Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

REDCap VS DHIS2

Compare REDCap VS DHIS2 and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

REDCap logo REDCap

REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure web application for building and managing...

DHIS2 logo DHIS2

Manage aggregate data with a flexible data model which has been field-tested for more than 15 years.
  • REDCap Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • DHIS2 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-03

REDCap features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    REDCap is designed with an intuitive user interface, making it easy for researchers and clinicians to set up surveys and databases without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Data Security
    REDCap offers robust security measures, including user authentication, data encryption, and audit logs, ensuring the protection of sensitive data.
  • Customizability
    The platform provides extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor data collection instruments and workflows to their specific research needs.
  • Compliance
    REDCap complies with various regulatory standards such as HIPAA, ensuring that it meets the necessary legal requirements for handling protected health information.
  • Collaboration
    The system supports multi-site access, enabling collaboration between different institutions and researchers on a single project.
  • Integration
    REDCap offers integration capabilities with other systems and software, such as electronic health records (EHR) and statistical software like SAS and SPSS.
  • Community Support
    REDCap has a large, active community that provides support, shares best practices, and contributes to the ongoing development of the platform.
  • Cost-Effective
    Many institutions offer REDCap for free or at a low cost to their members, making it an affordable option for academic and non-profit research.

Possible disadvantages of REDCap

  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functionalities are user-friendly, mastering advanced features and complex workflows may require a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Built-In Analytics
    REDCap has limited built-in statistical analysis tools, requiring users to export data to other software for comprehensive analysis.
  • Dependency on Institutional Support
    The availability and level of user support can vary widely depending on the institution managing the instance of REDCap, potentially affecting user experience.
  • Version Updates
    Frequent updates and new versions can introduce compatibility issues and require users to adapt to new interfaces or functionalities quickly.
  • Customization Complexity
    While highly customizable, achieving specific functionality may require sophisticated knowledge of branching logic, calculated fields, or custom code, which can be time-consuming.
  • Limited Mobile Optimization
    Although REDCap has made strides in mobile optimization, some functionalities might not perform seamlessly on mobile devices.
  • No Built-in Randomization
    The platform does not include built-in randomization methods for clinical trials, necessitating the need for external tools or custom solutions.

DHIS2 features and specs

  • Open Source
    DHIS2 is open source, meaning there are no licensing fees, and the software can be freely customized and extended by users to meet their specific requirements.
  • Flexibility
    The platform is highly flexible, allowing users to design and implement health data management systems that are tailored to local contexts and specific health programs.
  • Scalability
    DHIS2 can be used at any scale, supporting large-scale national systems as well as smaller local implementations, making it suitable for a wide range of users.
  • Community Support
    Being an open-source project, DHIS2 has a large and active community of users and developers providing support, shared experiences, and resources online.
  • Interoperability
    DHIS2 supports interoperability standards, allowing it to integrate with other health information systems and share data across platforms.
  • Data Visualization
    It offers robust data visualization and reporting tools, including charts, graphs, and dashboards that facilitate data analysis and decision-making.

Possible disadvantages of DHIS2

  • Implementation Complexity
    Setting up and customizing DHIS2 can be complex and may require technical expertise, which could be a barrier for organizations with limited IT resources.
  • Training Requirements
    Users may require significant training to effectively utilize all features of DHIS2, posing a challenge for resource-constrained environments.
  • Performance Issues
    In very large implementations, DHIS2 can experience performance issues, including slowdowns and lag, particularly when data volume is extremely high.
  • Resource Intensive
    DHIS2 can be resource-intensive, requiring powerful hardware and infrastructure, especially as the scale and complexity of implementation increase.
  • Customization Complexity
    While DHIS2 is highly customizable, the process can be technically challenging and time-consuming, requiring skilled developers to manage effectively.

Analysis of REDCap

Overall verdict

  • Yes, REDCap is widely regarded as a good tool for data management and research purposes.

Why this product is good

  • REDCap is highly customizable and can accommodate a wide variety of data collection projects.
  • It is secure and compliant with standards such as HIPAA, making it suitable for healthcare research.
  • The platform supports complex data entry workflows and sophisticated data export features.
  • REDCap has a strong global user community, offering plenty of resources and support.
  • It offers features for survey distribution, project tracking, and advanced user management.

Recommended for

  • Academic researchers conducting complex data collection and analysis.
  • Healthcare institutions managing patient data under strict compliance requirements.
  • Non-profits needing a reliable system for survey data collection.
  • Government agencies conducting large-scale data surveys and research.

REDCap videos

EGGLIA: LEGEND OF THE REDCAP | AppSpy Review

More videos:

  • Review - redcap juice review

DHIS2 videos

A Demonstration of DHIS2

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to REDCap and DHIS2)
Clinical Trial Management System
Form Builder
0 0%
100% 100
SMS Surveys
100 100%
0% 0
Forms And Surveys
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using REDCap and DHIS2. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DHIS2 should be more popular than REDCap. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

REDCap mentions (3)

  • Software to manage human research participant database?
    REDCap seems similar to what you are searching for. It is secure (including compliance with 21 CFR Part 11, FISMA, HIPAA, and GDPR). It is widely disseminated, and you can check if your institution has access to it. It is "free" as long as your institution agrees to the terms and conditions of the REDCap org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Would I be violating any laws, policies, etc if I used AutoHotKey with EPIC?
    I'm working on a research project that involves abstracting and importing patient data from EPIC into REDCap for later analysis. Currently, we are doing this manually (i.e. Copying and pasting things like name, date of birth, etc), and as you can imagine, it is quite tedious (and doing a single patient takes an hour and a half). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Database Software Recommendation?
    Not sure if your facility would qualify, but this is pretty amazing. Uses a MySQL backend. https://projectredcap.org/. Source: almost 4 years ago

DHIS2 mentions (5)

  • A deep-dive on a Progressive Web App implementation for a React-based App Platform (DHIS2)
    At DHIS2, we're a remote-first team of developers building the world's largest health information management system. DHIS2 is a free and open-source global public good developed at the University of Oslo. It is used in more than 90 countries around the world, serving as the national health information system for more than 70 countries. It is a general-purpose data collection and analytics platform used to manage... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Contribute to a public good in Hacktoberfest: DHIS2
    Read more about DHIS2 on the website https://dhis2.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Is there any free and open source software for electronic medical records?
    Https://dhis2.org/ is another that I have heard of in addition to GNU health. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Tree cover loss – 2001-2020
    Thank you for your work at Data Lab! I've been following WRI and GFW for a while and it's important stuff. Also working in a global public-good project [0] I strongly resemble your challenges - uncertain funding, difficulty competing for top tech talent, and relatively small teams for huge projects. But so much more importantly the amazing benefits of working on something meaningful resonate with me. The... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2021)
    DHIS2 (University of Oslo) | Multiple Roles | Onsite/Remote around CET | Oslo, Norway | https://dhis2.org DHIS2 is the largest health information system in the world. It is a free and open source global public good, developed at the University of Oslo (UiO) with ample support from the likes of WHO, CDC, Gates Foundation, Global Vaccine Alliance, norad.no, UNICEF, and others. DHIS2 is used at the national level in... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing REDCap and DHIS2, you can also consider the following products

OpenClinica - OpenClinica is an open source clinical trials software.

CommCare - The digital platform for impactful frontline work everywhere

Castor EDC - Castor offers you a user-friendly and fully featured application for electronic data collection.

SurveyCTO - Collect data you can trust Offline or online, in the field, on the street, or in the lab.

OnCore - OnCore Enterprise Research system supports efficient processes at academic medical centers, cancer centers, and health care systems.

Open Data Kit - The Open Data Kit community produces free and open-source software for collecting, managing, and using data in resource-constrained environments.