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Research · head to head

Labguru vs Zotero

Labguru logo

Labguru

Research

Electronic lab notebook, LIMS and inventory in one system, now sold under the Cenevo group

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zotero logo

Zotero

Research

Collect, organize, annotate, cite and share your research

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zotero has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Labguru ownership changed twice in short order, to Battery Ventures in 2024 and then into the Cenevo brand with Titian Software in 2025, so the medium-term roadmap is a group strategy decision rather than a product one and buyers should ask directly what happens to the notebook.; Zotero free account storage is limited; paid tiers start at $20/year for 2GB and reach $120/year for unlimited storage
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Labguru and Zotero actually diverge.

Attributes where Labguru and Zotero differ
AttributeLabguruZotero
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, On-premiseWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Research).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Labguru

  • Combined ELN and LIMS
  • Validated cloud hosting
  • Inventory and stock
  • Chemistry module
  • Equipment management
  • Electronic batch records
  • Label Wizard
  • API and developer tools

Only in Zotero

Nothing recorded that Labguru does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Labguru

  • A biotech that wants experiment records and sample inventory in one system instead of paying for an ELN and a LIMS separatelynot Zotero
  • A chemistry group needing structure registration attached to the experiment rather than in a standalone databasenot Zotero
  • A contract research organisation that must show sample traceability from receipt to reported result during a client auditnot Zotero
  • An academic institute standardising dozens of small labs off shared spreadsheets and paper notebooks onto one searchable recordnot Zotero

Zotero

  • Research paper and citation managementnot Labguru
  • Academic bibliography organizationnot Labguru
  • Cross-device synchronization of research materialsnot Labguru

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Labguru

  • Ownership changed twice in short order, to Battery Ventures in 2024 and then into the Cenevo brand with Titian Software in 2025, so the medium-term roadmap is a group strategy decision rather than a product one and buyers should ask directly what happens to the notebook.
  • The validated GxP hosting option is a separate commercial line, not a configuration setting, so a lab that discovers mid-project that it needs a validated instance faces a new contract and a new price rather than an upgrade.
  • Being both an ELN and a LIMS means it is shallower than dedicated tools in each role; high-throughput sample management and deep bioinformatics workflows both hit limits that a specialist would not.
  • No pricing is published at all, and modules such as chemistry, batch records and equipment are quoted on top, so the real annual figure only appears after a sales process.
  • Validation, SOPs and periodic revalidation after vendor releases are the customer obligation on a regulated instance, and cloud release cadence means that revalidation is a recurring internal cost that never appears on the vendor quote.

Zotero

  • Free account storage is limited; paid tiers start at $20/year for 2GB and reach $120/year for unlimited storage
  • Sync and web access are optional add-ons layered on the core desktop app rather than included outright

Pricing, plan by plan

Labguru

On request
  • Labguru$undefined/year
    • Priced per user per year on quotation with volume tiers
    • ELN, LIMS and inventory in the base platform
    • Chemistry, batch records and equipment modules quoted separately

Zotero

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 300 MB storage
    • Collaboration features at no cost
    • Group libraries for team use
  • 2 GB Storage$20/year
    • 2 GB storage
    • Synchronization of PDFs, images, web snapshots across devices
  • 6 GB Storage$60/year
    • 6 GB storage
    • Synchronization across all devices
  • Unlimited Storage$120/year
    • Unlimited storage
    • Full synchronization capabilities

Which should you pick?

Choose Labguru if

  • You need combined eln and lims.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, On-premise.
  • You also want validated cloud hosting.
Labguru review

Choose Zotero if

  • You want to start without paying.
Zotero review

Questions people ask

Is Labguru or Zotero better?
Neither clearly leads. Labguru starts at On request and Zotero at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Labguru or Zotero?
Zotero has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Labguru and Free for Zotero.
Does Labguru or Zotero run on more platforms?
Labguru runs on Web, iOS, Android, On-premise. Zotero runs on Web.
Can I use Zotero for free?
Yes. Zotero has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Labguru starts at On request.
What is Labguru best used for?
Labguru is most often used for a biotech that wants experiment records and sample inventory in one system instead of paying for an eln and a lims separately, a chemistry group needing structure registration attached to the experiment rather than in a standalone database, a contract research organisation that must show sample traceability from receipt to reported result during a client audit, an academic institute standardising dozens of small labs off shared spreadsheets and paper notebooks onto one searchable record. Of those, a biotech that wants experiment records and sample inventory in one system instead of paying for an eln and a lims separately and a chemistry group needing structure registration attached to the experiment rather than in a standalone database are not what Zotero is typically brought in for.
What can Labguru do that Zotero cannot?
Labguru covers Combined ELN and LIMS, Validated cloud hosting, Inventory and stock, Chemistry module.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Labguru: Who owns Labguru now?

Battery Ventures acquired it in April 2024. Since July 2025 it operates under the Cenevo brand following a merger with Titian Software.

Zotero: How much storage does Zotero's free tier provide?

The free tier includes 300 MB of storage for research materials, citations, and related files. Collaboration features in group libraries are available at no additional cost.

Source
Labguru: Is it an ELN or a LIMS?

Both, in one product. That is the main reason labs choose it, and also why it is shallower than a specialist in each role.

Zotero: What are the pricing tiers for Zotero paid storage plans?

Zotero offers three paid storage tiers: 2 GB for $20 per year ($1.67 monthly), 6 GB for $60 per year ($5 monthly), and Unlimited storage for $120 per year ($10 monthly).

Source
Labguru: Does it support GxP work?

Yes, through a separately contracted validated cloud instance. Validation for your intended use remains your responsibility.

Zotero: Do group libraries count against storage limits in Zotero?

Group library file storage draws from the group owner's personal storage account, not a separate quota. Collaboration in group libraries is available at no additional charge.

Source
Labguru: Is pricing published?

No. It is quoted per user per year, with modules and validated hosting priced on top.

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