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openBIS

Free#17 of 23 in Electronic Lab Notebook Software

openBIS: A broad, extensible ELN for teams managing experiments, samples, datasets, and audit trails. Ranked #17 of 23 in Electronic Lab Notebook Software by our editors (7.3/10); pricing: Open source; best for open-source research data management teams.

7.3/10Editor score

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openBIS7.3 Visit openBIS

At a glance

Editor score
7.3 / 10
Pricing
Open source
Best for
Open-source research data management teams
Paid from
Free
Audit trail
Yes
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Combines ELN documentation, inventory, and research data management
- Supports full-text and metadata search with audit trail tracking
- Offers APIs, plugins, and exports to PDF, XLSX, and repositories
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment can place operational responsibility on the institution
- Plugin-based extensibility may require technical resources to maintain
- Repository export integrations focus on Zenodo and ETH Research Collection

Our verdict on openBIS

openBIS is an open-source electronic lab notebook and research data management platform from Scientific IT Services at ETH Zurich. It is designed for research teams that need to document experiments, connect records to materials and protocols, manage samples and inventory, and store datasets of any size and format. The web interface supports day-to-day access, while APIs provide programmatic access through JavaScript, Java, and Python interfaces. Its scope suits organizations seeking one system for experimental records, inventory, and research data rather than a narrowly focused notebook.

The platform’s strongest distinction is its breadth around structured research information. Audit trails track database modifications, and full-text and metadata search works across database fields. Teams can export lab notebooks and inventory metadata as PDF and XLSX, with ZIP also listed among the supported export formats. Integrations with Jupyter notebooks, Zenodo, and ETH Research Collection connect openBIS with computational workflows and repository-based data sharing. Plugin-based extensibility adds another route for adapting the platform to institutional processes.

openBIS is distributed as open-source software under the Apache License 2.0 and supports self-hosted deployments. That model can give research organizations control over deployment and extension, but it also means implementation responsibilities may depend on the institution. Teams should choose openBIS when they value open-source research data management, auditability, APIs, inventory, and repository exports in one platform. Organizations seeking a hosted-only ELN with minimal deployment responsibility should consider a different fit.

Your product? Our editors can test openBIS in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

openBIS pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on openbis.ch

openBIS fact sheet

Free plan	Not verified
Paid from	Free
Audit trail	Yes
Electronic signatures	Not verified
Approval workflows	Not verified
Offline access	Not verified
Search scope	Full_text_and_metadata
API access	Yes
Export formats	PDF, XLSX, ZIP
Deployment	Self-hosted
Platforms	Web
Support	Email, Community, Docs
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
Integrations	3 integrations: Jupyter notebooks, Zenodo, ETH Research Collection
Pricing	Open source
Website	openbis.ch
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

openBIS integrations

openBIS lists 3 integrations on its own site.

Jupyter notebooks
Zenodo
ETH Research Collection

Alternatives to openBIS

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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used openBIS for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

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Featured on iTechGuides

openBIS is listed in our Electronic Lab Notebook Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update