Using REDCap?
Why teams switch.
- Cleaner data. Fewer gaps. Less rework.
- More participants stay engaged, respond and complete protocols.
- Less manual work. Faster path to publication.
If you’re spending too much time managing forms, chasing participants, cleaning data, and trying to get results ready for publication, you’re not alone.
That’s where a database alone starts to fall short.
Click to enlarge
Two different approaches to research
Studytrax and REDCap are both widely used in academic research and disease organizations. But they were designed with very different goals in mind.
REDCap is built to capture and store data. Studytrax is designed to connect research and clinical work, from participant engagement and workflows through analysis and publication.
That difference shapes everything that follows.
Overview of Studytrax
Where the difference shows up
| Area | REDCap | Studytrax |
|---|---|---|
Core model | Data capture and storage | Research and clinical execution platform |
Participant experience | Participants complete forms | Participants engage through a personalized portal with forms, messaging, education, rewards, and health insights |
Surveys | Surveys collect responses | A survey can stay anonymous, pay the respondent automatically, or screen qualifying respondents into a study |
Workflows | Automation is built around survey invitations and alerts | Rule-based actions across the whole study, with triggers, follow-up scheduling, and real-time reporting |
| Data are exported and rebuilt in external tools | Live data flow into Workbench for datasets, tables, reports, and the manuscript itself | |
Clinical integration | Primarily a research tool | Supports clinical workflows, documentation, and point-of-care decision-making |
| Tracked in a separate system or spreadsheet and matched to the study by hand | Biotrax records each specimen against the same subject and visit as the study data, collected on the study schedule | |
Across studies | Each project is a standalone database | Citations, forms, datasets, and analyses carry forward from one study to the next in Workbench |
Core model
REDCap
Data capture and storage
Studytrax
Research and clinical execution platform
Participant experience
REDCap
Participants complete forms
Studytrax
Participants engage through a personalized portal with forms, messaging, education, rewards, and health insights
Surveys
REDCap
Surveys collect responses
Studytrax
A survey can stay anonymous, pay the respondent automatically, or screen qualifying respondents into a study
Workflows
REDCap
Automation is built around survey invitations and alerts
Studytrax
Rule-based actions across the whole study, with triggers, follow-up scheduling, and real-time reporting
Analysis and publication
REDCap
Data are exported and rebuilt in external tools
Studytrax
Live data flow into Workbench for datasets, tables, reports, and the manuscript itself
Clinical integration
REDCap
Primarily a research tool
Studytrax
Supports clinical workflows, documentation, and point-of-care decision-making
Specimens
REDCap
Tracked in a separate system or spreadsheet and matched to the study by hand
Studytrax
Biotrax records each specimen against the same subject and visit as the study data, collected on the study schedule
Across studies
REDCap
Each project is a standalone database
Studytrax
Citations, forms, datasets, and analyses carry forward from one study to the next in Workbench
Workbench and Biotrax are part of Studytrax. See how Workbench works · About Biotrax
Where database-only approaches create friction
Hard to use data in real time
Using data in real time for clinical decisions is difficult, often requiring workarounds or separate systems.
Workflows don’t match practice
Follow-up scheduling, triggers, and rule-based actions beyond survey invitations and alerts usually have to be handled outside the system.
Siloed data across projects
Each study is a standalone database, requiring duplicate setup and repeated data entry.
Slow, risky changes mid-study
Form updates are technically involved, slow to deploy, and can introduce risk.
No clear path to publication
Datasets, tables, and manuscripts are built outside the system in disconnected tools.
Rigid form design
Forms are built one field per row with limited control over layout, so interactive or clinic-friendly designs take workarounds.
What the difference looks like in practice
Study setup example
REDCap
Studytrax
Click to enlarge
But REDCap is “free.”
REDCap removes licensing cost, but not the cost of time, coordination, and manual work.
Studytrax is designed to reduce that overhead so teams can run studies more efficiently and move results forward faster.
For over 20 years, Studytrax has supported academic and disease-focused research across a wide range of budgets. If it’s a fit for your work, we’ll structure it to align with your funding scenario.
Already using REDCap? Switching is easy.
One-click export, automated secure file transfer, and automated import into Studytrax. Your data, structure, and study setup arrive ready to go.
Moving an existing registry to Studytrax includes the transfer from REDCap at no cost.
Click to enlarge
Get Started Now
Tell us where to reach you and we'll show you how Studytrax fits your research. A quick conversation, no pressure. If it's not the right fit, we'll tell you.
100% No Risk Guarantee