ASK vs Trial Partners
Trial Partners runs a study-finder website and passes referrals to researchers through a portal. ASK runs protocol-specific advertising, manages every lead in a custom Airtable CRM, follows up automatically and collects medical records from patients’ providers before screening.
Cheaper leads, plus everything after the referral
- Lead cost: in ASK’s experience, a Trial Partners lead has cost about five times as much as an ASK lead. [2]
- A CRM, not just a portal: every ASK lead lives in a custom Airtable CRM with automatic SMS and email follow-up. Trial Partners’ site describes a referral portal for researchers. [1]
- Medical records: ASK collects records from patients’ providers before screening. Trial Partners’ site doesn’t describe a records service. [1]
Same ad budget, more leads
A platform that skips a management fee can look cheaper at first. What matters is what the same budget buys. In ASK’s experience, the same ad budget has produced more leads with ASK than with Trial Partners, at around one-fifth of the cost per lead. [2]
ASK figures from recruitment campaigns ASK has run. Results vary by protocol, indication and location.
ASK and Trial Partners, side by side
| Capability | ASK | Trial Partners |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Done-for-you recruitment: advertising, an Airtable CRM and AI in every step | A study-finder website for patients and a referral portal for researchers [1] |
| Where patients come from | Protocol-specific Google, Facebook and Instagram campaigns | Patients who search for studies on its site by zip code and distance [1] |
| Cost per lead | $9 [2] | About 5x ASK’s, in ASK’s experience [2] |
| Lead management | Custom Airtable CRM: every lead, message and record request in one live pipeline | Researcher portal with referral details and real-time updates [1] |
| Follow-up | Automatic SMS and email within minutes, until the patient replies | Researchers receive the referral’s contact details [1] |
| Pre-screening | AI checks answers against inclusion and exclusion criteria | Profile and location filtering [1] |
| Medical records | Online authorization, requests to each provider, tracked and AI-reviewed | Not described on its site [1] |
| Fees | Quoted per study | Not published; researchers are asked to contact the team [1] |
“Not described” means we didn’t find it in Trial Partners’ public materials, not that it can’t be done.
Where Trial Partners fits
- A patient audience. Its site says it has connected more than 1.1 million people and lists new studies daily across the United States. [1]
- Free for patients. Patients search studies without an account. [1]
If you only need extra referrals and your team has time to call each one and chase their records, a referral site can help. If you need enrollments at a lower cost, ASK handles the steps after the referral too.
Test us side by side
- Same study, same ad budget. Run both for the same period.
- Count leads. Divide total spend, including any fees, by the number of leads.
- Measure time to first contact.
- Count patients who arrive with records.
- Compare cost per enrollment.
How we compared
Information about Trial Partners’ services comes from its public website, checked October 28, 2026. Cost-per-lead and leads-per-budget comparisons reflect ASK’s own experience; your results may differ. ASK’s figures come from recruitment campaigns ASK has run. Trial Partners is a trademark of its owner. ASK is not affiliated with Trial Partners. Spot an error? Email hello@shishirk.com and we’ll fix it.
FAQ
Is ASK an alternative to Trial Partners?
Yes, if you want lower-cost leads and the steps after the referral handled for you: follow-up, a CRM and medical records.
Does no management fee mean a lower cost?
Not necessarily. Compare the total spend divided by leads and by enrollments. In ASK’s experience, the same budget has bought more leads with ASK.
Do we have to switch CRMs?
No. We build the recruitment pipeline in Airtable for each study, and your team works in it directly.
Sources
- Trial Partners, homepage, trialpartners.co, checked October 28, 2026.
- ASK, results and experience from recruitment campaigns ASK has run.