FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Electronic Lab Notebook Software

openBIS

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hostedWeb

Visit openBIS Alternatives

openBIS's own site

What openBIS is

openBIS combines research data management with a digital lab notebook and tools for managing samples and protocols. Researchers can connect experiment records to data of any size and format through the web interface or API. The notebook links experiments to materials, samples, and protocols in the inventory; teams can track lab materials and share experimental procedures with lab members.

For large datasets stored in different locations, BigDataLink provides a git-like way to link them while openBIS serves as a metadata repository. The software supports Excel import and export, and full lab notebooks and inventory folders can be exported to Excel and PDF. User profiles and access privileges govern access, while modifications to the database are tracked. Plugins can extend existing functionality or add new functions. The site also describes use with Jupyter notebooks and connecting workflow managers for cluster analysis through its APIs.

openBIS is open source under the Apache Licence 2.0. It can be used through web and API interfaces or self-hosted; documentation covers standalone and Docker systems, and binary releases are available for download. The openRDM.swiss service offers cloud hosting with data stored in Switzerland and is aimed at experimental research groups in Swiss universities or research institutes.

Who it suits

openBIS suits experimental research groups that need to connect experiment records with data, materials, samples, and protocols. Its self-hosting and openRDM.swiss options give institutions different deployment routes, while the hosted service is aimed at Swiss university and research institute groups.

What it does well

  • Open source under the Apache Licence 2.0.
  • Stores data of any size and format through web or API.
  • Lab notebooks link experiments to inventory materials, samples, and protocols.
  • Tracks database modifications and provides access privilege controls.
  • BigDataLink links large datasets across locations using metadata.

What to know first

  • SIS describes its email support as best effort.
  • The stated three-month test period still required infrastructure costs.
  • The openRDM.swiss hosted service is aimed at Swiss research institutions.

Limits

A 2021 openRDM.swiss service agreement offered a three-month test period without service charges, but infrastructure costs still had to be covered.

Getting started

  1. Visit https://openbis.ch/.
  2. Choose a self-hosted deployment or ask about openRDM.swiss cloud hosting.
  3. Review the standalone or Docker system documentation for self-hosting.
  4. Download a binary release or arrange the hosted service.
  5. Connect experiment data through the web interface or API.

Verdict

Choose openBIS if your research group needs an open-source system linking data, experiment notebooks, inventory, and protocols. Consider another route if you need support beyond best-effort email or a cloud service not focused on Swiss university and research groups.

Questions

Is openBIS free and open source?

It is listed as free and open source under the Apache Licence 2.0.

Which platforms are supported?

The listed options are API, Linux, self-hosted, and web.

Can openBIS be hosted in the cloud?

The openRDM.swiss service offers cloud hosting with data stored in Switzerland. Self-hosting on an institution’s local IT infrastructure can also be agreed.

What does openBIS export?

It supports Excel import and export, and full lab notebooks and inventory folders can be exported to Excel and PDF. Listed export formats also include ZIP.

Who provides openBIS?

The openBIS team says it is part of ETH Zurich Scientific IT Services.

Is there a trial?

A 2021 openRDM.swiss service agreement offered a three-month test period without service charges, though infrastructure costs remained payable.

Facts from openBIS's own pages

Access and audit
openBIS provides user profile and access privilege controls and keeps track of database modifications. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Access controls and audit
openBIS provides user profile and access privilege controls and tracks modifications entered in the database. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Analysis integrations
The site describes using Jupyter notebooks with openBIS and its APIs to connect workflow managers for cluster analysis. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Audience
The openRDM.swiss service is aimed at experimental research groups in Swiss universities or research institutes. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
BigDataLink
BigDataLink is described as a git-like tool for linking large datasets across different locations while using openBIS as a metadata repository. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Data management
It can store data of any size and format connected to experiments through the web interface or API. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Deployment
The documentation lists standalone and Docker system documentation, and the site says binary releases are available for download. · openbis.readthedocs.io, 9 Oct 2026
Extensibility
Users can write plugins to extend existing functionality or add new functionality. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Hosting
The openRDM.swiss service offers cloud hosting with data stored in Switzerland, and self-hosting on an institution’s local IT infrastructure can be agreed. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Import and export
The site lists Excel import and export, plus export of full lab notebooks and inventory folders to Excel and PDF. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Intended users
The openRDM.swiss service based on openBIS is aimed at experimental research groups in Swiss universities or research institutes. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Inventory
It tracks lab materials and samples and lets users create experimental procedures to share with lab members. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Lab notebook
The lab notebook links experiments to materials, samples, and protocols stored in the inventory. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Large datasets
BigDataLink lets users use openBIS as a metadata repository and link large datasets across different locations with a git-like tool. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
License
The software is open source and distributed under the Apache Licence 2.0. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Provider
The openBIS team says it is part of ETH Zurich Scientific IT Services. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose
openBIS is presented as a complete solution for managing research data. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Research data
It stores data of any size and format connected to experiments through its web interface or API. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Support
SIS describes its email support for openBIS as “best effort.” · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Trial
A 2021 openRDM.swiss service agreement offered a three-month test period without service charges, while infrastructure costs still had to be covered. · openbis.ch, 9 Oct 2026

Where openBIS stands on Freedom251

Look at these too