NMDC Field Notes vs SkipioPro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
SkipioPro
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
| Parameter | NMDC Field Notes | SkipioPro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 314 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | LAWRENCE BERKELEY | Skipio, LLC |
In-app purchases
NMDC Field Notes
No in-app purchases
SkipioPro
No in-app purchases





