Comparison

NMDC Field Notes vs SkipioPro

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

Head to head
About

NMDC Field Notes

This app allows microbiome researchers to record biosample metadata directly in the field. It streamlines data documentation at the point of collection, offering features like ORCID login and automatic syncing with a web portal. Designed in collaboration with researchers, it provides a mobile alternative to browser-based submission.

Highlights
  • Record biosample metadata in the field
  • Streamline data documentation
  • ORCID login
  • One-tap entry of user info, coordinates, and dates
  • Dynamic UI forms from LinkML schema
  • Automatic syncing with NMDC Submission Portal
Read full description

Notice: Due to a shift in program budget and priorities for 2026, the NMDC is not actively developing or maintaining the Field Notes Mobile App. Please visit the NMDC website for more information about our other products to submit, access and share microbiome data. --- NMDC Field Notes is an iOS/iPadOS app microbiome researchers can use to record metadata about the biosamples they collect while they are working in the field. It is a mobile alternative to the browser-based NMDC Submission Portal web app, designed specifically to streamline the process of documenting metadata at the time of biosample collection. Its features (all of which were designed in collaboration with microbiome researchers) include: ORCID login, entry of study and biosample metadata, one-tap entry of user information, geographical coordinates, and dates, user interface forms that are dynamically generated from a LinkML schema, and automatic syncing of study and biosamples metadata with the NMDC Submission Portal.

About

SkipioPro

Features
Read full description

This app includes features like SMS/MMS, voice, contact management, calendaring/appointment management. This mobile app condenses as much of the SkipioPro desktop experience as possible in to a mobile device appropriate user experience.

Screenshots

NMDC Field Notes4 screens
SkipioPro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SkipioPro at monthly against NMDC Field Notes's every 5 months. NMDC Field Notes's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NMDC Field Notes ships an update every 5 months, SkipioPro monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and May 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
NMDC Field Notes versus SkipioPro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNMDC Field NotesSkipioPro
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB314 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLAWRENCE BERKELEYSkipio, LLC

In-app purchases

None

NMDC Field Notes

No in-app purchases

None

SkipioPro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NMDC Field Notes free?
NMDC Field Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SkipioPro free?
SkipioPro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do NMDC Field Notes or SkipioPro have ads?
Neither NMDC Field Notes nor SkipioPro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NMDC Field Notes or SkipioPro?
NMDC Field Notes ships an update every 5 months, and SkipioPro monthly. Most recently, NMDC Field Notes was updated on September 11, 2026 and SkipioPro on May 14, 2026.

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