openBIS vs Signals Notebook
openBIS
openbis.chSignals Notebook
revvitysignals.comSide by side
| Figure | openBIS | Signals Notebook |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Electronic Lab Notebook Software | 7.4 (#18) | 7.9 (#10) |
| Intended users | The openRDM.swiss service based on openBIS is aimed at experimental research groups in Swiss universities or research institutes. | The product is presented for research teams in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, chemicals and materials, and food, flavor, and fragrance. |
| Purpose | openBIS is presented as a complete solution for managing research data. | Signals Notebook is a cloud-based electronic lab notebook for capturing, organizing, and sharing R&D data across pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, materials, and food science teams. |
| Support | SIS describes its email support for openBIS as “best effort.” | The trial FAQ points users to in-product help resources including a Quick Start Guide, training videos, and a User Guide. |
| Trial | A 2021 openRDM.swiss service agreement offered a three-month test period without service charges, while infrastructure costs still had to be covered. | The maker offers a 15-day trial; each interested user must register separately, and the trial does not provide administrative functionality. |
Plans
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.
Signals Notebook
Signals Notebook is a cloud-based electronic laboratory notebook for capturing, organizing, and sharing research data. It is presented for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, materials, and food, flavor, and fragrance teams. Experiment records support flexible templates, rich text, embedded media, folders, tags, full-text search, automatic versioning, and audit trails. Native ChemDraw integration handles stoichiometry and searches by CAS number, structure, or name, with PubChem safety information. Teams can share notebooks, comment, review and approve entries with electronic signatures, receive notifications, and apply granular permissions. Named connections include Spotfire, Signals DLX instrument capture, inventory management, and open APIs for LIMS, ERP, and other systems. The product describes 21 CFR Part 11 support, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 security programs, encryption, multifactor authentication, and automated backups. It runs in browsers on web, macOS, Windows, and API environments.