eLabFTW

eLabFTW is an electronic lab notebook that brings experiments, protocols, inventory, and shared-resource booking together. It suits labs that want configurable collaboration and data controls, especially those able to manage a server or pay for hosting. Its broad free feature set is compelling, but the self-hosting requirement is a real operational commitment.

Overview

Experiments and protocols can be organized with tags and categories, then found through search across full text and metadata. Teams can share one instance while controlling visibility and editing at the entry level, with finer permissions through Team Groups. That combination supports collaborative work without making every record equally accessible.

eLabFTW also covers lab operations beyond notebook entries: it tracks resources and quantities, links them to experiments, and provides a Scheduler for booking shared equipment. Audit trails, electronic signatures, approval workflows, and offline access round out the research record. These tools make it a more integrated choice than a notebook alone, though the breadth will matter most to teams that actually need to coordinate inventory and shared resources.

Key features

Data can be imported and exported in PDF, ZIP, CSV, JSON, and ELN formats. The REST API supports reading and writing eLabFTW data from external programs, and documentation links to a Python library. The documentation also describes integrations with PubChem, the Bloxberg blockchain, and Keeex for timestamping workflows.

LDAP, SAML2, and two-factor authentication are among its IT features. The project describes static code analysis and vulnerability scanning for dependencies and containers, alongside practices intended to prevent SQL injection and cross-site scripting. These are useful signals for organizations assessing security, but they do not remove the need to choose an appropriate deployment and operating model.

Pricing

The self-hosted software costs free under AGPLv3, with no features behind a paywall. The trade-off is that users must provide and administer a server. This is the strongest fit for labs with systems administration capacity; teams without it should consider paid hosting.

A Training Session costs €470, paid once and includes a 90-minute webinar in French, German, or English, with a recording. PRO Support costs €3,000 a year and includes email and virtual meeting support, Level 2 and 3 support, a 90-minute user training webinar, and assisted upgrades. It suits teams that can host the software but want expert support and upgrade help.

Hosted plans include PRO Support. PRO Hosting 32 costs €3,200 a year for up to 32 active users and 320 GB+ storage. PRO Hosting Plus costs €4,985 a year for about 128 active users and 500 GB+ storage. PRO Hosting Universe costs €7,900 a year for about 1024 active users and 1 Tb+ storage. These tiers let teams avoid server administration while matching capacity to their scale.

PRO Hosting SecNumCloud costs €8,700 a year, with about 1024 active users, 1 Tb+ storage, Paris, France hosting, and PRO Support. Its hosting plan specifies a SecNumCloud-qualified French cloud provider, encryption at rest, eIDAS-qualified timestamping, and HDS and ISO certifications, making it the option to consider when those hosting and assurance requirements matter.

Platforms

eLabFTW is available through the web and API, and supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. It can be self-hosted, but installation, configuration, and maintenance require a systems administrator. The site recommends managed hosting for people unfamiliar with server administration.

Who it's for

The product is aimed at labs and companies across fields including chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, and deep tech. It is particularly suitable where teams need shared notebook records, permission controls, inventory, and equipment booking in one system. A small group without server expertise can still use it through paid hosting; a group seeking a setup with no operational overhead should weigh that recurring cost against the free self-hosted option.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free AGPLv3 software has no paywalled features, so capable teams can use the full feature set without a software subscription.
• Pros: Notebook, inventory, resource booking, and granular team permissions are combined, which can reduce the need to coordinate those activities across separate tools.
• Pros: Multiple export formats, a read/write API, audit trails, signatures, approval workflows, and offline access support varied research and recordkeeping needs.
• Cons: Self-hosting requires server installation, configuration, and ongoing administration, making the free option a poor fit for teams without that capacity.
• Cons: Managed hosting and PRO Support carry annual costs, so the no-cost software is not a no-cost managed service.

Alternatives

Electronic Lab Notebook Software is the broader category list for comparing notebook tools.

Choose LabArchives if its free plan's two owned notebooks, 1GB per user, 25MB file limit, and SnapGene and GraphPad Prism integrations better match a narrower notebook workflow. Benchling Notebook is worth considering for academic researchers seeking a free Notebook and Molecular Biology plan, or businesses looking for a solution customized to their needs.

SciNote offers a free plan for one user with a dedicated workspace and no guaranteed support; that can suit an individual who does not need eLabFTW's multi-team setup. ELabELN is a paid alternative with unlimited users and no per-seat fees. Labfolder uses quote-based pricing that depends on user count.

LabCollector ELN may fit a small startup seeking a free lifetime plan, with its Startup Pack capped at three users and 1,000 data records. CDD Vault Electronic Lab Notebook and Dotmatics Electronic Lab Notebook are paid alternatives.

Verdict

eLabFTW is a strong choice for research teams that want a capable, configurable notebook alongside inventory and equipment booking, and can either administer a server or budget for managed hosting. The main reason to choose it is that its free software keeps every feature available. Look elsewhere if server operations are out of scope and its hosted plans do not fit the budget, or if a simpler, individual notebook is all the lab needs.