How do the frameworks compare?
ResearchKit and CareKit are Apple's open-source iOS frameworks: ResearchKit for running studies (consent, surveys, active tasks) and CareKit for care plans and symptom tracking. CardinalKit is an MIT-licensed iOS template app with a web dashboard. Android Health Connect is not a study framework; it is the on-device layer your Android app reads health data from. None of the pages we cite documents a hosted research backend for ResearchKit, CareKit or Health Connect, so plan where data goes.
| Option | Platform | License | What it gives you | Backend | Fits (our view) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ResearchKit (Apple) | iOS | Open source, BSD-style | Consent modules, questionnaires from survey templates, hearing and vision tasks | Not documented on the pages cited; plan your own | iPhone studies built around consent, surveys and active tasks |
| CareKit (Apple) | iOS | Open source, BSD-style | Daily symptom and adherence tracking, care plans for patients | Not documented on the pages cited; plan your own | Care-management or adherence apps, alone or alongside ResearchKit |
| CardinalKit | iOS | MIT | A mobile template app and web dashboard as an "interoperable foundation" | Web dashboard (per the 2023 paper) | Teams that want a starting template rather than raw frameworks; check maintenance first (last GitHub push Nov 2025) |
| Health Connect (Android) | Android, SDK 28 (Pie) or higher | Android platform API | Availability check on the device; reading health data, including in the background | Not documented on the pages cited; plan your own | Android studies that need health and wearable data the phone already holds |
| Custom build | Any | Yours | Only what you build | Yours | Editorial: unusual workflows, or when no framework fits your platform mix |
Sources: ResearchKit on GitHub; Apple ResearchKit; CareKit on GitHub; Apple CareKit; CardinalKit on GitHub; Aalami, Hittle et al., JAMIA Open 2023; Android Health Connect docs. The custom-build row and the last column are our own framing, not from a source.
Build vs. use a framework
A short checklist we use (editorial, not from a source):
- Platforms. iOS only points to ResearchKit, CareKit or CardinalKit; Android needs Health Connect plus your own study UI; both means two codebases or a cross-platform build.
- Modules you need. If consent, surveys and active tasks cover the protocol, a framework saves the most time.
- Backend. Decide early where data lands and who controls it; the frameworks above are mostly client-side.
- Maintenance. Check each repository's recent activity before you commit a multi-year study to it.
- Regulatory load. If the data supports an FDA submission, budget for the items in the next section regardless of framework.
What regulated studies still need on top
A framework gives you screens, not compliance. 21 CFR Part 11 covers electronic records and electronic signatures; if your app holds protected health information for a covered entity, a business associate agreement (BAA) is part of the setup. ResearchKit's consent module is a user-interface component; our reading is that it does not by itself make a study Part 11 or IRB compliant, so plan the audit trail, signature and IRB review separately.
Sources: 21 CFR Part 11 (eCFR); HHS sample BAA provisions; Apple ResearchKit. This page is a summary, not regulatory or legal advice.
From our work
CardinalKit is described in Aalami O, Hittle M, Ravi V, Griffin A, Schmiedmayer P, Shenoy V, Gutierrez S, Venook R, JAMIA Open 2023;6(3):ooad044 (doi:10.1093/jamiaopen/ooad044). The abstract says it "provides a mobile template application and web dashboard to enable an interoperable foundation for developing digital health applications," demonstrates it "across 18 innovative digital health prototypes," and notes that "Compliance with standards like HIPAA and GDPR requires unique skills and practices."
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Should I build my study app on ResearchKit?
If the study is iPhone-only and mostly consent, surveys and active tasks, ResearchKit covers those modules out of the box under a BSD-style open-source license. You still need your own backend and your own plan for Part 11, HIPAA and IRB requirements.
What is the difference between ResearchKit and CareKit?
Apple positions ResearchKit for research: consent modules, survey templates and hearing and vision tasks. CareKit is for helping people manage their health: tracking daily symptoms and adherence and delivering care plans. Both are open-source iOS frameworks.
How do I get wearable and health data on Android?
Through Health Connect, which requires Android SDK 28 (Pie) or higher. Apps can check whether it is available on the device and read health data, including in the background.
Scope it in 30 minutes
Book a scoping call and we'll name the smallest engagement that moves you forward. Most teams start with the fixed-scope Initial Audit.
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