eLabFTW is an electronic lab notebook for recording experiments and protocols, collaborating, and organizing research entries. Users can search records, apply tags and categories, manage lab resources and quantities, link resources to experiments, and book shared equipment with the Scheduler. A single installation can support several teams, with controls for entry visibility and editing as well as Team Groups permissions. Research data can be imported and exported in formats including PDF, ZIP, CSV, JSON and ELN. The REST API supports reading and writing data from external programs, and the documentation links to a Python library. Listed integrations include PubChem, Bloxberg and Keeex timestamping workflows; authentication options include LDAP, SAML2 and two-factor authentication. The self-hosted software is free under AGPLv3, with no features behind a paywall, but it needs server installation and administration by a systems administrator. Managed hosting, training and support are paid options. PRO Support costs 3000.00 EUR per year; listed hosting plans range from 3200.00 EUR per year to 8700.00 EUR per year.
Who it is for
eLabFTW suits labs and companies that need to organize experiments, protocols, resources and shared equipment. Self-hosting requires a systems administrator, while managed hosting is an option for people unfamiliar with server administration.
What is good
- Free self-hosted software has no paywalled features.
- One instance can host several teams.
- Exports include PDF, ZIP, CSV, JSON and ELN.
- REST API supports external reads and writes.
- LDAP, SAML2 and two-factor authentication are listed.
What to know first
- Self-hosting requires server installation and maintenance.
- A systems administrator is required for self-hosting.
- PRO Support costs 3000.00 EUR per year.
- Paid hosting plans range from 3200.00 to 8700.00 EUR per year.
Verdict
eLabFTW offers broad lab notebook, inventory and collaboration tools, with a free self-hosted version. The main practical consideration is arranging server administration or choosing a paid hosting plan.
eLabFTW plans and pricing
All plansCompared on electronic lab notebook software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Audit trail
- Yes
- Electronic signatures
- Yes
- Approval workflows
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Search scope
- full_text_and_metadata
- API access
- Yes
- Export formats
- PDF, ZIP, CSV, JSON, ELN
