Labforward
Labforward: A broad ELN and lab workflow suite with a free plan and low annual starting price. Ranked #11 of 25 in Research Project Management Software by our editors (6.5/10); pricing: Free plan · paid from €17/user/mo (annual); best for budget-conscious labs needing an ELN.
At a glance
- Editor score6.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan · paid from €17/user/mo (annual)
- Best forBudget-conscious labs needing an ELN
- Free planYes
- Protocol managementYes
- Founded2019 · Berlin, Germany
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Unlimited research documentation with protocol templates and structured data
- Inventory, collaboration, signatures, workflows and advanced search in one suite
- Annual Advanced pricing starts at €17 per user monthly
Where it doesn't
- Basic limits group work to up to 3 members
- Advanced costs €52 per user monthly when billed monthly
- The broader suite spans separate products beyond Labfolder ELN
Our verdict on Labforward
Labforward is a research laboratory software suite built around Labfolder, its browser-based electronic lab notebook. It supports experiment documentation, protocol templates, project and entry management, structured data, advanced search, collaboration, inventory references and review workflows. The wider suite also includes Labregister for inventory, Laboperator for laboratory execution and LabTwin for AI- and voice-powered assistance. It is suited to academic, pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical and other laboratory environments that need an ELN connected to research operations.
Pricing is structured around a free plan and paid Labfolder tiers. Basic includes unlimited research documentation, group work with up to 3 members, 3 GB of cloud storage, integrated inventory management with Labregister and access to the Labfolder Go Mobile App. Advanced raises storage to 300 GB, allows an adjustable group size and adds FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliant digital signatures, while retaining unlimited documentation, Labregister inventory management and Labfolder Go Mobile App integration. Advanced is listed at €52 per user per month with monthly billing or €17 per user per month with annual billing.
Labforward’s main strength is breadth: teams can combine ELN records with inventory, comments, messaging, task assignment, signatures, review workflows and integrations including Figshare, Dropbox and a REST API. Laboratory instrument integration is handled through Laboperator, while LabTwin provides AI- and voice-powered laboratory assistance. That breadth suits labs planning connected research workflows rather than documentation alone. Buyers focused on a small team can start with Basic, but its 3-member limit matters. Teams should also distinguish Labfolder’s ELN capabilities and pricing from the wider Labforward product suite, particularly when evaluating instrument automation or AI assistance.
Labforward pricing
All 2 Labforward plans and prices →
Labforward fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Protocol management | Yes |
| Electronic lab notebook | Yes |
| Milestone tracking | Not verified |
| Included team members | 3 users |
| Included data storage | 300 GB |
| Deployment options | On-premises |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA |
| Support | Tickets |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: Labregister, Laboperator, Figshare, Dropbox, REST API |
| Pricing | Free plan · paid from €17/user/mo (annual) (source) |
| Website | labforward.io |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Labforward integrations
Labforward lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- Labregister
- Laboperator
- Figshare
- Dropbox
- REST API
Alternatives to Labforward
- Oracle Siebel Clinical Trial Management SystemBroad trial oversight with protocol, site, subject, monitoring, and payment tracking.9.0
- BSI CTMSA broad cloud CTMS for organizations coordinating complex clinical trials.8.2
- Veeva Vault CTMSEnd-to-end study operations with deep Veeva connectivity for enterprise teams.7.7
See all Labforward alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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