Labforward

Overview

Labforward is a laboratory software suite anchored by Labfolder, an electronic lab notebook for recording experiments and working with colleagues. It best suits research groups that want notebook, protocol, inventory, and lab-operation tools within one product family. Its free plan lowers the barrier to starting, but the three-member cap makes Advanced the more practical option for growing teams.

The suite also includes Labregister for inventory and samples, Laboperator for laboratory execution, and Labtwin, a voice-powered assistant that can capture data and exchange it with ELN, LIMS, and other lab informatics systems through an API. Labfolder supports protocol management and integrations with Labregister, FigShare, and Dropbox; Laboperator instrument integration is subject to additional fees.

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Berlin, Labforward says it completed a SOC 2 Type 2 examination in 2024 and has been ISO 27001 certified since 2023. Its Security Center describes automated checks for vulnerabilities, including OWASP Top 10 issues and misconfigurations.

Key features

• Experiment records and protocols: Labfolder lets researchers document, organize, and manage experiments in a browser-based notebook, with collaboration for team members. Protocol management makes it a fit for groups that want protocols alongside experiment records.
• Inventory and operations: Labregister covers inventory and sample management, while Laboperator addresses laboratory execution and instrument integration. The suite's breadth may suit labs consolidating several workflows, but the Laboperator integration can add cost.
• Voice-based data capture: Labtwin can capture data by voice and exchange it through an API with ELN, LIMS, and other lab informatics systems. This extends the suite beyond notebook work, though the stated capability is focused on capture and exchange.
• Advanced controls: Advanced includes digital signatures compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11. That is a concrete reason to consider the paid plan for teams that need those signatures.

Pricing

Labforward uses a freemium model and offers a free trial. Basic costs 0.00 USD per free. It includes up to three group members, 3 GB of cloud storage, a 25 MB per-file limit, and the Labfolder Go mobile app without Labfolder integration. That makes it a reasonable starting point for an individual or small team with modest storage needs; the member and file caps constrain larger or data-heavy projects.

Advanced is billed at €17 per user/month with an annual upfront payment; the page also shows €52. It includes 300 GB of cloud storage per group member, a 100 MB per-file limit, adjustable group size, and compliant digital signatures. Its additional services, including dedicated cloud or on-premises deployment, enterprise SLA, personalized onboarding, and Laboperator instrument integration, are subject to additional fees. Advanced therefore fits teams that need greater capacity or controls, but those optional requirements can raise the cost beyond the base subscription.

Both plans include a standard service-level agreement. Basic uses public cloud; Advanced also offers dedicated cloud and on-premises deployment for an additional fee. The yearly billing commitment and per-user pricing matter when estimating costs for a team.

Platforms

Labfolder is browser-based and works in modern browsers on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Labforward lists Linux, macOS, web, and Windows platforms. Basic also includes Labfolder Go, but without integration with Labfolder.

Who it's for

Labfolder is presented for individual researchers and teams across academia, industry, startups, the public sector, biotech, pharma, and other research fields. Basic is most suitable for a small group that can stay within three members and 3 GB. Teams needing adjustable group size, more storage, larger files, or digital signatures have a stronger case for Advanced. Labs that require optional deployment or onboarding services should account for their additional fees.

Pros and cons

• Pro — broader lab coverage: Labfolder sits alongside inventory, execution, and voice-assistant products, giving research groups options beyond experiment records.
• Pro — defined security credentials: Labforward says it completed a SOC 2 Type 2 examination in 2024 and has held ISO 27001 certification since 2023.
• Pro — a usable entry tier: Basic is free and includes three group members, enough for a small team to begin documenting work.
• Con — tight Basic limits: Three members, 3 GB total storage, and 25 MB per file may restrict collaboration and data-heavy work.
• Con — Advanced costs are not the whole bill: Annual upfront billing applies, and deployment choices, enterprise support, onboarding, and Laboperator integration can incur additional fees.
• Con — mobile-app caveat: Basic includes Labfolder Go without Labfolder integration, limiting the connection between the app and the notebook.

Alternatives

SciNote is worth considering for a team seeking a freemium option with a one-user free plan and a dedicated workspace; its listed platforms also include Android, iOS, API, self-hosted, and web. Lab Thread may suit academic groups that want a free plan with five seats and 10 GB per seat, or a Core plan with unlimited seats and 100 GB per seat for €30 per month billed per seat or €300 annually.

SiteVault CTMS is a candidate for teams whose needs align with its free allowance of 20 concurrent active studies, with no stated count limit for archived studies, documents, and users. Benchling Notebook may fit academic researchers seeking a free plan that includes Notebook and Molecular Biology. Sapio Sciences offers an academic free tier, but it requires an email associated with an academic institution; non-academic users must request more details.

nodegoat is another freemium option, with its listed plans centered on research environments. CROMS is a paid option for organizations above 100 users, with pricing tailored to user count, integrations, onboarding and migration scope, and support. Oracle Siebel Clinical Trial Management System is another alternative.

For a broader category comparison, see Research Project Management Software.

Verdict

Labforward is a strong choice for research teams that want an electronic notebook with protocol management and the option to add inventory, execution, and voice-based data tools. Basic is a useful small-team entry point, while Advanced supplies the capacity and digital signatures many larger or more controlled workflows will need. Look elsewhere if you need more than three collaborators on a free plan or want to avoid extra charges for deployment and service options.