LabKey ELN
LabKey ELN: A flexible open-source ELN for teams that need linked data and formal review workflows. Ranked #13 of 23 in Electronic Lab Notebook Software by our editors (7.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for open-source teams needing review workflows.
At a glance
- Editor score7.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forOpen-source teams needing review workflows
- Free planYes
- Audit trailYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Open-source deployment with a free Community edition
- Links experiments to samples, assay data and bioregistry entities
- Electronic sign-off, approval workflows and encrypted snapshots
Where it doesn't
- Community Edition does not include development or technical support
- ELN is offered as an integrated capability, not a standalone product
- Advanced capabilities vary across Community, Starter, Professional and Enterprise plans
Our verdict on LabKey ELN
LabKey ELN is electronic lab notebook software for academic, government, biotech, pharmaceutical and other scientific R&D organizations. It supports experiment and notebook documentation with templates, rich-text editing, inline attachments, commenting, project tags, status management and search. Teams can link notebook entries to samples, assay data and bioregistry entities, while notifications and collaborative authoring support shared research records. The product is available through web, API and self-hosted deployments, and its open-source model includes a free Community edition.
The plan structure is organized around LabKey's broader Server SDMS feature matrix. Community includes the Electronic Lab Notebook and is licensed under Apache 2.0. Starter adds cloud hosting plus security and compliance features. Professional adds developer tools, support and system integrations. Enterprise is aimed at multiple groups and compliance requirements. LabKey presents ELN as an integrated capability within Sample Manager, LabKey LIMS, Biologics LIMS and Server SDMS, so organizations should evaluate the surrounding platform fit rather than treat it as an isolated notebook application. According to LabKey's published notes, the Community Edition does not include development or technical support.
Its strongest fit is for teams that need controlled research documentation connected to operational laboratory data. Review, approval and electronic sign-off workflows, audit trails, notifications for review requests and encrypted snapshots help preserve signed notebook state. API access supports programmatic integrations, with listed connections spanning LabKey products, R, Java, JavaScript, Python, Microsoft Excel, Jupyter Notebook, Tableau, Plotly Dash, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL. PDF export is also listed. Choose LabKey ELN when open-source deployment, linked scientific records and formal review matter; teams seeking a simple standalone notebook or Community-level technical support should consider a different fit.
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LabKey ELN pricing
All 4 LabKey ELN plans and prices →
LabKey ELN fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Audit trail | Yes |
| Electronic signatures | Yes |
| Approval workflows | Yes |
| Offline access | Not verified |
| Search scope | Not verified |
| API access | Yes |
| Export formats | |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2, HIPAA, SSO/SAML, 2FA |
| Support | Tickets, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 20 integrations: LabKey Sample Manager, LabKey LIMS, Biologics LIMS, Server SDMS, R, Java … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | labkey.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
LabKey ELN integrations
LabKey ELN lists 20 integrations on its own site.
- LabKey Sample Manager
- LabKey LIMS
- Biologics LIMS
- Server SDMS
- R
- Java
- JavaScript
- Python
- Microsoft Excel
- Jupyter Notebook
- Tableau
- Plotly Dash
- Oracle
- Microsoft SQL Server
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- Amazon Redshift
- Amazon S3
- SAML
- LDAP
See all LabKey ELN integrations →
Alternatives to LabKey ELN
- Benchling NotebookA mature, collaborative ELN with structured records, compliance controls, and broad API support.9.4
- ELabELNA mature ELN with broad deployment, compliance, integration, and data-management coverage.9.2
- eLabFTWA compliance-ready, open-source ELN with flexible hosting and broad exports.9.0
See all LabKey ELN alternatives →
Also Ranked In
LabKey ELN is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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