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Quick answer: arivis is the name ZEISS uses for a family of microscopy image-analysis software. The family includes ZEISS arivis Cloud (a browser-based platform for training deep-learning segmentation models, formerly called APEER), ZEISS arivis Hub (a scalable image-analysis data hub) and ZEISS arivis Pro (3D/4D microscopy image analysis software, listed in the vendor release notes alongside earlier “arivis Vision4D” versions). This page maps which product is which so that a search for “arivis” lands on the right documentation. Facts below come from ZEISS pages read on 2026-11-07.
What arivis is
“arivis” is a product brand now sold under the ZEISS name. ZEISS describes arivis Cloud as a cloud-based SaaS platform for training deep-learning models for image segmentation and analysis, used through a web browser without coding. The ZEISS knowledge base page “What is arivis Cloud” calls it a cloud-based, AI-driven platform for microscopy image analysis and states that it was formerly called APEER. That rename is why older tutorials, blog posts and papers may use the APEER name for the same service.
Which arivis product is which
| Product | What the ZEISS pages say it is | Where the documentation sits |
|---|---|---|
| ZEISS arivis Cloud | Browser-based SaaS platform to annotate, train and tweak deep-learning segmentation models; formerly APEER | ZEISS knowledge base, “arivis Cloud” section |
| ZEISS arivis Hub | “Scalable Image Analysis Data Hub”: datasets, a viewer, analysis pipelines and workflows, with documented deployment requirements | ZEISS knowledge base, “arivis Hub” section (release notes 4.2 to 4.5) |
| ZEISS arivis Pro | “AI 3D Microscopy Image Analysis”: import and view images, 3D and 4D visualization, analysis pipelines, segmentation, object tracking and deep learning through the arivis AI toolkit | ZEISS knowledge base, “arivis Pro” release notes; versions 4.2 and newer are listed above “arivis Vision4D” versions 4.1.2 and older |
Who runs it and what it covers
The products are published by ZEISS (ZEISS Microscopy, Life Sciences Solutions on the vendor pages). The scope is image analysis of microscopy data, not instrument control.
- Cloud covers two model types chosen at the start of training: semantic (pixel-based) and instance (object-based) segmentation. It supports partial annotation, so only the regions that need work are annotated, and an AI-Assisted Annotation Tool (spring 2025 release) previews AI annotations on hover that you accept or adjust with brush and eraser. Annotation and results can be shared across a team or organization.
- Hub documents deployment topics (high-speed image storage, client and server requirements, graphics cards, security) and named components: Launcher, Proxy-Server, Webapp-Client, API-Server, Interactive Viewer, Tile Server, Object Server, Render Server and Analysis Worker.
- Pro release notes describe importing and viewing, 3D/4D visualization, pipelines, segmentation and tracking, plus the AI toolkit.
Trained Cloud models can be exported to ZEN, ZEN core, ZEISS arivis Pro and ZEISS arivis Hub, which is how the products connect. The vendor pages reviewed do not publish user counts, so none are given here.
How to use arivis Cloud: the documented workflow
ZEISS summarizes the Cloud workflow as “annotate, train and tweak when needed”. The knowledge base is organized to match:
- Getting Started: overview, glossary, FAQ, citation guidance, and security and infrastructure.
- AI Toolkit: dataset requirements, annotation (including partial annotation), segmentation, improving segmentation, and where to use your model.
- Applications: run a public application, create your own, or request one.
- Integration: ZEN and ZEN core integration, access tokens (API keys), downloading semantic models, and Windows and Docker requirements.
The sign-in is reached from the ZEISS arivis Cloud product page and knowledge base. Read the dataset requirements page before annotating, because the model type (semantic or instance) is selected when training starts.
Strengths and limits
- Documented strengths: no coding is required for Cloud, annotation can be partial, work can be shared, and trained models can be exported into other ZEISS software.
- Access model: ZEISS offers a 30-day free trial of arivis Cloud, then subscription plans that vary by academia or industry, storage, computation and support. The vendor page lists no prices, so confirm current terms with ZEISS.
- Limits of the evidence: the ZEISS pages are vendor documentation. They do not publish benchmark comparisons against other tools, so claims about relative accuracy or speed should come from peer-reviewed evaluations, not product pages.
- Naming: the brand history (APEER, Vision4D) means a literature search should include old and new names.
Alternatives and related reading
| Related option | Note |
|---|---|
| Cellpose | A separate segmentation tool covered in its own CASRAI guide |
| Fiji vs ImageJ | CASRAI comparison of two widely used image-analysis environments |
| Incucyte | A live-cell imaging and analysis platform, covered in its own guide |
If analyzed images end up in figures, see detecting image manipulation in figures for the integrity checks journals apply, and confocal microscopy for background on a common source of 3D data.
FAQ
Is arivis Cloud the same as APEER?
Yes. The ZEISS knowledge base states that arivis Cloud was formerly called APEER (page read 2026-11-07).
Is arivis free?
arivis Cloud has a 30-day free trial. After that, ZEISS lists subscription plans that vary by academia or industry, storage, computation and support. The page gives no prices.
Which arivis product is Vision4D?
The ZEISS arivis Pro release notes list “arivis Vision4D” versions 4.1.2 and older directly beneath “arivis Pro” versions 4.2 and newer, and ZEISS links an article about a brand refresh of its arivis software. Treat Vision4D as the earlier name for the desktop line documented under arivis Pro.
Do I need to code to use arivis Cloud?
No. ZEISS states that models are trained in the browser without coding. Integration with ZEN and ZEN core uses access tokens (API keys) if you want to bring models into those tools.
How do I cite arivis Cloud?
The arivis Cloud knowledge base includes a citation guidance page under Getting Started. Use it for the wording ZEISS asks for.
Sources
- ZEISS, ZEISS arivis Cloud product page, read 2026-11-07.
- ZEISS Knowledge Base, What is arivis Cloud, read 2026-11-07.
- ZEISS Knowledge Base, arivis Hub, read 2026-11-07.
- ZEISS Knowledge Base, arivis Pro 4.2 release notes, read 2026-11-07.
