Best Electronic Lab Notebook Software in 2026
Updated
In short: LabArchives is ranked #1 of 24 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of LabCollector ELN and Labfolder. The best-ranked option with a free plan is LabCollector ELN. The lowest first paid tier on this page is LabArchives at $8.25/mo.
A digital lab notebook can help keep laboratory records in one place. Compare approval workflows, audit trails, and electronic signatures to assess the listed review and recordkeeping capabilities. Search scope and export formats matter when you need to find or move information, while API access and offline access offer further points to weigh against your lab’s routines. LabArchives, LabCollector ELN, and Labfolder are among the software options to compare, alongside eLabFTW and SciNote. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing to consider cost alongside the features that fit your team’s work.
24 electronic lab notebook software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
24ranked
5free plans on this page
$8.25/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Electronic Lab Notebook Software 24 channels on this page · 119 of 192 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromAudit trailElectronic signaturesApproval workflowsOffline accessSearch scopeAPI access Spec sheet Score
01 LabArchives Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessYesSearch scopenot statedAPI accessYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.3
02 LabCollector ELN Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopenot statedAPI accessYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.9
03 Labfolder Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessNoSearch scopefull textAPI accessYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.6
04 eLabFTW Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessYesSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.5
05 SciNote Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.5
06 NETVIBES Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.4
07 Chemotion ELN Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailNoElectronic signaturesnot statedApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessNoSearch scopemetadataAPI accessYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.2
08 Signals Notebook Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessNoSearch scopefull textAPI accessYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
09 Benchling Notebook Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopenot statedAPI accessYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
10 LabKey ELN Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopenot statedAPI accessYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
11 CDD Vault Electronic Lab Notebook Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessNoSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 ELabELN Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessYesSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 BIOVIA Workbook Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
14 IDBS E-WorkBook Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
15 Sapio ELN Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesnot statedApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
16 Dotmatics Electronic Lab Notebook Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
17 LabID Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailNoElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessnot statedSearch scopenot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
18 LabWare ELN Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessnot statedSearch scopenot statedAPI accessYes 3/8spec lines stated 5.8
19 Alchemy Electronic Lab Notebook Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopenot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.7
20 IGOR Free planNoPaid from30/user/moAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsYesOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.7
21 RSpace Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.7
22 Indigo ELN Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailnot statedElectronic signaturesYesApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessnot statedSearch scopenot statedAPI accessYes 3/8spec lines stated 5.6
23 openBIS Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAudit trailYesElectronic signaturesnot statedApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessnot statedSearch scopefull text + metadataAPI accessYes 3/8spec lines stated 5.6
24 Phoenix ELN Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAudit trailnot statedElectronic signaturesnot statedApproval workflowsnot statedOffline accessYesSearch scopefull textAPI accessnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.6
Compare all 24 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Audit trail | Electronic signatures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LabArchives | 8.3 | Free plan | $8.25/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | LabCollector ELN | 7.9 | Free plan | €25/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Labfolder | 7.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | eLabFTW | 7.5 | Free plan | €250/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | SciNote | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | NETVIBES | 7.4 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Chemotion ELN | 7.2 | No | — | Yes | — | No | — |
| 8 | Signals Notebook | 6.9 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Benchling Notebook | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | LabKey ELN | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | CDD Vault Electronic Lab Notebook | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | ELabELN | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | BIOVIA Workbook | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | IDBS E-WorkBook | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | Sapio ELN | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 16 | Dotmatics Electronic Lab Notebook | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | LabID | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | No | Yes |
| 18 | LabWare ELN | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | Alchemy Electronic Lab Notebook | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | IGOR | 5.7 | No | — | No | 30 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | RSpace | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 22 | Indigo ELN | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 23 | openBIS | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 24 | Phoenix ELN | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which electronic lab notebook software is ranked first on Specifiction?
LabArchives is ranked #1 of 24 with a score of 8.3. LabCollector ELN is second and Labfolder third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 24 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, LabArchives has the lowest first paid tier we found: $8.25/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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