I have been promoting ResearchGate to my students. But, recently, I noticed the information in RG lags GS in terms of citations. So, recently I am thinking there are other benefits to RG that I am not aware of them.
Let me know what you think.
They are different tools. Research Gate is more for promoting your work and to access other's work thorugh networks and contacts. Google Scholar is to register activity on published works on web, including citation.
To me Google Scholar, in its use, is closer to ORCID or Scopus Authors, than Research Gate. RG is closer to Academia or other services for networking or promoting works that could be cited further.
In addition to what Nicolás Arias Velandia wrote, RG has various possibilities for interactions between members - follow other members and projects, send messages, add comments to publications, ask questions, participate in discussions, etc. It is a social network for researchers. See also https://explore.researchgate.net/display/support/Getting+started.
Here are some more discussions about ResearchGate in general:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_important_is_the_ResearchGate_to_you
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Do_you_participate_in_RG_to_share_your_research_or_to_gain_prestige_as_a_researcher
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_does_the_Research_Gate_portal_support_research_projects_and_analytical_work_carried_out_in_the_field_of_research
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_RG_become_a_research_tool
https://www.researchgate.net/post/I_consider_it_one_of_the_most_important_academic_website_for_scientific_researchers_Research_Gate_What_do_you_think
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Researchgate_is_an_essential_option_in_Coronavirus_time_for_researchers_What_do_you_think_and_suggest
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Boosting_research_impact_can_ResearchGate_increase_article_citations
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_much_time_do_members_spend_on_RG_perday
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_first_thing_you_see_in_an_RG_member_profile_page
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Institutional_repositories_versus_researchgate
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Which_interaction_do_you_like_best_in_the_Research_Gate_platform_When_do_you_often_online_daily_weekly_How_much_time_to_spend
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_you_evaluate_the_performance_of_Researchgate_as_a_scientific_platform
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does-the-Research-Gate-research-portal-offer-the-most-information-services-for-researchers-that-researchers-and-scientists-need
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_importance_of_recommendation_in_RG
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Which_interaction_do_you_like_best_in_the_Research_Gate_platform_When_do_you_often_online_daily_weekly_How_much_time_to_spend
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Do_you_think_RG_can_increase_your_brainpower
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_are_most_academics_registered_at_RG2
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_Research_Gate_Academic_Platform_was_important_for_you_to_build_up_your_academic_life_up_to_the_current_state
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Researchgate_is_14_years_what_are_your_likes_dislikes_or_comments
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