WHIRLwell vs MDex
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WHIRLwell
Participate in survey-based research studies and share your experiences with researchers. Access short surveys and study materials for the University of Michigan’s WHIRLab and its collaborators. Enroll, withdraw, and receive timely notifications for upcoming surveys.
- Participate in research studies
- Complete short surveys
- Access study materials
- Enroll and withdraw from studies
- Receive survey notifications
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The WHIRLwell app is for those interested in participating in survey-based research studies and sharing their experiences with researchers. The app gives eligible participants access to short surveys and study materials for the University of Michigan’s WHIRLab and its collaborators. Through the app, users will be able to enroll and withdraw from studies, access surveys, and receive notifications to remind them when it is time for the next survey.
MDex
This app helps University of Michigan students navigate campus life. It provides real-time bus tracking, event discovery, and connects users with campus clubs and communities. Access campus resources and giveaways to enhance your student experience.
- Discover campus events
- Real-time bus tracking
- Connect with clubs
- Access campus resources
- Find giveaways
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MDex – The #1 Student Life App at U-M! Welcome to MDex, the #1 way to experience student life at the University of Michigan. Discover what’s happening across campus, track U-M and Ann Arbor buses in real time, and stay connected with the clubs, events, and communities that make Michigan incredible. From campus resources to giveaways — MDex puts everything you need for the true Michigan experience right at your fingertips. Join thousands of Wolverines already using MDex. Go Blue!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: MDex at 100% against WHIRLwell's 0%. MDex also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). 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.
MDex holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MDex has 147 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of WHIRLwell's written reviews are positive against 100% of MDex's.
WHIRLwell ships an update every 3 months, MDex every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WHIRLwell | MDex |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (5 ratings) | 4.8 (147 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 147 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 12.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 83 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The University of Michigan | Julius Stuhec |
Customer experience
WHIRLwell
MDex
In-app purchases
WHIRLwell
No in-app purchases
MDex
No in-app purchases
