SciNote

SciNote suits research labs that need structured experiment records, protocol management, and compliance workflows in one system. Its strongest case is the combination of searchable records and team-oriented lab tools; its free plan is only for one user.

Overview

SciNote organizes research into projects, experiments, and tasks, with notes, files, protocols, and results attached to the work they document. Global search across research data and project reports help teams retrieve and summarize work across those structures. That makes SciNote more useful for ongoing lab operations than a notebook focused only on recording experiments.

Inventory, team management, and protocol and SOP management broaden its role beyond the notebook. The main constraint is scale: the free workspace is single-user, while Premium is required for multiple teams and 1 TB of storage, and requires a quote.

Key features

Records, search, and exports

Full-text and metadata search gives users ways to find records by their contents or descriptive fields. Spreadsheet export and human-readable exports with attachments make it possible to take research records out of SciNote in both structured and review-friendly forms. Project reporting adds a convenient summary layer, though it is focused on project data.

Protocols and mobile work

SciNote manages protocols and SOPs and can import protocols from protocols.io, keeping procedural guidance close to related research. Its Android and iOS apps support viewing and completing protocol steps, commenting, uploading files, and posting results. That is useful for updates away from a desktop, but the mobile functions described center on protocols and record updates.

Integrations and compliance

A RESTful API and integrations with Ganymede, Quartzy, protocols.io, Gilson Connect, ChemAxon Marvin, Microsoft Office, and Zebra label printers give labs several routes to connect SciNote with their workflow. For regulated work, SciNote supports 21 CFR Part 11 workflows with electronic signatures, audit trails, timestamps, user roles, permissions, and approval workflows. Its Trust Center lists ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2 Type 1, and SOC 2 Type 2 among its compliance materials.

Pricing

SciNote uses a freemium model, with a free plan and a 14-day Premium trial. The Free Plan costs nothing and includes one user and a dedicated workspace. It can suit an individual researcher evaluating a structured electronic notebook, but it does not provide a shared workspace for a lab, and support services are not guaranteed for free customers.

Premium plans have custom pricing and are available in cloud or local installations. They support multiple teams, include 1 TB of storage, and provide Premium support, making them the relevant option for labs that need collaboration or a larger managed environment. The Premium trial lasts 14 days and has no uptime guarantee, so it is better treated as an evaluation period than as a dependable production arrangement.

Platforms

SciNote is available on the web and on Android and iOS, with an API for integrations. It can also be installed on a local server. A local deployment gives a lab an installation option beyond the cloud, but the customer must supply internal staff to handle deployment, maintenance, and updates.

Who it's for

SciNote is a strong fit for research teams that need experiment organization, protocol oversight, searchable records, reporting, and compliance tools together. It is also worth considering for an individual who wants to start with a no-cost, single-user workspace. Labs that need a team-ready system from the outset should plan for Premium, while organizations without staff to run a server should favor the cloud option.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Projects, experiments, and tasks keep notes, files, protocols, and results organized around research work.
• Pros: Full-text and metadata search, project reports, and two export formats support retrieval, review, and taking records elsewhere.
• Pros: Electronic signatures, audit trails, timestamps, roles, permissions, and approval workflows support regulated lab processes.
• Cons: The free plan is restricted to one user, so it cannot serve as a shared lab workspace.
• Cons: Premium requires a quote, making team and storage costs harder to assess in advance.
• Cons: Local installation requires customer staff for deployment, maintenance, and updates; free customers also have no guaranteed support.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Electronic Lab Notebook Software or Research Project Management Software.

• LabArchives is worth comparing if a free plan with two owned notebooks, 1GB per user, a 25MB file limit, and SnapGene and GraphPad Prism integrations suits the lab's needs.
• LabCollector ELN may fit a small group seeking a free lifetime Startup Pack for three users, with limits of 1,000 data records and one recipe/SOP.
• eLabFTW is a free self-hosted option for teams prepared to host and administer AGPLv3 software, with no features behind a paywall.
• Labfolder is another option for labs seeking a plan priced according to user count and willing to request a quote.
• RSpace is an alternative for teams considering a self-installed open-source edition, though migration cannot transfer Global IDs, digital signatures, or full audit history.
• Benchling Notebook may suit academic researchers looking for a free plan that includes Notebook and Molecular Biology.
• Chemotion ELN is another free electronic lab notebook option.
• LabID may suit users seeking free, open-source software for self-hosting on their own infrastructure.

Verdict

Choose SciNote if your lab wants research records, protocols, reporting, inventory, and compliance workflows in one system, and can budget for Premium when collaboration is needed. Look elsewhere if your team needs a free shared workspace or cannot take on the operational work of a local installation.