Developer: MacVector, Inc.
Supported platforms: macOS (Universal Binary for Intel and Apple Silicon; MacVector 26.1, October 2026; major version 26 released July 2026)
Download: https://macvector.com/
Features
View Quality scores
Yes. Integrated phred basecalling inside Assembler generates quality scores, and trace editors display confidence values and conflict highlights alongside aligned traces.
View raw data
Yes—within MacVector’s Raw Data tab, which reports numerical peak-area and trace-signal percentage measurements (total peak area, per-base areas, signal percentages, and mixed-base flags with tab-separated clipboard copy to Excel) rather than unprocessed capillary voltage sweeps.
Assembly
Yes. The Assembler module (now bundled at no extra charge) includes phred, cross_match, and phrap for Sanger de novo assembly, plus Align to Reference for rapid clone/SNP verification and Velvet, SPAdes, Flye, and Bowtie2 for NGS/long reads.
Input file formats
.ab1, .scf, .alf, GenBank, EMBL, FASTA, FASTQ, SnapGene, and other standard molecular formats.
Output file formats
GenBank, EMBL, FASTA, MacVector project/alignment documents, tab-separated peak metrics, and publication graphics (does not write back .ab1 traces).
Trimming
Yes, including cross_match vector masking and quality-based trimming during assembly and reference alignment.
Integrated Blast
Yes. Built-in Internet BLAST and Entrez searches, graphical BLAST Map hit context, and Batch BLAST / Auto-Annotate via BLAST (and MacVector Free retains Internet BLAST).
Open multiple windows
Yes, with native macOS synchronised reference, contig, chromatogram, and Raw Data windows.
Edit bases
Yes, directly inside aligned reads and contigs with automatic trace centring.
ABI limits (regions outside of clear range region are displayed in gray)
Import and display of instrument ABI clear-range tags is not confirmed; MacVector provides its own alignment and assembly trimming views.
Other functions
- SNP percentage table in Align to Reference for site-directed mutagenesis and heterozygote checks
- ProofReader audible base playback and extensive plasmid/cloning/primer tools
- 21-day free trial automatically reverts to MacVector Free (trace opening, editing, and Internet BLAST remain enabled; Assembler and Analyze menus are disabled)
Cost
Paid macOS licences in USD (21-day free trial transitions to MacVector Free). Annual Personal licences are $124 USD/year (Student), $300 USD/year (Postdoc), $389 USD/year (Academic), or $778 USD/year (Commercial); Perpetual Personal licences are $1,180 USD (Academic) or $2,360 USD (Commercial), with upgrade/maintenance plans and multi-user Standard and Concurrent network options.
Comments
MacVector is a well-established native macOS suite for Sanger assembly, quantitative peak-percentage inspection, and molecular cloning. Because the full Assembler package is now included at no extra charge and expired trials continue operating as MacVector Free for basic trace viewing and NCBI BLAST, Apple Silicon Mac labs can evaluate it with minimal friction.
Return to the Trace Viewers overview or check trace quality online with QualTrace III Online.