# GLOBE Observer vs CB1 Blockly

GLOBE Observer and CB1 Blockly both sit at 3.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 34% of GLOBE Observer's written reviews are positive against 17% of CB1 Blockly's. GLOBE Observer also leads on ratings volume (86 vs 15) and device support (3 vs 1). CB1 Blockly's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CB1 Blockly holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GLOBE Observer has 86 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 34% of GLOBE Observer's written reviews are positive against 17% of CB1 Blockly's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, CB1 Blockly every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GLOBE Observer | CB1 Blockly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/globe-observer/id1090456751/reviews) | **[3.3 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cb1-blockly/id1164453711/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **86** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | **33.9% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [T2T Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1134945229) |

## What reviewers say

### GLOBE Observer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/globe-observer/id1090456751)

Contribute to real scientific research by making environmental observations. Document clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees using your mobile device. Your data supports scientists worldwide, including NASA and NOAA.

**Highlights:** Make environmental observations, Document clouds, Map mosquito habitats, Record land cover, Measure tree height, Contribute to scientific research

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for citizen science
- 💡 Educational and informative
- 👍 Easy to use (for some)
- 👍 Meaningful environmental measurements
- 👍 Fun and engaging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Login/update issues
- 🐛 Account creation problems
- 🐛 Observations not submitting
- 🐛 Poor UI/UX design

**Reported bugs**

- Checking for updates loop
- 504 error on account creation
- Fails after step 5 in account creation
- Robot verification loop
- App crashes on opening

**Requested features**

- Improve UI/UX design
- Add dark mode
- Better translation
- Notifications for satellite flyovers
- Integrate with WorldView or Google Earth


### CB1 Blockly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cb1-blockly/id1164453711)

This app enables users to program robots built with a specific engineering kit. It uses a visual, drag-and-drop interface to create commands that control motors, lights, and sounds based on sensor input.

**Highlights:** Visual programming with drag-and-drop blocks, Control motors, LEDs, and buzzer, Utilize various sensor inputs, Bluetooth connectivity to robots, Save up to 20 custom programs, Includes 10 preloaded demo programs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GLOBE Observer free?

GLOBE Observer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CB1 Blockly free?

CB1 Blockly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, GLOBE Observer or CB1 Blockly?

CB1 Blockly is rated higher. GLOBE Observer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while CB1 Blockly averages 3.3 from 15 ratings.

### Do GLOBE Observer or CB1 Blockly have ads?

Neither GLOBE Observer nor CB1 Blockly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GLOBE Observer or CB1 Blockly?

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, and CB1 Blockly every 4 weeks. Most recently, GLOBE Observer was updated on October 8, 2026 and CB1 Blockly on September 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*