Open Science Framework Pauses Data, Code Hosting

The Open Science Framework (OSF), a widely utilized open-science platform, announced it will discontinue hosting research data and code for external users beginning in November. This significant policy shift, detailed in a Nature article published online on September 9, 2026, stems from ongoing funding concerns that have made the continuation of these services unsustainable. The OSF has been a cornerstone for researchers seeking to share their work transparently and reproducibly, providing a centralized repository for project materials. Its decision to halt these hosting services will necessitate a substantial reevaluation of workflows for countless scientists globally who rely on the platform for data storage and code sharing.

The OSF's decision highlights the persistent financial challenges faced by many open-science initiatives, which often operate on grants and donations rather than commercial revenue. The platform's commitment to open science has made it a valuable resource, but the operational costs associated with maintaining robust data and code repositories have evidently become prohibitive. Researchers who have utilized OSF for long-term data archiving or collaborative coding will now need to migrate their materials to alternative solutions. This transition could involve significant effort and potential disruption, particularly for projects with large datasets or complex codebases.

While the OSF will no longer host new data and code submissions, the organization has indicated that existing materials will remain accessible for a period, though the exact duration and terms of this continued access are still being clarified. The platform's primary mission to promote open science practices, such as pre-registration and transparent reporting, is expected to continue through other means. However, the cessation of its data and code hosting capabilities represents a substantial reduction in its service offering. This development underscores a broader conversation within the scientific community about the sustainable funding models for essential open-science infrastructure.

The impact of this change is expected to be far-reaching, affecting researchers across various disciplines who have integrated OSF into their research lifecycle. The platform's role in fostering reproducibility and enabling the verification of scientific findings is critical. As scientists seek new avenues for data and code management, the community will likely see a diversification of hosting solutions, potentially leading to a more fragmented landscape for open-science resources. The OSF's announcement serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between open access principles and the financial realities of maintaining digital infrastructure in academia.