# ResearchGate vs Scribble.

The clearest difference is rating: ResearchGate at 4.8 against Scribble.'s 4.2. ResearchGate also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (15K vs 46). Scribble.'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (67% vs 46%). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scribble. sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ResearchGate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ResearchGate holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ResearchGate has 15K ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of ResearchGate's written reviews are positive against 67% of Scribble.'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ResearchGate ships an update every 5 weeks, Scribble. every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ResearchGate | Scribble. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/researchgate/id1208163937/reviews)** | [4.2 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scribble/id6446912983/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 46 |
| Positive reviews | 46.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ResearchGate GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1098614371) | [Scribble LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1592551496) |

## What reviewers say

### ResearchGate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/researchgate/id1208163937)

Access over 150 million scientific publications and connect with millions of researchers worldwide. Stay updated on new research in your field, track your academic stats, and download full-text articles for offline reading.

**Highlights:** Access 150+ million publications, Connect with 20+ million researchers, Stay updated on new research, Track academic stats and reports, Download full-texts for offline reading

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Useful for research and collaboration
- 👍 Great for tracking citations and impact
- 🔍 Helpful for discovering relevant research
- 💡 Valuable platform for sharing work
- 🌟 Excellent resource for researchers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 📱 Not optimized for iPad/tablet use
- 🔍 Poor search functionality
- 🔒 Restrictive registration process
- 🤖 Inconsistencies between app and website

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working properly
- Inconsistent data between app and website
- Login issues with Facebook and LinkedIn
- Crashes when opening certain content
- UI elements overlapping on iPhone X/newer

**Requested features**

- Add iPad/tablet support
- Improve search and filtering options
- Streamline registration and account management
- Integrate question/answer functionality in app
- Provide more customization and personalization


### Scribble.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scribble/id6446912983)

This app provides unlimited note-taking capabilities for writers and creatives. It also features a library to showcase and discover books, along with social networking tools to connect with other authors, share progress, and ask writing-related questions.

**Highlights:** Unlimited note-taking, Scribble Library book showcase, Book submission portal, Social networking for writers, Direct messaging and chat, Community Q&A for writers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Notes - Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Notes - Yearly | $25.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $54.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ResearchGate free?

ResearchGate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Scribble. free?

Scribble. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ResearchGate or Scribble.?

ResearchGate is rated higher. ResearchGate averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Scribble. averages 4.2 from 46 ratings.

### Do ResearchGate or Scribble. have ads?

ResearchGate shows ads; Scribble. does not.

### Which is updated more often, ResearchGate or Scribble.?

ResearchGate ships an update every 5 weeks, and Scribble. every 2 weeks. Most recently, ResearchGate was updated on September 29, 2026 and Scribble. on September 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*