LabID
LabID is a platform for research teams to manage lab inventory, research data and metadata, and electronic lab notes.
What LabID is
LabID is a platform for research teams to manage lab inventory, research data and metadata, and electronic lab notes. Teams can track and share consumables, equipment, and storage locations, while adding specialized inventory types. Its electronic lab notebook supports formatted notes with tables, pictures, attachments, comments, and links to protocols and lab items. Notes can be shared and exported as PDF or static HTML, with RFC 3161-compliant digital timestamping. LabID registers raw and derived datasets, captures assay metadata, and links datasets to source samples and specimens. Teams can register, version, and share workflows from Git, WorkflowHub, or Galaxy, then track their runs and provenance. Integrations include Galaxy, WorkflowHub, Git, S3 storage, and LibreOffice document editing. A CLI and API support automated data and metadata ingestion, while inventory can be exported as structured spreadsheets. Organizations can self-host LabID and customize inventory models, vocabularies, workflows, and integrations. The free, open-source deployment runs on an organization’s own infrastructure; the EMBL installation is available only through VPN.
Good
- Free and open-source self-hosted deployment.
- ELN notes support timestamping and PDF or HTML export.
- Datasets can link to originating samples and specimens.
- CLI and API support automated data ingestion.
Watch out
- The EMBL installation is under VPN and unavailable externally.
- Self-hosted use requires an organization's own infrastructure.
- The audit trail feature is listed as unavailable.
Who it suits
LabID suits scientists and research groups managing inventory, lab notes, datasets, and workflows. It is particularly relevant to organizations able to deploy and manage software on their own infrastructure.
Verdict
LabID brings inventory, electronic notes, data, and workflow tracking into one research platform. Teams outside EMBL can use it by deploying their own free, open-source instance.
Plans and prices
From LabID's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free and open-source | Free | Self-hosted deployment on your own infrastructure |
The facts
Each one read from LabID's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access controls
- LabID permissions let users keep items private or share them with individuals, groups, and collaborators.checked 7 Oct 2026
- API and automation
- LabID provides a CLI and API for automated data and metadata ingestion and custom data-registration clients.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Availability limit
- The FAQ says the EMBL installation is under VPN and unavailable externally; users outside EMBL can deploy their own free, open-source instance.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Data export
- The site says inventory can be exported as structured spreadsheets and ELN notes as PDFs or static HTML.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Data management
- LabID registers raw and derived datasets, captures assay metadata, and links datasets to originating samples and specimens.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Organizations can deploy LabID on their own infrastructure and customize inventory models, vocabularies, workflows, and integrations.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Electronic lab notebook
- The ELN supports formatted notes with tables and pictures, links to protocols and lab items, attachments, comments, and sharing.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The site describes integrations with Galaxy, WorkflowHub, Git, S3 storage, and LibreOffice document editing.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documentation describes LabID as designed for scientists and research groups managing lab inventory, notes, and datasets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Inventory
- Users can track and share consumables, equipment, and storage locations, and add specialized inventory types.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- LabID is a platform for research teams to manage lab inventory, research data and metadata, and electronic lab notes.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The team directs users to its Slack community and provides the contact email [email protected] for questions and support requests.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Timestamping
- The ELN page describes RFC 3161 compliant digital timestamping for notes to protect intellectual property.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Workflow management
- Users can register, version, and share workflows from Git, WorkflowHub, or Galaxy and track workflow runs and provenance.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Heidelberg, Germanychecked 28 Sep 2026
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