eLabFTW

OPEN SRC

Online lab notebook for research labs. Store experiments, use a database to find reagents or protocols, use trusted timestamping to legally timestamp an experiment, export as pdf or zip archive, share with collaborators…

► Research labs needing secure, collaborative experiment tracking

VG SCORE

7.0

VIEW ALTERNATIVES

Product Details

PricingOpen Source

API✅ REST

Learning CurveModerate

Integrations10 available

■ INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING — Weekly tool drops. No spam.

PROS & CONS

STRENGTHS

Strong focus on data integrity and legal compliance with built-in timestamping.
Completely free and open-source with no user limits or hidden costs.
Open source and self-hosted: provides full data control and customization for research teams.

WEAKNESSES

−The user interface can feel less modern and intuitive compared to some commercial ELNs.
−The interface feels dated and less intuitive compared to modern commercial ELNs, requiring a steeper learning curve.

KEY FEATURES

Trusted Timestamping

Legally timestamps experiments using audit-proof digital signatures.

Collaboration Tools

Share entries with fine-grained permissions for team members or external collaborators.

Experiment & Database Modules

Separate sections for experiment entries and a searchable database for reagents/protocols.

Digital Experiment Logging

Securely record and organize experiments in a structured online notebook.

WHO IS eLabFTW BEST FOR?

Biotech and pharmaceutical R&D teams

Ideal for storing protocols, reagents, and experiment records in a compliant, auditable system that supports team-based workflows and data export.

Academic research labs

Best for academic labs needing a secure, compliant, and collaborative platform to document experiments, manage protocols, and ensure data integrity for publications.

INTEGRATIONS

Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) standardsSAML/SSOZoteroEmail (SMTP)GitTrusted timestamping servicesDatabase systems (MySQL/MariaDB)LDAP/Active DirectoryFile storage systemsNextcloud