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Head-to-head · Electronic Lab Notebook Software

eLabFTW vs SciNote

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score eLabFTW #3 in Electronic Lab Notebook Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit eLabFTW
SciNote #7 in Electronic Lab Notebook Software 8.4/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit SciNote

eLabFTW leads on 0 checks, SciNote on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreeLabFTW · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly SciNote
  • Most featureseLabFTW · 5 of 5

eLabFTW scores higher on our rubric for electronic lab notebook software: 9.0 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

eLabFTW is the better fit for open-source teams needing compliance features. SciNote is the better fit for teams wanting a flexible free-start ELN.

  • eLabFTW fits best

    Open-source teams needing compliance features

  • SciNote fits best

    Teams wanting a flexible free-start ELN

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature eLabFTW 9.0/10 Visit ↗ SciNote 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.4
Ranking #3 in Electronic Lab Notebook Software #7 in Electronic Lab Notebook Software
Best for Open-source teams needing compliance features Teams wanting a flexible free-start ELN
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — Free plan · 14-day trial
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 14 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Community, Docs Email, Docs, Community
Compliance SSO/SAML, 2FA SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, 2FA
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features eLabFTW 5/5 · SciNote 4/5
Audit trail ✓ ✓
Electronic signatures ✓ ✓
Approval workflows ✓ ✓
Offline access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
API access ✓ ✓
Specs
Search scope Full_text_and_metadata Full_text_and_metadata
Export formats PDF, ZIP, CSV, JSON, ELN spreadsheet; human-readable export with attachments
Our review
Pros
  • Experiment records, inventory, templates, signatures, and audit logs
  • Offline synchronization, REST API access, and broad export formats
  • Self-hosting plus managed hosting and support options
  • Free plan plus a 14-day trial for evaluating core workflows
  • Search, protocols, workflows, inventory, signatures, and audit trails
  • RESTful API, self-hosted options, and laboratory system integrations
Cons
  • Managed hosting and support add separate costs
  • Self-hosting requires GNU/Linux containers
  • The feature set may exceed narrow documentation needs
  • Premium pricing is quote-based rather than publicly listed
  • 21 CFR Part 11 features are tied to an add-on
  • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of simple note-taking
Our verdict

eLabFTW is an open-source electronic laboratory notebook for academic, industrial, and research laboratories. It combines experiment and protocol records with laboratory inventory, compound management, templates, workflow steps,…

Read the review →

SciNote is a cloud-based electronic laboratory notebook for individual researchers, academic and industry laboratories, regulated R&D teams, and organizations managing electronic records. It organizes work around projects, experiments, and…

Read the review →
  1. eLabFTWElectronic Lab Notebook Software 9.0Free plan
  2. SciNoteElectronic Lab Notebook Software 8.4Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • eLabFTW — where it wins

    • Experiment records, inventory, templates, signatures, and audit logs
    • Offline synchronization, REST API access, and broad export formats
    • Self-hosting plus managed hosting and support options

    Where it doesn't

    • Managed hosting and support add separate costs
    • Self-hosting requires GNU/Linux containers
    • The feature set may exceed narrow documentation needs

  • SciNote — where it wins

    • Free plan plus a 14-day trial for evaluating core workflows
    • Search, protocols, workflows, inventory, signatures, and audit trails
    • RESTful API, self-hosted options, and laboratory system integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Premium pricing is quote-based rather than publicly listed
    • 21 CFR Part 11 features are tied to an add-on
    • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of simple note-taking
  • eLabFTW9.0/10 · Free plan

    A compliance-ready, open-source ELN with flexible hosting and broad exports.

    Visit eLabFTWFull verdict →
  • SciNote8.4/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A broad ELN with a free starting point, structured workflows, and laboratory integrations.

    Visit SciNoteFull verdict →

More comparisons

All electronic lab notebook software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update