Built for university research labs

Every instrument. Perfectly managed.

OpenInstrument gives research labs a single platform to schedule instruments, manage access, track maintenance, and keep your team productive — so researchers spend less time coordinating and more time discovering.

Free plan available · No credit card required · Set up in minutes

Real-time
Calendar scheduling
Role-based
Access control
Automated
Booking notifications
iCal
Calendar integration

Everything your lab needs

Purpose-built for the unique challenges of managing shared scientific equipment in a research environment.

Smart Scheduling

Calendar-based booking with configurable time slots, business hours, minimum and maximum session lengths, and blackout periods for planned maintenance.

Role-Based Access

Grant instrument access to individual researchers. Admins manage the lab while members book only what they're approved to use. Optional approval workflows keep bookings orderly.

Maintenance Tracking

Log maintenance events, track full service history, and take instruments offline for downtime. Keep a complete audit trail of every instrument's health.

Training Materials

Attach SOPs, safety protocols, and user guides directly to each instrument. Ensure every researcher has what they need before their first session.

Usage Analytics

See who is using which instruments, for how long, and how often. Export usage reports as CSV to support grant reporting and resource allocation decisions.

Automated Notifications

Researchers get email confirmations when bookings are made, approved, or cancelled. Admins are alerted to pending approvals so nothing falls through the cracks.

Up and running in minutes

No IT department required. Set up your lab and invite your team in three simple steps.

01

Create your lab

Sign up, create your lab, and add your instruments. Upload photos, attach spec sheets, and configure scheduling rules for each piece of equipment.

02

Invite your team

Send email invitations to your researchers and assign instrument access at the time of invite so they're ready to book from day one.

03

Start scheduling

Researchers browse available instruments and book time slots directly from the calendar. Admins get notified and can approve or manage requests.

Built for how research labs actually work

Recurring reservations — Schedule weekly instrument time that repeats automatically — perfect for ongoing experiments with predictable needs.
iCal feed integration — Subscribe to instrument calendars in Google Calendar, Outlook, or Apple Calendar so bookings sit alongside the rest of your schedule.
Photo & file library — Attach instrument photos and upload files like calibration records, SOPs, and manuals directly to each instrument page.
Blackout periods — Block off time for maintenance, facility closures, or downtime so researchers always see accurate availability.
CSV exports — Export reservation history and usage data for grant reporting, budgeting, and cost recovery analysis.
Scheduling Rules
Min/max duration, allowed hours & days
Approval Workflow
Optional admin sign-off on bookings
Multi-Lab Support
Manage multiple labs from one account
Instrument Status
Online, offline, or in maintenance

Simple, transparent pricing

Start free. Upgrade as your lab grows.

Starter

Free

Perfect for small labs getting started.

  • 3 instruments
  • 10 members
  • Smart scheduling
  • Email notifications
  • CSV exports
Get started free
Most popular

Lab

$79 /mo

For established labs with active researchers.

  • 10 instruments
  • 30 members
  • Smart scheduling
  • Email notifications
  • CSV exports
Start Lab plan

Department

$199 /mo

For departments managing multiple labs.

  • 50 instruments
  • 100 members
  • Smart scheduling
  • Email notifications
  • CSV exports
Start Department plan

Enterprise

Custom

Unlimited everything with dedicated support.

  • Unlimited instruments
  • Unlimited members
  • Smart scheduling
  • Email notifications
  • CSV exports
Contact us

Ready to bring order to your lab?

Join research labs already using OpenInstrument to streamline instrument access and scheduling.