. Modules are intuitive and easy to use. Configuration is also easily performed. Pros Great value for a tool that can be easily integrated. Provides much needed compliant support for our customers trust Cons Not all features or modules are integrated with insights for enhanced analytics, such as audit and supplier modules Review Source Wesley B. System administrator for GxP electronic syatems Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Dependable Document Control" October 16, 2026 5.0 MasterControl is a solid, trustworthy choice for regulated teams that put compliance and inspection readiness first. Pros Strong document control with versioning, routing, and audit trail. Quality processes like CAPA, deviations, change control, and audits connect in one system Cons Interface can feel dated compared to newer cloud-native platforms. Configuration changes often rely on vendor support Review Source JO Joanna O. Director, IT Business Partner, Quality Systems Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "QX - Excited for next steps" October 16, 2026 4.0 Overall it has been good. Wr are looking at upgrading to the AQEM forms and excited to use the Search Preview feature. Pros I like the Ease of use and the integration between QX and Document module makes it easy to use together. Cons Our current user interface is not the most intuitive or user friendly. We also struggle with the search capabilities. Review Source DD Diaz, D. Supplier Quality Engineering Manager Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Intuitive and effective " October 16, 2026 5.0 Overall I would say my experience has been positive. There are support features that I can use when I do have questions. Pros I find the software intuitive for users who may not be familiar with eQMS interfaces. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to find what you need and accomplish a task. Cons Thee is not much I would say that I don’t like. Maybe something that is typical of secure software in general is having to log in separate of already being logged into my main business account. Review Source R Reviewer Associate Director Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Overall value with compliant training and documentation " October 16, 2026 4.0 Overall the mastercontrol quality excellence platform provides value and compliant tracking for our organization. The support team is helpful but product launch delays cause significant impacts. Pros The ability to track training issuance and completion is useful for onboarding. Generating training reports for audit requests is fast and easy. There is end to end coverage for quality records (CAPA, CC, Dev, NC) that allows for transparent review and approval while maintaining audit trails. Cons Some features do not translate between products (FBS vs AQEM), leading to delays during document review and approval. The online collaboration can display formatting incorrectly, leading to bottlenecks when required to download the document for review. Review Source Sheshanka A. Director, Compliance Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "A decent QMS for Bio-Pharma clients with room for improvement" July 6, 2026 3.0 The experience overall is good. The system has it's strengths and is making efforts to make itself AI ready. However, certain modules need significant enhancements to qualify for the status of a complete QMS suite. Pros Documents, Training modules are easy to use. The new AI tools being added are improving the robustness of the QMS. Customer support and compliance matters are handled well too Cons Certain areas such as Supplier quality and Audit modules have been outdated and ignored for years. They are an important part of a QMS suite and must enhanced soon. Review Source R Reviewer QA Systems Specialist Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "System That Has Potential" October 16, 2026 3.0 Pros Easy configuration of workflows. Doesnt require coding to make changes. Ability to remove the requirement to have a change request before revising a document. Cons System is very rigid and searching is difficult. The modular appearance is confusing for end users and you should be able to edit what columns appear in views as the current views do not have columns that show useful information. Adding reviewers is also extremely difficult. You also have to go to a bunch of different screens just to get relevant info, all document info should be on the main infocard screen (who reviewed it, custom fields, etc) Review Source R Reviewer Director Quality Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "New QX user perspective" October 16, 2026 4.0 Overall we are satisfied with the product and look forward to the continued enhancements and improvements. Pros Moving from a paper system the visibility of the collaboration process in real time has proven invaluable. Cons The implementation of the training system and use of job codes took a little longer to adopt at the management level Review Source R Reviewer QA Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Excellent Document Control with limited Reporting Functionality" August 26, 2026 4.0 The platform is reliable, has great track record for it's uptime status. The licensing options are bit limiting and should be more relaxed to allow for non-contributing member to utilize. Pros MasterControl provides extensive set of administrative tools to ensure document control can be managed with granular level of configuration. Cons The FBS forms and AQEM platform lacks customization options, including the ability to facilitate collaboration, it's ease of use, and ability to generate custom report templates for FBS Forms or AQEM modules. Review Source Nima F. Staff Quality Engineer Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "MasterControl Qx" October 16, 2026 4.0 Pros Short implementation time, great consultation support, we can leverage MC validation documentation instead of starting from scratch, and the training automatically links to documents. Cons Time is needed to learn the software and the user interface and navigation, all of the role types need to be established during implementation, and the validation VxT tool takes times to learn. Review Source SR Sarah R. Quality Assurance Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Happy Qx user " October 16, 2026 4.0 I use the system daily for document management, training management, and associated user role assignments and access. Pros The system captures necessary information needed to meet regulatory requirements. Good basic system that does provide a lot of information. Cons The system can be kind of clunky, for lack of a better term. If not set up systematically, it can be a burden to change down the road. Review Source GT Gerald T. Quality Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "G.T MC MXer " October 16, 2026 4.0 Have been using itt for 10 years so I'll say my overall experience has been rewarding and allowed for personal development, which was due to the application's flexibility and shears learning something new. Pros Ease of use and management of users within the system. Flexible in configurations and developing solutions that application wasn't designed for. Cons Interface could use an improvement. Feels dated. One make thing is it would benefit the platform off all modules reported into a central location allowing records/Infocards to link and form connections Review Source R Reviewer Quality Lead Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Mastercontrol Review " October 16, 2026 4.0 Overall, it has been a great experience using MC. Currently learning the configuration side and it’s pretty user friendly. Pros Great interface for GxP compliance and centralized hub for documents/training. Easy use of configuration. Cons Some users note that the interface can feel complex or intimidating for new users. Occasional glitches Can sometimes be a pain. Review Source Marco B. IT Senior Application Specialist Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Reliable Quality Management, but Implementation Can Be Challenging" March 6, 2026 4.0 MasterControl Qx is a solid and compliance‑focused quality management system that delivers strong collaboration and form management features. However, the platform could benefit from improved usability, quicker bug resolution, and more competitive pricing. It’s a great fit for organizations with strict regulatory requirements and structured internal processes. Pros What I liked most about MasterControl Quality Excellence is its strong focus on compliance and its ability to streamline collaboration across teams. The system provides clear, structured workflows that support efficient task management and full traceability. I especially appreciate the ready‑to‑use digital forms, which are already designed around industry‑standard processes and allow teams to start working immediately without lengthy configuration. Cons The main limitations I experienced with MasterControl Quality Excellence are related to usability and system stability. The interface can feel unintuitive for new users, requiring more training than expected to become fully comfortable. Additionally, some modules still show occasional bugs or inconsistent behaviors that slow down daily operations and require follow‑up with support. Implementation can also be time‑consuming due to the complexity of the platform and the level of coordination needed across teams. Review Source R Reviewer PQS and training manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "PQS and training manager " May 22, 2026 4.0 Excellent - use master control on a daily basis and it really supports continuous improvement, tractability and compliance Pros Documentation control - excellent with great control and compliance Collaboration Implementation with great transition from previous EQMS Cons None - it’s great the MC are constantly evolving the system, the MC team are very cooperative with requests to improve the system Review Source Natasha L. Sr QA Specialist Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Constant support, continuous Improvment, a few kinks to work out " October 9, 2025 4.0 So far, it's been good. There are some areas that are extremely painful to work through but it's comforting to know that mastercontrol is aware and that there is constantly a plan to continue improving the products. The support that we have received (including summit) to me is invaluable. Pros I like the connectivity of the modules and that mastercontrol is constantly improving. The different options and features are consistently offering more value, if you're ready to invest in your company. Cons The different modules work slightly different depending on who developed them. Sometimes the most basic of functionality is not considered when making a product and then it can take quite a while to get that fix developed and released. Example, customization of task list, adding a star to favorite your documents from the document list instead of the infocard, not having a prefiltered supplier list, or even favoriting the most recent version of the document and making that a dynamic link not static with the version favorited. Review Source SK Shaun K. Quality Specialist Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "QMS mostly done right" October 8, 2025 4.0 After 13 years of working with MasterControl, I like the ability MasterControl rolls everything up together. Pros I really like how document revisions trigger training courses. Also the ease of keeping track of collaboration steps. Cons That aQMS is not available on the FedRamp server. FBS forms require too much customization by services to make using them a very pricey item. Review Source TE Tina E. Quality Assurance Lead Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Excited about MasterControl" October 13, 2025 4.0 My overall experience with MadterControl has been amazing. The 2025 Summit is my second summit attending and I’ve learned so much more about what MC can do than I knew possible! Pros I use MasterControl Qx all day in my role as a Quality supervisor. The document management was the first piece we rolled out. It is so helpful to have access to the vaults (draft, released, and archived). The collaboration step is beneficial to allow multiple inputs at the same time. Cons The portion I like the least is likely more on our behalf as a company than on MasterControl. The setting up of roles and job codes has been less than ideal. The department that initially set these up phased out and unfortunately took all their knowledge with them. Coming in on the back end has not been met with positive results. Review Source SM Surinder M. Senior Quality Associate Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Excellent system" July 30, 2026 5.0 It is a big leap from a paper-based system. The support from developing and implementing the system was easy. In addition, compliant with the current practices. Pros The modules for Document Control and AQEM are robust and compliant. Once the system is set up, it becomes easy. The more you use the system, it will eventually pay for itself in terms of time and resources. Cons There can be the odd bug or issue but the Customer Support is good. Very quick and responsive and the service is professional and friendly. Review Source Sean M. Data Analyst QA Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "A positive experience!" March 16, 2026 5.0 My overall experience has been positive. Despite some of the minor cons I had, I was always able to get my job done and make it work for my company in a way that give me peace of mind that everything will run smoothly. Pros I'm a fan of quality excellence. It's easy to use and makes sense for our organization. Have the regulation in our quality process makes all the difference. We're small and just getting started, having gotten set up in such a short amount of time getting this implemented helped tremendously with taking one more thing off our plate. Cons There are some cons but mostly just program things I do not like or wish I could change. Working with things like AQEM a lot, I have certain ideas in mind that would work great for the specific scenario I'm in but aren't always within the realm of capabilities on MC. There are however some new additions I was made aware of coming soon that solve some of these problems! Review Source ## Send me user reviews about this product ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Talk to a Capterra advisor for free and get results within 15 minutes.