ODK vs CommCare

ODK8.8Visit CommCare7.9Visit

Higher score ODK #2 in Mobile Forms Automation Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit ODK

vs

CommCare #8 in Mobile Forms Automation Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit CommCare

• ODK fits best

  Teams needing flexible open-source field data collection

• CommCare fits best

  Field teams needing offline forms and case management

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Side by side

Feature	ODK 8.8/10 Visit ↗	CommCare 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	7.9
Ranking	#2 in Mobile Forms Automation Software	#8 in Mobile Forms Automation Software
Best for	Teams needing flexible open-source field data collection	Field teams needing offline forms and case management
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$199/mo	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Android	Web, Android
Support	Email, Phone, Community, Docs	Docs
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ODK 0/4 · CommCare 4/4
Offline form access	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Workflow automation	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Signature capture	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Photo capture	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Mobile platforms	Not checked yet	Android
Submission limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Collect offline and sync submissions when connected. Capture GPS, images, audio, video, barcodes, and signatures. Choose cloud or self-hosted deployment, with REST, OpenRosa, and OData APIs.	Collect forms offline and synchronize submissions later Track longitudinal records with case management Route workflows and capture photos, media, and signatures
Cons	Standard is limited to 1 active project. Standard and Professional prices are listed with annual billing. Enterprise pricing is not shown alongside its plan features.	Mobile app support is limited to Android Project and data management runs through a web console Support channels listed are documentation
Our verdict	ODK is an open-source data-collection suite for researchers, field teams, and organizations working in public health, development, crisis response, and environmental research. Forms can be completed offline in the Android app or on the… Read the review →	CommCare, from Dimagi, combines mobile form building with case management for organizations running field programs. Teams create forms and workflows in CommCare HQ, deploy them to mobile workers, and manage submissions and longitudinal… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• ODK — where it wins

  • Collect offline and sync submissions when connected.
  • Capture GPS, images, audio, video, barcodes, and signatures.
  • Choose cloud or self-hosted deployment, with REST, OpenRosa, and OData APIs.

  Where it doesn't

  • Standard is limited to 1 active project.
  • Standard and Professional prices are listed with annual billing.
  • Enterprise pricing is not shown alongside its plan features.

• CommCare — where it wins

  • Collect forms offline and synchronize submissions later
  • Track longitudinal records with case management
  • Route workflows and capture photos, media, and signatures

  Where it doesn't

  • Mobile app support is limited to Android
  • Project and data management runs through a web console
  • Support channels listed are documentation

• ODK8.8/10 · Free plan

  Flexible field data collection with offline forms, review workflows, APIs, and self-hosting.

  Visit ODKFull verdict →
• CommCare7.9/10 · Free plan

  A field data platform pairing offline forms with longitudinal case management.

  Visit CommCareFull verdict →