Figshare vs. Zenodo: A Practical Guide for Researchers
Compare Figshare and Zenodo for DOI assignment, licensing, versioning, data display, code archiving, and biomedical research workflows.
Before using this in research
The goal is not to adopt another tool. The goal is to reduce verified research time without weakening the evidence trail.
Best for
Biomedical, medical, and academic researchers who need to deposit datasets, software, protocols, supplementary files, or other research outputs in an open repository.
First step
Start by identifying what you need to preserve and share: data, code, figures, protocols, preprints, or supplementary materials. Then check funder, journal, institutional, and ethics requirements before choosing between Figshare and Zenodo.
A safer workflow
1Define the research outputs you need to deposit, including file types, dataset size, code dependencies, documentation, and any sensitive or controlled-access data considerations.
2Compare DOI handling, licensing options, versioning behavior, metadata fields, repository visibility, and how each platform presents datasets or code to readers and reviewers.
3Match the repository choice to your publication workflow, including journal data availability statements, funder open science policies, ORCID use, GitHub or software archiving needs, and long-term citation plans.
4Prepare clean metadata, clear README files, appropriate licenses, version labels, and citation information before release, then verify that the public record matches your manuscript or project documentation.
Watch-outs
Do not upload identifiable patient data, protected health information, or restricted clinical data unless the repository, consent language, and governance approvals clearly allow it.
Check whether the DOI, versioning model, and license will meet your journal or funder requirements before you make a deposit public.
Avoid treating Figshare and Zenodo as interchangeable; differences in presentation, integrations, metadata, and software archiving can affect reuse and citation.
Evidence checks
Confirm DOI format, citation text, license, version number, and release date on the final public record.
Review repository documentation and policy pages for current limits on storage, file types, access controls, licensing, and preservation commitments.
Test the deposited record from a reader's perspective: files should download correctly, metadata should be complete, documentation should explain reuse, and links from the manuscript should resolve.
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This English version is a curated decision page. The full current detail page remains available while the English library is being expanded.