REDCap
REDCap: A research-focused platform with free eligible-institution access and deep data controls. Ranked #38 of 131 in Survey Software by our editors (5.4/10); pricing: Free plan · 3-day trial; best for academic and clinical research.
At a glance
- Editor score5.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 3-day trial
- Best forAcademic and clinical research
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Logic branchingYes
- Founded1873 · Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free standard license for eligible non-commercial organizations
- Offline collection, audit trails, exports, and API access
- FHIR interoperability with electronic health records
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosting makes infrastructure and maintenance the institution’s responsibility
- Support and governance are managed by each institution
- Research administration focus may not fit general-purpose survey teams
Our verdict on REDCap
REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and research databases. It is designed for research teams, clinical researchers, academic institutions, government organizations, and other eligible non-profit organizations. Projects can support online and offline data capture, multi-site access, branching logic, file uploads, calculated fields, audit trails, reporting, and configurable workflows. Web, iOS, Android, API, and self-hosted access are supported.
Pricing is a major consideration. The standard REDCap Consortium license is free for eligible non-profit, governmental, and other non-commercial organizations. Institutions license and self-host the software, while each organization manages its own installation, infrastructure, maintenance, support, and governance. The published plans also show a three-day free trial. Vanderbilt describes separate hosted or fee-based alternatives, but their prices are not publicly listed. For eligible institutions that can manage their own deployment, the free licensing model adds substantial value.
REDCap’s strongest fit is research data administration rather than broad survey distribution. Built-in exports cover Excel, PDF, SPSS, SAS, Stata, and R, while the API supports importing, exporting, and modifying project data and settings. Offline data collection is available through companion mobile applications, and FHIR-based interoperability connects the platform with FHIR-enabled electronic health records. These capabilities suit studies spanning institutions or requiring traceable data changes. Teams that need institution-managed governance, extensive exports, or clinical interoperability should consider REDCap. Organizations seeking a vendor-managed service or a more general-purpose survey focus should look elsewhere.
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REDCap pricing
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REDCap fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Responses included | Not verified |
| Questions per survey | Not verified |
| Logic branching | Yes |
| Custom branding | Not verified |
| Response analytics | Yes |
| API access | Yes |
| Respondent panel | Not verified |
| Free trial | 3 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Compliance & security | HIPAA, GDPR, 2FA |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 1 integrations: FHIR |
| Pricing | Free plan · 3-day trial (source) |
| Website | projectredcap.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
REDCap integrations
REDCap lists 1 integrations on its own site.
- FHIR
Alternatives to REDCap
- SurveyMonkeyA broad survey platform combining branching, analytics, branding, integrations, and audience access.9.4
- QualtricsAdvanced survey research for teams that need logic, analysis, panels, and API access.9.3
- Zoho SurveyA low-cost survey platform with logic, offline collection, reporting, and Zoho integrations.9.1
Also Ranked In
REDCap is ranked in 4 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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