Best Zenodo Alternatives in 2026
The top Zenodo alternatives are Figshare, ICPSR and DaRUS: 15 research data management software our editors would look at instead of Zenodo, in our ranking order.
Zenodo: Free repository for publishing research objects with DOIs, versioning, and access controls. Where it falls short: the default storage quota is 50 GB per record.
Switching from Zenodo? For most research data management software buyers the best Zenodo alternative is Figshare, built for institutions needing an integrated research repository. Digital Commons Data offers the most storage limit (100 GB).
Why People Look for a Zenodo Alternative
- The default storage quota is 50 GB per record
- Cloud deployment may not suit teams requiring self-hosting
- Its broad repository scope may not fit specialized data workflows
- Storage limit: 50 GB — up to 100 GB with Digital Commons Data
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallFigshare9.2
Institutions needing an integrated research repository
Visit Figshare - Best free optionFigshare9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Figshare - Most storage limitDigital Commons Data8.7
100 GB
Visit Digital Commons Data
All 15 Zenodo Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forInstitutions needing an integrated research repository
A repository for publishing, organizing, and tracking research outputs, with free and paid options.
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Figshare -
Best forCurated social-science data and long-term preservation
A research data archive for depositing, curating, discovering, and preserving social-science studies.
- DMP templates
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
9.1/10★★★★★Visit ICPSR -
Best forInstitutional teams managing research data
A managed repository for research datasets, scripts, and code, with review and access controls.
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit DaRUS -
Best forTeams focused on DMPs and repository workflows
A collaborative DMP tool with repository connections and paid institutional customization.
- DMP templates
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit ARGOS -
Best forInstitutions standardizing DMP creation and review
A free DMP tool for researchers, with institutional customization and review features.
- DMP templates
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit DMPonline -
Best forInstitutions wanting a branded dataset repository
- Better than Zenodo:
- Storage limit: 100 GB vs 50 GB
Digital Commons Data helps institutions publish, curate, and report on research datasets.
- Persistent identifiers
8.7/10★★★★☆Contact Elsevier -
Best forCurated, long-term research dataset archiving
A curated repository for publishing, preserving, and discovering research datasets.
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit PANGAEA -
Best forFree collaborative DMP creation and reuse
A free collaborative DMP tool for eligible Göttingen Campus researchers.
- DMP templates
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit GRO.plan -
Best forDiscovering agricultural research assets
A free discovery platform for finding agricultural research across repositories and data types.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit GARDIAN -
Best forStraightforward, free dataset publication
A free repository for publishing research datasets with metadata, access controls, and DOIs.
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit bonndata -
Best forKU Leuven researchers depositing managed datasets
A free, managed repository for KU Leuven researchers publishing finished datasets.
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit KU Leuven RDR -
Best forFree dataset sharing with cloud-storage connections
A free dataset repository with DOI publication, access controls, and cloud-storage connections.
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Mendeley Data -
Best forOrganizations managing a network of repositories
A repository network for finding, managing, and preserving environmental research data.
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit DataONE -
Best forInstitutions self-hosting a data repository
A self-hosted repository for publishing, preserving, and managing research datasets.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Dataverse -
Best forAuthors publishing openly reusable research data
A DOI-backed repository with human curation, priced per dataset for individual authors.
- Persistent identifiers
- Metadata standards
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Dryad
Zenodo Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Zenodo?
Figshare: #2 in our Research Data Management Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A repository for publishing, organizing, and tracking research outputs, with free and paid options.
Is there a free alternative to Zenodo?
Yes. Figshare, ICPSR, DaRUS, ARGOS and DMPonline have a free plan or a free tier (13 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Zenodo alternatives?
The default storage quota is 50 GB per record; Cloud deployment may not suit teams requiring self-hosting; Its broad repository scope may not fit specialized data workflows.
Which Zenodo alternative has the most storage limit?
Digital Commons Data, with 100 GB.
How do I switch from Zenodo?
Export your data from Zenodo (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Zenodo.
How to Switch from Zenodo
- Export your data from Zenodo (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Zenodo.
Zenodo vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | DMP templates | Repository access | Storage limit | Persistent identifiers | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zenodo | Yes | None | — | Managed | 50 GB | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Figshare | Yes | — | No | Managed | 20 GB | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | ICPSR | Yes | None | Yes | Managed | — | Yes | 9.1 |
| 4 | DaRUS | — | None | No | Managed | — | Yes | 9.0 |
| 5 | ARGOS | Yes | €1,200/yr | Yes | Managed | — | Yes | 8.9 |
| 6 | DMPonline | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — | 8.8 |
| 7 | Digital Commons Data | No | — | — | Managed | 100 GB | Yes | 8.7 |
| 8 | PANGAEA | Yes | None | — | Managed | — | Yes | 8.6 |
| 9 | GRO.plan | Yes | None | Yes | None | — | — | 8.5 |
| 10 | GARDIAN | Yes | None | — | Open | — | — | 8.3 |
| 11 | bonndata | Yes | None | No | Managed | — | Yes | 8.2 |
| 12 | KU Leuven RDR | Yes | None | — | Managed | 50 GB | Yes | 8.1 |
| 13 | Mendeley Data | Yes | None | — | Managed | 10 GB | Yes | 8.0 |
| 14 | DataONE | Yes | — | — | — | — | Yes | 7.9 |
| 15 | Dataverse | — | None | — | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 16 | Dryad | No | $150/unit one-time | — | Open | — | Yes | 7.7 |
Head-to-Head
- Zenodo vs Figshare
- Zenodo vs ICPSR
- Zenodo vs DaRUS
- Zenodo vs ARGOS
- Zenodo vs DMPonline
- Zenodo vs Digital Commons Data
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update