openBIS vs RSpace
openBIS
openbis.chRSpace
researchspace.comSide by side
| Figure | openBIS | RSpace |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $500/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 6 |
| Spec score · Electronic Lab Notebook Software | 7.4 (#18) | 8.7 (#4) |
| Deployment | The documentation lists standalone and Docker system documentation, and the site says binary releases are available for download. | Enterprise customers can choose on-premises deployment or a private AWS instance in a location of their choice. |
| Intended users | The openRDM.swiss service based on openBIS is aimed at experimental research groups in Swiss universities or research institutes. | The company describes its work as serving researchers, research data managers, librarians, stewards, research computing specialists, and policymakers. |
| Inventory | It tracks lab materials and samples and lets users create experimental procedures to share with lab members. | Its integrated inventory system manages samples alongside experimental documentation. |
| Support | SIS describes its email support for openBIS as “best effort.” | The contact page offers a support team and knowledge base, while Enterprise includes live chat and premium email support. |
Plans
RSpace
- RSpace Open SourceFree
- Team (Academia)$6,000 a year
- Team (Commercial)$12,000 a year
- Enterprise (Academia)$34,000 a year
- Enterprise (Commercial)$34,000 a year
- InfrastructurePriced on request
In their own words
openBIS
openBIS combines research data management, a digital lab notebook, and sample and protocol management. Researchers can connect data of any size and format to experiments through its web interface or API. The notebook links experiments with materials, samples, and protocols in the inventory, where teams can track lab materials and create experimental procedures to share with lab members.
BigDataLink provides a git-like way to link large datasets across locations while openBIS serves as the metadata repository. The system supports Excel import and export, and lab notebooks and inventory folders can be exported to Excel and PDF. User profiles and access privileges govern access, and database modifications are tracked. Plugins can extend existing functions or add new ones. Jupyter notebooks can be used with openBIS, and its APIs can connect workflow managers for cluster analysis.
RSpace
RSpace is an open-source electronic research notebook and research data management platform for research workflows. Its web application supports real-time collaboration, granular sharing controls, comments and annotations, with full-text and metadata search. Chemistry teams can draw compounds and calculate stoichiometry for reaction planning, while RSpace Inventory tracks samples alongside notebook documentation. Forms provide structured fields and ontology integration for FAIR metadata. Records can be exported as HTML, XML, PDF, DOC, JSON and RO-Crate. A RESTful API supports custom integrations. RSpace states that data is encrypted at rest and over networks and supports 21 CFR Part 11 and GLP. Research Space identifies ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification. Deployment can be self-installed, managed in a private AWS instance, or run on premises for Enterprise. Plans include a free open-source option, Team plans at $6,000 a year and $12,000 a year, and Enterprise at $34,000 a year.