# ResearchGate vs BirdingApp.

ResearchGate and BirdingApp. both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of BirdingApp.'s written reviews are positive against 46% of ResearchGate's. BirdingApp. also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). ResearchGate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (15K vs 35). On price, rating, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BirdingApp. sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 3 months. ResearchGate asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for ResearchGate against 4.9 for BirdingApp.. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ResearchGate has 15K ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of ResearchGate's written reviews are positive against 83% of BirdingApp.'s.

ResearchGate ships an update every 5 weeks, BirdingApp. fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ResearchGate | BirdingApp. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/researchgate/id1208163937/reviews) | **[4.9 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdingapp/id6465455152/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 35 |
| Positive reviews | 46.0% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ResearchGate GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1098614371) | [Epter LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706562832) |

## 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


### BirdingApp.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdingapp/id6465455152)

Connect with fellow birdwatchers, organize your birding activities, and stay updated on sightings. Discover local guides, plan routes, and receive real-time alerts for rare birds. Engage in friendly competition and challenges.

**Highlights:** Create user profiles and connect with friends, Location-based chat for local sightings, Real-time rare bird alerts, Plan birding routes and trips, Bird quizzes and leaderboards, Offline chat and location sharing

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter - 3 Months, renewing | $6.99 | per 3 months |
| Supporter - 1 Year, renewing | $24.99 | per year |
| Supporter - 1 Year only | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ResearchGate free?

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

### Is BirdingApp. free?

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

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

BirdingApp. is rated higher. ResearchGate averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while BirdingApp. averages 4.9 from 35 ratings.

### Do ResearchGate or BirdingApp. have ads?

ResearchGate shows ads; BirdingApp. does not.

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

ResearchGate ships an update every 5 weeks, and BirdingApp. fortnightly. Most recently, ResearchGate was updated on October 15, 2026 and BirdingApp. on October 11, 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.*