Head-to-head · Research Data Management Software
Figshare vs ICPSR
Figshare leads on 0 checks, ICPSR on 1, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreFigshare · 9.2/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresICPSR · 3 of 3
Figshare scores higher on our rubric for research data management software: 9.2 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.
ICPSR offers dmp templates; Figshare doesn't.
Figshare is the better fit for institutions needing an integrated research repository. ICPSR is the better fit for curated social-science data and long-term preservation.
- Figshare fits best
Institutions needing an integrated research repository
- ICPSR fits best
Curated social-science data and long-term preservation
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Side by side
| Feature | Figshare 9.2/10 Visit ↗ | ICPSR 9.1/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.2 | 9.1 |
| Ranking | #2 in Research Data Management Software | #3 in Research Data Management Software |
| Best for | Institutions needing an integrated research repository | Curated social-science data and long-term preservation |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Starting price | — | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Email, Tickets, Docs | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Figshare 2/3 · ICPSR 3/3 | ||
| DMP templates | — | ✓ (best) |
| Metadata standards | ✓ | ✓ |
| Persistent identifiers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Repository access | Managed | Managed |
| Storage limit | 20 GB | Not checked yet |
| Access controls | Both | Both |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Figshare provides repository services for individual researchers and organizations that need to store, share, showcase, and manage research outputs. Researchers can publish datasets, papers, code, media, and theses, while institutions can… Read the review → |
Researchers working with social, behavioral, health, political, economic, education, demographic, and related data can use ICPSR to deposit studies and make them available for discovery and reuse. It is an institutional research data… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Figshare — where it wins
- Publishes datasets, papers, code, media, and theses with DataCite DOIs
- Supports public, embargoed, and private-link sharing
- Connects with research systems, code hosts, and analytics services
Where it doesn't
- Figshare Plus is a one-time charge tied to storage and a project or publication
- Paid Plus tiers start at $1,225
- Institutional and publisher services require contacting Figshare
ICPSR — where it wins
- Offers self-publication or professional curation for data deposits
- Provides DMP templates, grant support, metadata, and DOI assignment
- Supports variable-level discovery and public- or restricted-use access
Where it doesn't
- Focuses on research data archiving rather than general-purpose data management
- Professional curation and some access options can involve fees
- Online analysis is available only for some studies
- Figshare9.2/10 · Free plan
A repository for publishing, organizing, and tracking research outputs, with free and paid options.
Visit FigshareFull verdict → - ICPSR9.1/10 · Free plan
A research data archive for depositing, curating, discovering, and preserving social-science studies.
Visit ICPSRFull verdict →
More comparisons
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- Figshare vs Digital Commons Data
- Figshare vs PANGAEA
- ICPSR vs DaRUS
All research data management software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update