eLabFTW vs LabArchives
eLabFTW
elabftw.net
LabArchives
labarchives.comSide by side
| Figure | eLabFTW | LabArchives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €250/mo | $8.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 16 |
| Spec score · Electronic Lab Notebook Software | 9.2 (#1) | 9.1 (#2) |
| Spec score · Logbook Software | 9.3 (#1) | 9.0 (#2) |
| Headquarters | Villejuif, France | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Integrations | Documented external integrations include PubChem, Bloxberg blockchain certification and Keeex timestamp processing. | Official integrations include SnapGene, GraphPad Prism, Geneious, Proofig AI, iChemLabs, Jupyter, REDCap, Protocols.io, Microsoft tools, Google tools, Box, OneDrive, Dropbox, Figshare, PubMed, and learning-management systems. |
| Inventory | The resource database manages items such as plasmids, compounds, antibodies and cell lines, and links those resources to experiments. | The Inventory product tracks supplies and samples, supports custom locations and categories, and links reagent usage to ELN experiments. |
| Rating on G2 | 4.4 out of 5 from 4 reviews. | 4.3 out of 5 from 3 reviews |
| Scheduler | A built-in scheduler controls booking of shared resources and equipment with per-user permissions. | Scheduler manages laboratory equipment and resource reservations with calendars, schedules, and administrative roles. |
| Self-hosting | Self-hosting requires installation on a server and administration of Docker, Podman or Kubernetes and GNU/Linux infrastructure. | LabArchives describes its products as cloud-hosted SaaS running on Amazon Web Services rather than as a self-hosted package. |
| Support | PRO Support includes email support, virtual meetings, Level 2 and 3 support, a user training webinar, and assisted upgrades. | Enterprise licensing includes onboarding, implementation guidance, unlimited support, and a dedicated Enterprise Success Manager. |
| System requirements | The documentation describes eLabFTW as server software requiring an internet connection and says Internet Explorer is unsupported. | The browser application supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with current Chrome, Firefox, or Safari; mobile browsers are supported, while Folder Monitor and full Office integration are limited to Windows and macOS. |
| What it does | eLabFTW is a browser-based electronic laboratory notebook and laboratory inventory system for recording experiments, protocols, resources and collaboration. | LabArchives is a cloud SaaS suite for documenting research, protecting discoveries, collaborating, and managing inventory, samples, and laboratory resources. |
Plans
eLabFTW
- eLabFTW (self-hosted software)Free
- Self-hosted eLabFTWFree
- Training Session€470, paid once
- PRO Support€3,000 a year
- PRO Hosting 32€3,200 a year
- PRO Hosting Plus€4,985 a year
- PRO Hosting Universe€7,900 a year
- PRO Hosting SecNumCloud€8,700 a year
LabArchives
- FreeFree
- Free ELNFree
- Inventory FreeFree
- Inventory Free TrialFree
- ELN for EducationPriced on request
- Inventory Academic$99 a year
- Inventory Paid Academic$99 a year
- Inventory Corporate$199 a year
- Inventory Paid Corporate$199 a year
- Professional Academic$330 a year
In their own words
eLabFTW
eLabFTW is an electronic lab notebook for storing experiments and protocols, organizing records, and supporting collaboration. Users can tag and categorize entries, search them, manage lab resources and quantities, link resources to experiments, and book shared equipment with its Scheduler. One instance can host several teams, with entry-level visibility and editing controls plus Team Groups permissions. Research data can be imported and exported in formats including PDF, ZIP, CSV, JSON, and ELN. Its REST API lets external programs read and write data, and documentation links to a Python library. Listed integrations include PubChem, the Bloxberg blockchain, and Keeex timestamping workflows; authentication options include LDAP, SAML2, and two-factor authentication. The self-hosted software costs nothing under AGPLv3, with no features behind a paywall. It must be installed on a server and configured and maintained by a systems administrator; the site recommends managed hosting for people unfamiliar with server administration. Paid options include PRO Support at €3,000 a year and PRO Hosting plans from €3,200 a year to €8,700 a year.
LabArchives
LabArchives is a suite of online applications for documenting research data and managing laboratory resources. Its ELN for Research records, organizes, searches, and shares scientific data; Inventory organizes, tracks, and orders lab inventory; and Scheduler manages equipment and other resources. The ELN includes more than 20 built-in widgets and supports custom widgets, with integrations such as GraphPad Prism, SnapGene, REDCap, Jupyter, and Protocols.io. A free plan includes two owned notebooks, 1GB per user, and a 25MB file limit. Professional Academic costs $330 a year per user, with unlimited owned notebooks, 100GB per user, and a 250MB file limit. Browser access works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, while mobile browsers support image, video, and audio capture; an Android app wraps the browser-based session. LabArchives lists audit trails, electronic signatures, approval workflows, and offline access, with PDF and read-only offline HTML in ZIP export formats. It states certifications including FedRAMP, SOC 2, and ISO 27001, and support for HIPAA and GDPR requirements.