Comparison

GoStix™ Plus vs Hemocytometer Sidekick

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GoStix™ Plus

This app quantifies analytes by analyzing the intensity of bands on a lateral flow cassette. Scan the cassette with your device to get rapid results correlating to analyte levels. It's a research tool for life science applications.

Highlights
  • Lateral flow assay analysis
  • Analyte quantification
  • Band intensity correlation
  • Smartphone scanning
  • Rapid results
Features
Read full description

GoStix Plus assays are life science research tools designed for rapid quantification of diverse analytes using a simple, lateral flow-based method. 10 minutes after applying your sample, a band will appear in the window of the GoStix Plus cassette at an intensity that correlates with the amount of analyte present. The cassette is then scanned using a smartphone camera or equivalent mobile device running the GoStix Plus app, which will then quantify the level of analyte in the sample based on the intensity of the band. To learn more about GoStix Plus assays and the GoStix Plus app, visit our website.

About

Hemocytometer Sidekick

Streamline cell counting with a hemocytometer. This app automates calculations, offers eyes-free operation with large buttons and sound feedback, and saves your data for easy recording. It supports various chamber types and differential blood counts, making lab work more efficient.

Highlights
  • Automated cell counting
  • Eyes-free operation
  • Supports multiple chamber types
  • Differential blood counting
  • Data saving and email results
  • Adjustable chamber depth
Features
Read full description

Make cell counting with a hemocytometer effortless! You know the drill--time to count cells for your experiment. Get out the hemocytometer and squeaky mechanical counter, prepare your dilution, fill the chamber, then look under the scope and start pushing the lever. Get to the end of a square, write down the count, reset the counter, and repeat. Finally, try to remember the right calculation, then write down the result. What if you didn't need the squeaky counter? The scrap paper? A manual calculator? Sure, you *could* get an expensive, fancy cell counter with wasteful disposables. But why do that when a $5 app is nearly as good? Hemocytometer Sidekick eliminates those annoyances. Record one or two counters for all samples with automatic calculations (including viability, blood counter), and use the full grid or the center square. Data is saved for you, so you can record it in your notebook at your convenience. Hemocytometer Sidekick, designed from the ground up by a biologist, will make your life in the lab so much easier, that I'm giving you 10 measurements for free! Features: - Optimized for eyes-free operation (large buttons, sounds, vibration) - Use both chambers and zoom in to inner grid - Chamber types: Basic, Improved Neubauer, Bürker-Türk/Thoma, Fuchs-Rosenthal, Jessen, Spiers-Levy, Malassez, Makler - One or two counters available, plus viability and blood (RBC, WBC, Platelet) counter - Differential blood counter for many white blood cell types - Pause and sound every 100 blood cells counted - Automatic calculations - Adjustable chamber depth - Email results - Prompt support

Screenshots

GoStix™ Plus4 screens
Hemocytometer Sidekick4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hemocytometer Sidekick at 4.6 against GoStix™ Plus's 2.3. Hemocytometer Sidekick also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). GoStix™ Plus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and review sentiment (19% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hemocytometer Sidekick sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. GoStix™ Plus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hemocytometer Sidekick holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 27 and 29 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 19% of GoStix™ Plus's written reviews are positive against 0% of Hemocytometer Sidekick's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GoStix™ Plus ships an update every 6 months, Hemocytometer Sidekick every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
GoStix™ Plus versus Hemocytometer Sidekick: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGoStix™ PlusHemocytometer Sidekick
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (27 ratings)4.6 (29 ratings) — better
Positive reviews18.8% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2729 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTakara Bio USA, Inc.Nicholas Bauer

Customer experience

GoStix™ Plus

All ratings25 ratings
Positive36.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative64.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive18.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative81.3%

Hemocytometer Sidekick

All ratings29 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

GoStix™ Plus

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Hemocytometer Sidekick

One-time5
  • Purchase$4.99
  • Purchase Version 2$4.99
  • Purchase Version 3$4.99
Show 2 more
  • Purchase Version 4$4.99
  • Purchase Version 5$4.99

Questions

Is GoStix™ Plus free?
GoStix™ Plus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hemocytometer Sidekick free?
Hemocytometer Sidekick is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GoStix™ Plus or Hemocytometer Sidekick?
Hemocytometer Sidekick is rated higher. GoStix™ Plus averages 2.3 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Hemocytometer Sidekick averages 4.6 from 29 ratings.
Do GoStix™ Plus or Hemocytometer Sidekick have ads?
GoStix™ Plus shows ads; Hemocytometer Sidekick does not.
Which is updated more often, GoStix™ Plus or Hemocytometer Sidekick?
GoStix™ Plus ships an update every 6 months, and Hemocytometer Sidekick every 2 months. Most recently, GoStix™ Plus was updated on September 18, 2026 and Hemocytometer Sidekick on June 4, 2026.

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