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labthread.com
What it is
Lab Thread is a web platform for biological research that brings molecular biology tools, electronic lab notebook records, inventory, and project workflows together. Its molecular suite includes native cloning, primer design, and alignment tools. The Smart ELN can bring information from molecular designs into digital lab records, while sample locations can be tracked in real time and linked to experimental logs. Project tools assign tasks and timelines, follow progress, and set deadlines. The free academic plan is limited to five seats and 10 GB of storage per seat. New users can try the Pro plan for 30 days without payment details. Listed paid plans range from €30 a month for Core to €80 a month for Pro (academic), with other plans priced between them. The pricing FAQ says all plans comply with 21 CFR Part 11, but supporting documentation is only provided on Pro. Lab Thread says data is stored in Microsoft Azure and dedicated Tier IV and ISO 27001 certified servers; data at rest is encrypted with AES-256 and data in transit uses HTTPS with TLS 1.2 or later. It says customer scientific data is not used for AI model training or shared with third parties.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Lab Thread connects molecular design, electronic lab records, inventory and project workflows for biological research.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Product
- Lab Thread combines molecular biology tools, ELN records, LIMS inventory, and project workflows in one platform for biological research.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Audience
- The site describes academic labs and biotech companies as target users of the platform.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Trial
- New users get a 30-day trial with access to the Pro plan, and the pricing page says no payment details are needed during the trial.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Security
- Lab Thread says its data is stored in Microsoft Azure and on dedicated Tier IV and ISO 27001 certified servers with physical security controls.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Compliance
- All plans are described as 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, but supporting compliance documentation is supplied only with Pro.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Support
- The site offers expert advice and product demos through its team contact page.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Headquarters
- Silverstone Park, Silverstone, Towcester, NN12 8GX, United KingdomRead 28 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Founded
- 2024Read 28 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Cancellation data window
- After cancellation, customers have a limited export period and data is subsequently revoked and deleted or anonymized under the terms.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Commercial launch
- An independent Bio-IT World release dated 30 April 2026 says the platform entered worldwide commercial release after a December 2025 beta.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bio-itworld.com
- Company headquarters
- The registered office is MEPC Silverstone Park Innovation Centre, Silverstone, Towcester, England NN12 8GX.Read 15 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Company legal identity
- Companies House lists LAB THREAD LTD as an active private company incorporated on 29 August 2024 for software development and biotechnology R&D.Read 15 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Company size
- LinkedIn describes Lab Thread as privately held, founded in 2024, headquartered in Silverstone/Towcester and employing 2–10 people.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Crunchbase profile
- Crunchbase categorizes Lab Thread as a private seed-stage biotechnology and software company with 1–10 employees and Ryan Cawood as CEO.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Data handling
- Lab Thread says customer scientific data is not used to train AI models or shared with third parties, and administrator access is temporary and audited.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Data import and export
- Users can import tabular data with downloadable spreadsheets and export ELN material as ZIP, PDF and associated files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Data protection
- Its trust page says data at rest is encrypted with AES-256 and data in transit is protected with HTTPS using TLS 1.2 or later.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Data sovereignty
- The trust page says customer scientific data is not used for AI model training or shared with third parties.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Developer stack
- Careers material identifies .NET, React, Azure, DevOps and Microsoft SQL Server in the product engineering stack.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Documentation
- Public molecular-biology tutorials cover restriction-digest simulation, sequence editing, GC/Tm analysis, reading frames, annotations and enzyme settings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- ELN
- The Smart ELN can pull data from molecular designs into digital lab records.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- ELN search
- The ELN supports universal search across projects, dates, samples and tags, with email notifications and weekly summaries.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Free tier limit
- The free academic plan is limited to five seats and 10 GB of storage per seat.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Funding
- Mercia reported on 7 July 2025 that Ryan Cawood raised £750,000 from Midlands Engine Investment Fund II through Mercia Ventures for Lab Thread.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mercia.co.uk
- In-app communication
- Chat and review functions operate at sequence, record, task and project levels.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Inventory
- Sample locations can be tracked in real time and linked to experimental logs.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Licence
- The terms grant customers a limited, non-transferable subscription access right and reserve code, databases, interfaces and documentation as Lab Thread intellectual property.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Limit: barcode support
- Barcode generation and scanner integration are listed as planned future LIMS development.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Limit: dependency mapping
- Automatic downstream notifications when precursor tasks slip are identified as a feature still in development.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Limit: flow-cytometry analytics
- The ELN page says a flow-cytometry analytics module is under development for a later release.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Limit: product maturity
- The G2 reviewer reports bugs and clunky first versions of some features, although revisions were made quickly.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: service commitments
- The terms provide no uptime commitment unless a separate service-level agreement exists and describe the service as provided as-is and as-available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Molecular biology
- Its molecular suite includes native cloning, primer design, and alignment tools.Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
- Molecular suite
- The platform provides native cloning, primer design, sequence alignment, restriction-digest prediction and simulated gel visualization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Notable news
- The Scientist reported that the first full live version launched at the end of April 2026 with a 30-day trial requiring no credit card.Read 15 Oct 2026 · the-scientist.com
- Praise: usability and support
- The G2 reviewer describes an intuitive interface, short useful training videos, easy video-based bug reporting, fixes commonly within 24 hours and responsive feature updates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Project management
- Projects contain work packages, tasks, dependencies, milestones, deadlines and shared review workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Rating on G2
- 5.0 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Sample tracking
- Its LIMS links physical vials to originating DNA designs, protocols and experimental records, with freezer-location tracking.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Security encryption
- Lab Thread states that data uses AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.2 or later in transit, with Azure Key Vault.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Security testing
- The trust page says annual independent penetration tests are performed and the December 2025 report found no critical or high vulnerabilities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Self-hosting
- The company says local or dedicated-server deployment can be arranged with IT, while recommending its managed Azure service for most customers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
- Smart ELN
- Molecular designs can populate electronic lab records so users avoid re-entering design data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
Plans and prices
Free (academic) Free 10 GB per seat · 5 seats · core functionality Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
Core (academic) €30 a month per seat/month; €300 billed annually Unlimited seats · 100 GB per seat Read 29 Sep 2026 · labthread.com
Core (industry) €30 a month €300 billed annually 100 GB per seat · unlimited seats · ELN editor and templates · project management · molecular biology tools · sample management Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
Core + (academic) €40 a month €400 billed annually 500 GB per seat · unlimited seats · ELN, project, molecular biology and sample tools Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
Core + (industry) €50 a month €500 billed annually 500 GB per seat · unlimited seats · approval workflows · project management · molecular biology tools · sample management Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
Pro (academic) €60 a month €600 billed annually 1,000 GB per seat · unlimited seats · version history · digital signatures · compliance records Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
Pro (industry) €80 a month €800 billed annually 1,000 GB per seat · unlimited seats · 21 CFR Part 11 records · ELN version history · digital signatures Read 15 Oct 2026 · labthread.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Molecular suite includes cloning, primer design, and alignment.
- ELN can transfer molecular design information into records.
- Sample locations link to experimental logs in real time.
- 30-day Pro trial requires no payment details.
- All plans are stated to comply with 21 CFR Part 11.
Limits
- Free academic plan is limited to five seats.
- Free academic plan includes 10 GB storage per seat.
- Supporting compliance documentation is provided only on Pro.
Who it suits
Lab Thread is aimed at academic labs and biotech companies working with biological research data. Its free academic plan suits teams of up to five seats with limited storage needs.
Lab Thread in depth
Read the full write-up
Lab Thread is a web platform for biological research that brings molecular tools, lab records, inventory, and project workflows together. It is best suited to academic labs and biotech teams that need those activities connected. Its breadth is useful, but the free plan’s caps and the higher price of Pro make team size and compliance needs important buying considerations.
Overview
Lab Thread combines native cloning, primer design, and alignment with an electronic lab notebook, LIMS inventory, and project management. That connected scope is its main advantage: designs can flow into records, and sample locations can be linked to experimental logs. Teams that currently manage these activities separately may value the continuity; labs looking only for a notebook or project tracker may be paying for a broader system than they need.
The platform also includes protocol management and milestone tracking. Its stated audience spans academic labs and biotech companies, though plan prices differ by audience and feature tier.
Key features
Molecular work and records
The Smart ELN can pull data from molecular designs into digital lab records. That connection is practical for teams documenting work alongside cloning, primer design, or alignment, rather than maintaining disconnected design and record-keeping workflows.
Inventory and project tracking
Sample locations can be tracked in real time and linked to experimental logs, helping teams relate physical materials to the work that uses them. Project tools assign tasks and timelines, track progress, and set deadlines. This combination suits labs coordinating samples and shared work; the value is less clear for groups that need only one of those functions.
Security and compliance
Lab Thread says data is stored in Microsoft Azure on dedicated Tier IV and ISO 27001 certified servers with physical security controls. Data at rest is encrypted with AES-256, and data in transit is protected with HTTPS using TLS 1.2 or later. The company says customer scientific data is not used to train AI models or shared with third parties. All plans are described as 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, but supporting documentation is available only on Pro, a material distinction for teams that need that documentation.
Pricing
The pricing model is freemium, with academic and industry tiers billed per seat. Annual billing amounts are also given for the paid plans.
PlanPriceIncluded limitsFree (academic)free5 seats; 10 GB per seatCore (academic)€30 a month; €300 billed annuallyUnlimited seats; 100 GB per seatCore (industry)€30 a month; €300 billed annuallyUnlimited seats; 100 GB per seatCore + (industry)€40 a month; €400 billed annuallyUnlimited seats; 500 GB per seatCore + (academic)€50 a month; €500 billed annuallyUnlimited seats; 500 GB per seatPro (industry)€60 a month; €600 billed annuallyUnlimited seats; 1,000 GB per seatPro (academic)€80 a month; €800 billed annuallyUnlimited seats; 1,000 GB per seatThe free academic plan is a reasonable starting point for a small group, but five seats and 10 GB per seat constrain growth. Core removes the seat cap and raises storage to 100 GB per seat. Core + raises the per-seat allowance to 500 GB, while Pro provides 1,000 GB per seat and supporting documentation for 21 CFR Part 11. The storage increases may matter to data-heavy labs; teams needing documented compliance support should account for the jump to Pro.
New users can try Pro for 30 days without providing payment details. That gives teams a chance to assess the higher tier before committing. The general pricing note says paid plans start at £26/user/mo, while the individual plans are priced in euros; account for that distinction when comparing costs.
Platforms
Lab Thread runs on the web. Its product description presents it as one platform for research workflows rather than naming separate desktop or mobile applications.
Who it's for
Academic labs can start on the free plan if five seats and 10 GB per seat are sufficient, or move to paid academic tiers for more storage and unlimited seats. Biotech companies can choose industry plans, with Core + or Pro offering larger per-seat allowances. It is a stronger fit for teams combining molecular work, ELN records, sample inventory, and project coordination than for organizations seeking a narrowly focused tool.
Expert advice and product demos are available through the Lab Thread team contact page, which may help teams evaluate how the combined workflow fits their lab.
Pros and cons
Connected research workflow: molecular design data can feed into the ELN, and sample locations can connect to experimental logs, reducing separation between records and operational tracking.
Multiple workload tiers: storage ranges from 10 GB per seat on Free to 1,000 GB per seat on Pro, with unlimited seats on paid plans.
Free trial without payment details: the 30-day Pro trial lets teams evaluate the upper tier before choosing a plan.
Tight free-plan ceiling: five seats and 10 GB per seat may make Free a short-term option for growing or data-heavy labs.
Compliance documentation gated to Pro: all plans are described as compliant, but teams that need supporting documentation must select the top tier.
Paid prices require careful comparison: plan prices are per seat and shown in euros, while the headline starting price is in pounds.
Alternatives
Labforward is worth considering for teams seeking a free plan capped at three group members and 3 GB of cloud storage, with its Basic plan also including the Labfolder Go mobile app without Labfolder integration.
SciNote offers a free plan for one user with a dedicated workspace and no guaranteed support; choose it if that single-user free setup better matches your needs.
CROMS is a paid alternative for organizations above 100 users, with enterprise pricing tailored to user count, integrations, onboarding, migration, and support.
SiteVault CTMS has a free plan covering 20 concurrent active studies, which may suit teams whose central need is managing clinical studies.
Sapio Sciences offers a free Academic Bronze plan for users with an academic institutional email; non-academic users must request further details.
Trial Interactive CTMS is another paid option.
eLabNext is worth comparing if deployment choice matters: it offers cloud, private-cloud, or on-premises subscriptions, with 20 GB per user on Cloud and 1 TB standard storage on Private Cloud.
Benchling Notebook provides a free academic plan with Notebook and Molecular Biology; its industry solution is customized to business needs.
Browse the Research Project Management Software category to compare more project-focused tools.
Verdict
Lab Thread is a strong choice for academic labs and biotech teams that want molecular tools, ELN records, inventory, and project tracking in one web platform. The connected workflow is the clearest reason to choose it; the seat and storage limits on Free, per-seat paid pricing, and Pro-only compliance documentation are the reasons to look elsewhere or budget carefully.
Verdict
Lab Thread combines research records, molecular tools, inventory tracking, and project management in one web platform. The free academic tier has seat and storage limits, while paid plan pricing varies by audience and level.
Where Specifiction places it
- Research Project Management Software#2 of 258.8
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