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LabKey ELN
What LabKey ELN is
LabKey ELN helps scientific R&D organizations and research teams document experiments and share research in notebooks linked to samples, assay data, and other registered information. Entries can include templates, rich text, data links, inline attachments, comments, project tags, and status. Teams can request reviews, receive automatic notifications, comment, and sign off notebooks. Sign-off creates an encrypted snapshot of notebook text and linked data to preserve the original state. Entries can connect to bioregistry entities, samples, assays, workflows, and other notebooks. The product supports web, API, and self-hosted access, with PDF listed as an export format. LabKey describes role-based permissions, single sign-on, two-factor authentication, audit logs, and electronic signatures; it says these features support handling PHI under HIPAA and electronic records under 21 CFR Part 11. For LabKey Cloud, listed protections include encryption at rest and in transit, monitoring, and managed backups retained for up to seven years. LabKey recommends requesting a live demo and says evaluators can be set up with a free cloud-based trial. A free plan is listed. Community Edition does not receive development or technical support from LabKey.
Who it suits
LabKey ELN is intended for scientific R&D organizations and research teams that need experiment notebooks connected to research data. Teams evaluating it can request a demo and a free cloud-based trial.
What it does well
- Notebook entries link to samples and assay data.
- Sign-off preserves an encrypted snapshot.
- Supports review requests and electronic signatures.
- Provides API and self-hosted access.
- Lists PDF export.
What to know first
- Community Edition has no development or technical support from LabKey.
- A standalone ELN can leave results in separate systems requiring manual reconciliation.
Limits
LabKey says Community Edition does not include development or technical support from the company. A standalone ELN disconnected from sample and assay data can leave results in separate files or systems that require manual reconciliation.
Getting started
- Visit the LabKey ELN website.
- Request a live demo to begin evaluation.
- Ask LabKey's team to set up a free cloud-based trial.
- Choose web, API, or self-hosted access.
Verdict
LabKey ELN connects experiment records to research data and supports review and sign-off workflows. Consider the Community Edition support limitation and whether your deployment needs those connections.
Questions
Is LabKey ELN free?
LabKey lists a free plan and describes its pricing model as freemium.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. LabKey says its team can set evaluators up with a free cloud-based trial after they request a live demo.
Which platforms does LabKey ELN support?
The listed options are web, API, and self-hosted access.
Can LabKey ELN export notebooks?
PDF is listed as an export format.
What integrations does LabKey list?
The integrations page lists client APIs for R, Java, JavaScript, and Python, along with Excel, Jupyter Notebook, and Skyline integrations for specified LabKey products.
Who makes LabKey ELN?
LabKey provides the ELN and says it has supplied scientific data management solutions to research organizations worldwide for over 20 years.
Facts from LabKey ELN's own pages
- Authoring
- Authoring features include templates, a rich text editor, inline attachments, commenting, search, project tags, and notebook status. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Community Edition support
- LabKey states that it does not provide development or technical support for the Community Edition. · labkey.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Company history
- LabKey says it has provided scientific data management solutions to research organizations worldwide for over 20 years. · labkey.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- LabKey says its security and compliance features support handling PHI under HIPAA and electronic records under 21 CFR Part 11. · labkey.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Compliance support
- LabKey describes support for HIPAA PHI handling and 21 CFR Part 11 electronic records, including electronic signatures and audit trails. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Connected research data
- Notebook entries can link to samples, assay data, bioregistry entities, workflows, and other notebooks. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Evaluation
- LabKey recommends requesting a live demo and says its team can set evaluators up with a free cloud-based trial. · labkey.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Seattle, Washington, USA · labkey.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Hosting security
- LabKey Cloud security features include encryption at rest, TLS encryption in transit, monitoring, and managed backups with retention up to seven years. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- LabKey says its ELN integrates with Sample Manager, Biologics LIMS, LabKey LIMS, and SDMS. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- LabKey describes its ELN as designed for scientific R&D organizations. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Notebook authoring
- Notebook entries support templates, rich text, data links, inline attachments, comments, project tags, and notebook status. · labkey.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- LabKey ELN helps scientists document experiments and share research in an electronic lab notebook. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Record preservation
- On sign-off, encrypted snapshots of notebook text and linked data preserve the original state. · labkey.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Review and sign-off
- Teams can co-author, comment on, and review entries, request reviews with notifications, and sign off notebooks. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- LabKey states that it holds a SOC 2 Type II attestation and commissions independent penetration tests. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Signed records
- On sign-off, LabKey takes an encrypted snapshot of notebook text and linked data to preserve the original state. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Standalone limitation
- LabKey says a standalone ELN that is not connected to sample and assay data can leave results in separate files or systems, requiring manual reconciliation. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- LabKey directs Premium Edition subscribers to a private support portal and says Community Edition has no development or technical support from LabKey. · labkey.com, 4 Oct 2026
Where LabKey ELN stands on Freedom251
- Life Sciences Software#6 of 28
- Electronic Lab Notebook Software#13 of 23