Borealis

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.1 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Participating institutions sharing research datasets
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  None
• Repository access
  Managed
• Facts checked
  5 Oct 2026

• Where it wins

  • Organizes datasets into collections and sub-collections
  • Exports metadata in several standards, including DataCite and Dublin Core
  • Supports versioning, file-level restrictions, DOI and Handle identifiers

• Where it doesn't

  • Depositing requires an account affiliated with a participating institution
  • Access depends on institutional participation rather than an individual subscription
  • Browser previews cover only some file types

Our verdict on Borealis

Borealis is a digital research data repository for researchers at participating Canadian universities and research organizations. It supports depositing, describing, publishing, discovering and accessing datasets, with associated files, metadata and documentation. Public users can search and download unrestricted data, while depositors need an account affiliated with a participating institution. Its fit is strongest for researchers and library consortia that need a managed institutional repository, rather than individuals seeking a generally purchasable service.

Metadata handling is a central strength. Datasets can be organized into collections and sub-collections, published with version tracking, and assigned persistent identifiers including DOI and Handle. Metadata exports include Dublin Core, DDI, DataCite, OpenAIRE and Schema.org JSON-LD, and published metadata can be harvested through APIs and OAI-PMH. Some file types have browser previews, and tabular data can be explored. These capabilities suit institutions that need structured descriptions and reusable metadata alongside dataset files.

Borealis is free to researchers through participating institutions, but it is not an individual free-plan subscription. Institutional agreements include an initial 1–10 TB of storage depending on the agreement; that storage is not an individual quota. The service is operated by University of Toronto Libraries for regional university library consortia, with participating institutions receiving storage and technical support. Dropbox, DataCite, OAI-PMH and SWORD API are listed integrations, and email is a support channel. Choose Borealis when institutional access and repository workflows align; researchers without a participating affiliation should look for a repository they can join directly.

Your product? Our editors can test Borealis in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $99/mo →

Borealis pricing

Borealis fact sheet

Borealis integrations

Borealis lists 4 integrations on its own site.

• Dropbox
• DataCite
• OAI-PMH
• SWORD API

Alternatives to Borealis

• ZZenodoFree repository for publishing research objects with DOIs, versioning, and access controls.9.4
• FFigshareA repository for publishing, organizing, and tracking research outputs, with free and paid options.9.2
• IICPSRA research data archive for depositing, curating, discovering, and preserving social-science studies.9.1

See all Borealis alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Borealis is listed in our Research Data Management Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/borealis/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/borealis.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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. How we rank.

Last updated 21 Oct 2026 · How we research and update