Leave a Review iBird Pro Guide to Birds
Subscription update removes everything we've paid for!
Very disappointed that this app has completely moved to a subscription model, with no option for existing users to keep their purchased plan (aside from the "very long free trial" that isn't "free" at all, since we already paid for the app). For a lot of users, this subscription model probably makes sense. But as someone who doesn't use the app often, it's ridiculous to try to remove what I already paid for with no options to keep my existing purchase. I don't need all the latest taxonomic updates, and online services and all that.
I'd be happy with a more limited version of the app that gave me the features I already paid for, without removing at least the basic functionality.Show lessPatrickl27
Forced subscription on previously paid owners
As others have noted it is unethical and likely in violation of Apple Store policy to change an app from one time payment to renewing subscription AND to force that switch on previous owners to allow continued use. Your terms were clear at the time of purchase: pay the one-time fee and the app is enabled to use going forward. If you wanted to switch to a subscription model you could have created a new app (leaving this one as is), introduced new features as additional subscription add-ons, or grandfathered in your current user base (the best option). By doing none of these you make it clear that your desire is to pull the rug from your user base and attempt to empty their pockets again. Shameful, and I will be actively discouraged others from considering this app.Show lessdjsteve
New Subscription Platform
Deeply disappointed that you’ve chosen to flip the “one-time-purchase” of iBird App into a “yearly-subscription-only” format.
For those of us that purchased this app so long ago (for a rather hefty fee) it is unacceptable that original should disappear along with the money paid. This was one of the first apps I ever purchased, and have kept it on my device, despite it’s large file size, all these years. I loved the app despite it’s flaws, but I cannot see any reason to now pay yearly for all the documentation I’ve already purchased in the past, and have perused for years.
I’ll be going back to good old fashioned birding books for now. I can buy updated volumes as needed, and there are plenty of places online to find more obscure birding info, for free.
At least with a book, I will have my “one-time-purchase” for as long as I choose to own it. I can hold it in my hands and no one can take it back in an attempt to hook me into paying more for it many years later.
I wish the iBird App producers well, but I cannot afford a subscription service for this product now, after all these years. I will be deleting the app.
Good luck to you.Show lessLucaGall
So Difficult...
I bought iBird years ago. It was expensive, and flawed. The bugs were never fixed. Now I’m being cheated out of my purchase, they’re going subscription. I’ll delete the app.
I've used every version for at least the last five years. Unless you already know the bird's name, you may never find it. Searching by locale or description brings up arbitrary lists. Take the Snowy Egret for example. If you search for "egret", the bird is not listed. If you search for "snowy", it is. The same difficulties and inconsistencies are present in all search methods, like geography, size, color, family. I once wrote down iBird's own description of a bird, entered it as a search filter, and the app could not locate the bird. My wife got so frustrated with iBird Pro that she deleted it. I keep it around if I have a question about a bird I already recognize. (But I still may not find it.) Not worth the price. Shoddy programming, poorly implemented search functions. Too bad.Show lessChevalier du Tastevin
Developer Response
I think you may have a setting that is not recognizing common names. Look to the right of the text box where you type names and make sure the button is blue and says Common Name. If you tap it the name changes to the word Band Code, tap again it turns to Latin Name. When on Common Name typing "Egret" returns 7 different egrets in North America. Typing "Snowy" will show you 3 species: Snowy Egret, Snowy Owl and Snowy Plover. I think you will find the search engine does a marvelous job of helping to identify birds, you just need to learn a little more about using parametric search. Good luck.Adios
You’ve lost a long time fan with your new subscription policy. I suspect you’ll lose the majority of your user base. Personally I’m retired on a fixed income, and a bird app does not fit into my financial must haves. It did in 2012 - when I paid plenty of dough for the app and most of your add-on features, thinking it was a lifetime payment, which it obviously is not.
What burns me more however is that you felt your new subscription-based policy wasn’t important enough to make your user base aware of via email or some other notification method, other than by default when updating the app. That’s sneaky and treacherous. Many of you software developers never learn and always look at the short game. I understand the importance of profitability but there’s something to be said for loyalty and trust as well.
Oh well thanks for many years of support and updates. Off to the internet to find out about these black-capped chickadees keep attacking my outdoor cams. Best of luck. You’ll need it.Show lessbones boy
Best of all birding books
I own the other standard authoritative birding books: IBird is the best. It has great descriptions and pictures and photos to help identify distinguish birds. It’s similar birds option is extremely useful. It’s range map is perfect. It’s bird recordings are useful and accurate. The other information in the site, bird by bird, is invaluable. Additionally the photo and sound identity tools are great. I use this app especially in the field along with Merlin and eBird, also mandatory and those are free. Best birding book you can own especially if you can afford only one. It is the one and only.Show lessMainely birds
Regularly (like after looking up 5 to 7 birds) Quits Working!
I see or hear a bird, I type in a possible name, then tap the choice for the bird i want. info comes up. I “close” that entry, then do the same several times while on a bird hike. Then, suddenly, after iBird has been working great, I’ll type in a bird name, and get a blank screen, with “4 birds” or “2 birds” at the top of the screen. Browse just brings up another menu of stuff like “birds around me,” etc. The three lines info icon on the upper right offers no choice to reset the app, close open screens, or any way to get back to the alpha bird list. So far, the only recourse is to stop watching birds and shut down my iPhone. Just what I want to do while trying to I’d a bird! I even installed a new version a few months ago but the same thing is still happening.Show lessfrustratedwithiBird
Loving this app
Since my fanatic birding friend suggested this app and I follow her birding advice, I love this app. Often I just get lost in the information or trying to find the dang bird, I’m often convinced the bird I’m looking for is the rare and endangered arctic bird that iBird fortunately corrects me on. Traveling as I do, being able to put in the location I’m at is a time saver and keeps me away from the rare endangered arctic species 😂 it instantly lets me familiarize myself with I can expect to see. I recommend this app to anyone interested.Show lesspeonylynn
Amateur bird photographer
I am new at imaging birds and other wildlife. This app is helping me learn more about what I take pictures of. My one complaint is not necessarily aimed at the makers of this app as much as it is a complaint that Apple changes their software protocols forcing developers to have to rewrite their apps if they want to keep them up to date. Sometimes changes so large the software you bought does not work forcing you to have to rebuy it again because the programmers had to remake the software to work with apples new changes andit is technically a whole new program.Show lessFiddlerEd
Purchased all options and Photo Sleuth no longer works after upgrade
I have used iBird Pro for a few years and purchased all of the in app options. I used Photo Sleuth often and it worked fine until I upgraded to version 12.6. It would prompt me to install another Photo Sleuth or restore purchases. I tried several times and the restore would always fail. I messaged the developer and they had me delete and reinstall the complete app again. It still did not work after restoring purchases. The developers last response was I would need to update to the latest IOS. I explained if that was the case then why would it let me download and install it? In all apps I have ever updated on my apple phones, it will check the version of IOS and if not compatible it would not let you install it or indicate to use another version of the app. The developer was not helpful when I indicated this and has not responsive. How about fixing the issue?Show lessOkiiKuma
