# ResearchGate vs Inventor Smart Community

ResearchGate and Inventor Smart Community both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Inventor Smart Community's written reviews are positive against 46% of ResearchGate's. Inventor Smart Community also leads on ads (none vs shown). ResearchGate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (15K vs 31). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Inventor Smart Community sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. ResearchGate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Inventor Smart Community holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ResearchGate has 15K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of ResearchGate's written reviews are positive against 100% of Inventor Smart Community's.

ResearchGate ships an update every 5 weeks, Inventor Smart Community every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ResearchGate | Inventor Smart Community |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/researchgate/id1208163937/reviews) | **[5.0 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inventor-smart-community/id6448789752/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | 46.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 31 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ResearchGate GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1098614371) | [Inventor Relations, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1686376031) |

## 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


### Inventor Smart Community

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inventor-smart-community/id6448789752)

Connect with a community of creators to share invention ideas, get expert advice, and gain recognition. Attend events, join discussions, and showcase your projects to foster innovation and collaboration.

**Highlights:** Connect and collaborate in group chats and forums, Access expert advice on patents, licensing, and manufacturing, Attend online and in-person inventor events, Showcase inventions and gain exposure, Receive real-time notifications and announcements

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ResearchGate free?

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

### Is Inventor Smart Community free?

Inventor Smart Community is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ResearchGate or Inventor Smart Community?

Inventor Smart Community is rated higher. ResearchGate averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Inventor Smart Community averages 5.0 from 31 ratings.

### Do ResearchGate or Inventor Smart Community have ads?

ResearchGate shows ads; Inventor Smart Community does not.

### Which is updated more often, ResearchGate or Inventor Smart Community?

ResearchGate ships an update every 5 weeks, and Inventor Smart Community every 6 weeks. Most recently, ResearchGate was updated on November 6, 2026 and Inventor Smart Community on November 3, 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.*