# MemberCentric vs ResearchGate

The clearest difference is rating: ResearchGate at 4.8 against MemberCentric's 2.1. ResearchGate also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 13) and review sentiment (46% vs 22%). MemberCentric's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ResearchGate holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ResearchGate has 15K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of MemberCentric's written reviews are positive against 46% of ResearchGate's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MemberCentric | ResearchGate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/membercentric/id524165235/reviews) | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/researchgate/id1208163937/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | **46.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Results Direct](https://appshunter.io/developer/351907420) | [ResearchGate GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1098614371) |

## What reviewers say

### MemberCentric

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/membercentric/id524165235)

Connect and collaborate with industry peers, join communities of interest, and access association news and content. Build your professional network, share experiences, and find answers to challenges. Stay informed with targeted updates and engage more deeply with your professional organization.

**Highlights:** Connect with industry peers, Participate in communities, Access association content, Build professional network, Search discussion threads, View industry events

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MemberCentric free?

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

### Is ResearchGate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MemberCentric or ResearchGate?

ResearchGate is rated higher. MemberCentric averages 2.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while ResearchGate averages 4.8 from 15K ratings.

### Do MemberCentric or ResearchGate have ads?

Both MemberCentric and ResearchGate show ads.

### Which is updated more often, MemberCentric or ResearchGate?

MemberCentric ships an update every 5 weeks, and ResearchGate every 5 weeks. Most recently, MemberCentric was updated on October 16, 2026 and ResearchGate on October 19, 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.*