Side by side
Chemotion ELN vs eLabFTW
Both stand on electronic lab notebook software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2
Chemotion ELN offers chemistry-focused research records with institutional deployment and sharing options. Users should account for its network requirement, browser limitations, and the stated gaps in versioning and auditing.
Visit Chemotion ELN
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3
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.
Visit eLabFTWThe facts
| Chemotion ELN | eLabFTW | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | See the plans |
| Plans published | None | 8 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | chemotion.net | elabftw.net |
| On electronic lab notebook software | #5 of 23 | #1 of 23 |
Chemotion ELN: what it does well
- Free use by academic researchers is a stated principle.
- Records cover samples, reactions, and analytical data.
- Selected information can transfer to Chemotion Repository.
- Supports OpenStats and a TLC annotation tool.
- Multiple authentication options are available.
What to know first
- Requires a network connection; no standalone version is available.
- Some functionality is limited in Firefox and Edge.
- Demo data may be lost, and some functions are unavailable.
- Versioning and auditing systems are still being worked on.
eLabFTW: what it does well
- 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 €3,000 a year.
- Paid hosting plans range from 3200.00 to €8,700 a year.
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