R Analyst vs NMDC Field Notes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
R Analyst
This app provides a powerful R language engine for executing code directly on your device without needing a backend server. It includes a code editor with helpful features like keyword auto-completion and syntax highlighting, along with a comprehensive set of built-in packages.
- On-device R language execution
- Code editor with auto-complete
- Syntax highlighting
- Includes 30+ built-in R packages
- Help command for documentation
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R Analyst is a R language engine that can execute R code in devices directly(do not require to connect to a backend server), the buildin pacakges:utils,methods,graphics,grDevices,stats,grid,lattice,nlme,MASS,rpart,splines,cluster,foreign,parallel,spatial,survival,boot,stats4,KernSmooth,nnet,tools,class,zoo,lmtest,gridExtra,tseries,quadprog,mvtnorm,multcomp,Hmisc,rms,psych,GPArotation,gof,Matrix,arules. Include a code editor for R language, can type help command to show help document, keyword auto-complete/highlight limitation: cannot install package.
NMDC Field Notes
This app allows microbiome researchers to record biosample metadata directly in the field. It streamlines data documentation at the point of collection, offering features like ORCID login and automatic syncing with a web portal. Designed in collaboration with researchers, it provides a mobile alternative to browser-based submission.
- Record biosample metadata in the field
- Streamline data documentation
- ORCID login
- One-tap entry of user info, coordinates, and dates
- Dynamic UI forms from LinkML schema
- Automatic syncing with NMDC Submission Portal
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Notice: Due to a shift in program budget and priorities for 2026, the NMDC is not actively developing or maintaining the Field Notes Mobile App. Please visit the NMDC website for more information about our other products to submit, access and share microbiome data. --- NMDC Field Notes is an iOS/iPadOS app microbiome researchers can use to record metadata about the biosamples they collect while they are working in the field. It is a mobile alternative to the browser-based NMDC Submission Portal web app, designed specifically to streamline the process of documenting metadata at the time of biosample collection. Its features (all of which were designed in collaboration with microbiome researchers) include: ORCID login, entry of study and biosample metadata, one-tap entry of user information, geographical coordinates, and dates, user interface forms that are dynamically generated from a LinkML schema, and automatic syncing of study and biosamples metadata with the NMDC Submission Portal.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: NMDC Field Notes at Free against R Analyst's $4.99. NMDC Field Notes also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0). R Analyst's advantage is ratings volume (11 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.4 vs 14.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
NMDC Field Notes is free to download; R Analyst costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
NMDC Field Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: R Analyst has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
R Analyst ships an update every 4 months, NMDC Field Notes every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | R Analyst | NMDC Field Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.0 (11 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 35.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.4 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.0 GB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 友辉 严 | LAWRENCE BERKELEY |
Customer experience
R Analyst
NMDC Field Notes
In-app purchases
R Analyst
No in-app purchases
NMDC Field Notes
No in-app purchases









