Gene Doe vs NephRef
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Gene Doe
This platform enables citizen science by connecting users with research studies. Researchers can publish protocols and collect data via HealthKit and ResearchKit, while users can enroll in studies after meeting screening requirements and providing consent.
- Citizen science platform
- Research study participation
- Data collection via HealthKit
- ResearchKit ActiveTasks integration
- Self-enrollment in studies
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Gene Doe is a platform for citizen science. Researchers self-publish their protocols using REDCap, and can include instructions to capture patient reported outcomes, sensor and other data in HealthKit, and results of ResearchKit ActiveTasks. Interested app users who meet screening requirements and provide informed consent self-enroll into these studies.
NephRef
This medical reference tool aids physicians and advanced practitioners in managing patients with kidney disease. It provides quick access to educational resources and guidance on patient referral, urgency, and interval management.
- Kidney disease patient care guidance
- Referral management
- Urgency assessment
- Interval management
- Educational resources access
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NephRef is both a reference and referral tool designed to educate and empower physicians and advanced practitioners in their care and referral of patients with kidney disease. Conceived and developed by the Section of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine at West Virginia University School of Medicine, NephRef offers a quick and easy link to educational resources and provides information about urgency and interval management of patients referred for specialty consultation. NephRef is an educational tool only. Not for individual patient diagnosis or treatment.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: NephRef at 5.0 against Gene Doe's 4.0. NephRef also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 weeks) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). Gene Doe's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
NephRef holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.
Gene Doe ships an update every 4 weeks, NephRef every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Gene Doe | NephRef |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Christopher Metts | Media Foundations LLC |
Customer experience
Gene Doe
NephRef
In-app purchases
Gene Doe
No in-app purchases
NephRef
No in-app purchases
