SciNote
scinote.net
What it is
SciNote is a cloud-based electronic lab notebook for organizing research, managing lab inventory, and coordinating teams. Researchers can structure work as projects, experiments, and tasks, then attach notes, files, protocols, and results. Global search covers research data, and a report generator produces project reports. The platform supports protocol and SOP management, including imports from protocols.io, and provides a RESTful API with integrations such as Ganymede, Quartzy, Gilson Connect, ChemAxon Marvin, Microsoft Office, and Zebra label printers. Android and iOS apps support completing protocol steps, commenting, uploading files, and posting results. SciNote says its regulated-lab workflows include electronic signatures, audit trails, timestamps, and user roles and permissions for 21 CFR Part 11 support. Its Trust Center lists ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 materials. The Free Plan is free for one user. Premium pricing requires a quote; installation can be cloud-based or on a local server.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- SciNote is a cloud-based electronic laboratory notebook and research-data platform with inventory, compliance and team-management functions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Product
- SciNote is a cloud-based electronic lab notebook with lab inventory, compliance, and team management tools.Read 2 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- API
- SciNote provides a REST API for bidirectional connections with LIMS, ERP, CRM, data-management and instrument systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Integrations
- Documented integrations include Microsoft Office Online, ChemAxon Marvin, protocols.io, Ganymede, Quartzy, Gilson Connect, FLUICS Print and Zebra printers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Security
- SciNote's Trust Center lists ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2 Type 1, and SOC 2 Type 2 among its compliance materials.Read 2 Oct 2026 · trust.scinote.net
- Headquarters
- Middleton, Wisconsin, USARead 28 Sep 2026 · scinote.net
- AI data handling
- SciNote says AI traffic is TLS encrypted, third-party providers are configured not to train on customer content, and AI features are optional.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- API authentication
- The API documentation describes OAuth 2 authorization-code and refresh-token flows, JWT bearer tokens and optional API-key authentication.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote-eln.github.io
- API examples
- The API documentation links to a basic Python example and documents endpoint-level request and response behavior.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote-eln.github.io
- Collaboration
- Comments, tagging, notifications, assignments and shared projects support team collaboration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Company founding and HQ
- LinkedIn lists the company as founded in 2015 and headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company history
- SciNote says its journey began in 2015 and that it is owned by Gilson Inc.Read 2 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists SciNote as a privately held software company with 11–50 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Compliance features
- Electronic signatures, audit trails, timestamps, activity logs, access controls and locked records support 21 CFR Part 11 and GLP/GMP workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Crunchbase profile
- Crunchbase describes SciNote as a private Middleton, Wisconsin biotechnology and life-science SaaS company with 11–50 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Developer documentation
- Read the Docs hosts developer material covering setup, contributing, collaboration and contact information.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.readthedocs.io
- File limits
- Inventory text fields allow 10,000 characters; file columns allow 50MB for Free users and up to 350MB for Premium users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · knowledgebase.scinote.net
- Free tier limit
- The Free Plan includes one user, and SciNote does not guarantee support services for Free Customers.Read 2 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Inventory
- Inventory tools track supplies, equipment, stock usage, locations and labels and link those records to experiments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Limit: autosave and reliability
- Some reviewers report occasional saving failures or missing autosaved information.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: chemistry support
- A reviewer says native chemical-structure functionality is missing and requires a separate licence or integration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: cost
- Some reviewers consider SciNote expensive for multi-user teams and ask for more affordable student pricing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: customization and bugs
- Software Advice reviewers mention limited customization of columns and occasional protocol-duplication bugs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
- Limit: tables and navigation
- Reviewers report that table editing, formatting and navigation between tasks can be clunky or unintuitive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Local deployment
- SciNote can be installed on a local server, but the customer needs internal staff to handle deployment, maintenance, and updates.Read 2 Oct 2026 · knowledgebase.scinote.net
- Mobile app
- The Android and iOS app lets users check protocol steps, add comments, upload files and post results from phones or tablets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Mobile use
- The Android and iOS app supports viewing and completing protocol steps, commenting, uploading files, and posting results.Read 2 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Open-source licence
- The public SciNote web repository is released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Ownership
- SciNote’s own About page states that the company is owned by Gilson Inc.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Praise: organization and search
- Reviewers repeatedly praise the project structure, keyword search and ability to keep experiments and data organized.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Praise: support
- Reviewers commonly describe customer support as responsive, knowledgeable and helpful during onboarding and problem solving.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
- Protocols
- Users can create protocol and SOP templates, maintain versions and import public protocols from protocols.io.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Rating on App Store
- 0 out of 5 from 0 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · appbrain.com
- Rating on Capterra
- 4.5 out of 5 from 62 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
- Rating on G2
- 4.2 out of 5 from 303 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on GetApp
- 4.5 out of 5 from 62 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Rating on Software Advice
- 4.5 out of 5 from 62 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
- Regulated labs
- SciNote says it supports 21 CFR Part 11 workflows with electronic signatures, audit trails, timestamps, and user roles and permissions.Read 2 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Release cadence
- SciNote says it releases new versions monthly.Read 15 Oct 2026 · knowledgebase.scinote.net
- Release news
- The October 7, 2026 release added optional validation preventing future dates in date/time fields and removed automatic trailing zeros from number fields.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Research organization
- Users can organize work into projects, experiments, and tasks, and attach notes, files, protocols, and results.Read 2 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Search and reporting
- Global search covers projects, experiments, files and content, while report generation and project export provide human-readable data exports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Security certifications
- SciNote’s Trust Center lists ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2 Type 1, SOC 2 Type 2, Cyber Essentials, GDPR, HIPAA and FedRAMP Moderate among its compliance materials.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trust.scinote.net
- Self-hosting
- SciNote can run on a customer local server or private cloud, with Premium plans offering installation and a separate instance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · knowledgebase.scinote.net
- Technical requirements
- Published technical specifications list Chrome, Firefox and Safari support and responsive mobile-device design.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Trial conditions
- The terms state that an offered Premium free trial lasts 14 days and has no uptime guarantee.Read 2 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
- Work structure
- Work is organized into projects, experiments and tasks with visualized workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Plans and prices
Free Free No charge 1 user · 50MB maximum file size · uptime and support not guaranteed Read 15 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
Free Plan Free one user · dedicated workspace · no guaranteed support Read 2 Oct 2026 · scinote.net
Listed starting price $0.01 a year Per user / per year Pricing-directory listing; provider pricing requires confirmation Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Premium Priced on request Contact sales Cloud, private-cloud or local installation · multiple teams · 1TB storage · optional 21 CFR Part 11 add-on · premium support Read 15 Oct 2026 · knowledgebase.scinote.net
Premium plans Priced on request quote required · cloud or local installation · multiple teams · 1 TB storage · Premium support Read 2 Oct 2026 · knowledgebase.scinote.net
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Organizes projects, experiments, tasks, and research files.
- Global research-data search and project report generator.
- Android and iOS apps support protocol work and uploads.
- RESTful API and named integrations are available.
- Electronic signatures and audit trails support regulated workflows.
Limits
- Free Plan is limited to one user.
- Free customers have no guaranteed support services.
- Premium trial lasts 14 days without an uptime guarantee.
- Local installation requires customer staff for maintenance and updates.
Who it suits
SciNote suits research teams that need to organize experiments, protocols, and results, including regulated labs that need audit trails and electronic signatures. Its free plan is limited to one user.
SciNote in depth
Read the full write-up
SciNote is an electronic lab notebook for teams that need organized experiment records, controlled protocols, and compliance workflows in one system. Its strongest fit is a lab that values searchable, exportable records and can budget for Premium when it needs multiple users. The free tier is useful for one person, not for a shared workspace.
Overview
SciNote structures research into projects, experiments, and tasks, with notes, files, protocols, and results attached to the work they document. That organization, combined with global search across research data and project reporting, makes it more capable than a simple digital notebook: users can retrieve records across their work and generate project reports. Lab inventory and team-management tools broaden its scope, though the Free Plan’s single-user limit sharply narrows its usefulness for a working group.
Key features
Research records and protocols
Full-text and metadata search helps users find information by content as well as descriptive fields. Protocol and SOP management keeps procedures connected to research work, and protocols can be imported from protocols.io. Spreadsheet exports and human-readable exports with attachments provide practical ways to take records out of SciNote.
Compliance, security, and integrations
SciNote supports 21 CFR Part 11 workflows with electronic signatures, audit trails, timestamps, user roles, permissions, and approval workflows. That makes it a relevant option for regulated labs, though the presence of compliance tools alone does not establish that a particular lab’s processes meet its obligations. Its Trust Center lists ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2 Type 1, and SOC 2 Type 2 among its compliance materials.
A RESTful API and integrations including Ganymede, Quartzy, protocols.io, Gilson Connect, ChemAxon Marvin, Microsoft Office, and Zebra label printers give labs several routes to connect SciNote with other tools. The breadth is useful for teams whose workflow overlaps those systems; the API also offers a way to build around their needs.
Mobile access and deployment
The Android and iOS apps support viewing and completing protocol steps, commenting, uploading files, and posting results. That makes them useful for updating records away from a desktop, while their documented actions center on protocols and research updates.
SciNote can also be installed on a local server, but that option transfers deployment, maintenance, and updates to the customer’s internal staff. It suits organizations that want local installation and have the people to operate it; it is a poor fit for a lab expecting the vendor to manage that work.
Pricing
SciNote uses a freemium model. The Free Plan costs nothing and includes one user and a dedicated workspace. That is a sensible way for an individual to begin, but it does not provide shared access, and SciNote does not guarantee support services for Free Customers.
Premium plans have custom pricing and require a quote. They support multiple teams, include 1 TB of storage and Premium support, and can be deployed in the cloud or through local installation. This is the appropriate tier for a lab that needs team access or the stated storage and support, but the lack of a public price makes budgeting dependent on a quote.
An offered Premium free trial lasts 14 days and has no uptime guarantee. The short evaluation window can help a team assess fit, but it should not be treated as a service commitment.
Platforms
SciNote supports web, Android, iOS, API, and self-hosted deployment. The mobile apps cover protocol steps and record updates, while self-hosting requires customer-managed deployment and ongoing maintenance.
Who it's for
SciNote is best for research labs that need structured experiment records, searchable data, managed protocols, reporting, and compliance-oriented workflows. It is particularly compelling when teams need electronic signatures and audit trails or when SciNote’s integrations fit their existing tools. Solo researchers can use the free workspace; a shared lab should expect a Premium quote. Labs that cannot staff local deployment should favor the cloud option, and teams seeking a public Premium price may prefer a product with transparent pricing.
Pros and cons
Strong record structure: Projects, experiments, tasks, attachments, full-text and metadata search, and project reports bring research organization and retrieval together.
Compliance-oriented controls: Electronic signatures, audit trails, timestamps, permissions, and approval workflows support regulated-lab processes.
Useful ways to connect and export: The RESTful API, named integrations, spreadsheet export, and human-readable exports with attachments support workflows beyond SciNote.
Free use is limited to one person: The dedicated workspace is useful for an individual, but not a team, and support is not guaranteed.
Premium requires a quote: Multiple teams, 1 TB storage, and Premium support are reserved for a plan without a published price.
Local installation requires internal resources: Customers must handle deployment, maintenance, and updates themselves.
Alternatives
For a different electronic lab notebook, Labforward offers a free Basic plan for up to three group members with 3 GB of cloud storage and a mobile app; choose it when those group and storage limits suit better than SciNote’s one-user free tier. Lab Thread has a five-seat academic free plan with 10 GB per seat, while its Core academic plan costs €30 a month billed per seat/month or €300 billed annually; it may suit academic groups comparing per-seat costs. eLabNext offers cloud, private-cloud, or on-premises subscriptions and a free trial, making it an option for labs weighing those deployment models.
For broader laboratory management, CROMS is a paid, enterprise-oriented option with tailored pricing for organizations above 100 users. Sapio Sciences has a free academic Bronze plan for users with an academic-institution email, plus API and self-hosted platforms; it is worth considering for eligible academic users. For clinical trial management, SiteVault CTMS offers a free tier covering 20 concurrent active studies, while Trial Interactive CTMS is a paid option. Benchling Notebook has a free Academic plan for academic researchers that includes Notebook and Molecular Biology; it is a natural alternative for that audience. For category browsing, see Research Project Management Software and Electronic Lab Notebook Software.
Verdict
Choose SciNote if your lab needs structured, searchable research records, protocol management, and compliance-oriented controls, and can pay for Premium when more than one user is involved. Its one-user free plan is a low-risk starting point for an individual, but the single-seat cap and quote-based team pricing make it less attractive for groups that need predictable costs or a genuinely shared free tier.
Verdict
SciNote combines research organization, protocol management, search, reporting, and mobile access. The one-user free plan and customer-managed work required for local deployment are important constraints to weigh.
Where Specifiction places it
- Research Project Management Software#1 of 258.9
- Life Sciences Software#3 of 288.8
- Electronic Lab Notebook Software#5 of 238.6
Alternatives to SciNoteAll alternatives →
Benchling Notebook Free plan 8.0 Visit 
CROMS 8.0 Visit