Tools of the Trade

A curated directory of the software researchers actually use - from literature discovery and reference managers to electronic lab notebooks, analysis pipelines, imaging and the new generation of AI research tools. Every entry is written by hand, and every outbound link is checked.

  • 263 tools listed
  • 20 categories
  • 224 free or open source

263 tools

ChemRxiv

ChemRxiv is a repository for the free submission and distribution of preprints in chemistry and related areas.

PublishingFREE

Chemspider

A web-based database of small molecules, with associated data and links.

DiscoveryPublishingOpen Source

Cite This For Me

Cite This For Me is one of the most popular citation tools today.

DiscoveryPublishingFREE

CitEc

Provides citation analysis for economics papers distributed in the RePEc digital library.

AnalysisDiscoveryFREE

CiteSeer(X)

Public search engine and digital library for scientific and academic papers.

DiscoveryPublishingOPEN SOURCE

Claira

Lab equipment management system

DiscoveryReference ManagementFREE
New2026
Claude Science logo

Claude Science

AI Science Workbench for Research Labs

AI Research AssistantAnalysisSUBSCRIPTION
New2026

ClawBio

Bioinformatics AI Agent Skill Library

AnalysisBioinformaticsFREE, OPEN SOURCE

Clustermarket

Access thousands of scientific instruments on demand

PlanningFREE
New2026
ColabFold logo

ColabFold

AlphaFold in a Colab Notebook

AnalysisBioinformaticsFREE, OPEN SOURCE

Colaboratory

A data analysis tool that combines text, code, and code outputs into a single doc

CodePublishingFREE

Confluence

Confluence is a collaboration software program.

PlanningWritingFREE, SUBSCRIPTION

Built something researchers should know about?

We add tools on reader suggestions, and we list open-source projects and one-person side projects on the same terms as funded platforms. Listing is free, there is no paid placement, and we write the entry ourselves after trying the tool.

Request a listing Or email info@labcritics.com

Missing a tool?

Tell us what your lab runs on. Listing is free and we do not take payment for placement.

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How entries are chosen

  • It has to be alive. Links are verified, and tools that die or get acquired into irrelevance are retired rather than left to rot.
  • Researchers have to actually use it. Adoption in real labs matters more than a polished launch page.
  • Cost is stated plainly. Free, open source, freemium or paid - including when "free for academics" comes with conditions.
  • No paid placement. Nobody buys their way onto this list, and there are no affiliate links.
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What is in here

The directory covers the whole research workflow: planning and funding, literature discovery, reference management, lab notebooks and inventory, analysis and computation, figures and visualisation, writing, publishing, and data sharing. Alongside the long-established tools you would expect, it tracks the AI workbenches and foundation models now reshaping how computational research gets done.