GLOBE Observer vs Project FeederWatch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GLOBE Observer
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.
- Make environmental observations
- Document clouds
- Map mosquito habitats
- Record land cover
- Measure tree height
- Contribute to scientific research
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The GLOBE Observer app enables you to make observations of your environment. GLOBE Observer is the app of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program. The GLOBE Program is an international science and education program that provides students and people of all ages worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. By using the GLOBE Observer app, you contribute scientific data to your community, students and scientists worldwide, including researchers at NASA, NOAA, and other science research institutions. GLOBE Observer allows all users to contribute observations of clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees. Trained and certified users can also use the app to submit additional environmental measurements from all GLOBE protocols. GLOBE Clouds allows observers to make regular observations of Earth’s cloud cover and compare them to satellite observations. With GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper, users locate mosquito habitats, observe and identify mosquito larvae, and reduce the potential threat of mosquito borne disease. GLOBE Land Cover is designed to allow users to document what is on the land (trees, grass, buildings, etc.). GLOBE Trees asks users to estimate a tree’s height by taking pictures of trees with their device and answering a few questions. Additional capabilities may be added. Visit us at https://www.globe.gov and https://observer.globe.gov.
Project FeederWatch
Easily report bird sightings from your feeder for scientific research. Track your statistics, access past counts, and learn about local feeder birds. Contribute to a large database that aids conservation efforts.
- Report winter bird sightings
- Track sighting statistics
- Access past count archives
- Contribute to bird population database
- Discover best food and feeder types
- Identify and learn about feeder birds
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Do you feed birds? You can report what you see for science. Project FeederWatch, a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, monitors winter feeder-bird populations in North America. The FeederWatch Mobile App is a new way for Project FeederWatch members to contribute their bird counts. Sign in to: •Report birds that visit your count site in winter (US and Canada only) •Track your sighting statistics in real time •Access your archive of past counts from all years •Contribute to North America’s largest database on feeder birds •Find out what food and feeder types work best for the birds overwintering near you •Identify and learn about feeder birds FeederWatch Mobile automatically syncs with the web version for seamless multi-platform support. Your data become immediately available for scientific research, education, and conservation. Thank you for helping birds!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: GLOBE Observer at free against Project FeederWatch's ad-supported. GLOBE Observer also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.1 for GLOBE Observer against 3.0 for Project FeederWatch. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 86 and 68 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 34% and 33% positive.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GLOBE Observer | Project FeederWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (86 ratings) — better | 3.0 (68 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 86 — better | 68 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | Cornell University |
Customer experience
GLOBE Observer
Project FeederWatch
Bugs and requests
GLOBE Observer
Reported bugs
39 issues- Checking for updates loop
- 504 error on account creation
- Fails after step 5 in account creation
- Robot verification loop
- App crashes on opening
Show 34 moreShow fewer
- Observations not submitting (error exclamation mark)
- Interminable in-app required update
- Errors in data entry, observations not sending/deleting
- Invalid password errors
- Cloud observation chart images disappear
- No reply from support
- App doesn't open on iPhone
- Won't update
- Logged out, wrong password, account locked
- Data lost after system crash
- Cloud ID chart not loading properly
- Observations keep loading forever
- iPhone stuck on installing updates
- App crashes and never fully loads
- Can't get photos to upload
- User interface poorly designed
- No observations shown when there are
- No way to export data
- App is forever 'installing updates'
- Camera portion of data collection quit working
- No way to submit a report from 'Pictures'
- Compass won't calibrate
- Photo feature locks screen
- No button to take photo
- App crashes if location is not set
- Updates take too long
- Photo submission portal hopeless
- Native camera app has no prompts to submit photos
- 'Done' button does nothing
- 401 unknown error when sending reports
- App goes bonkers when attaching photo
- Screen flickers rapidly when attaching photo
- Cannot get out of camera within app
- Whirring wheel for update in progress for hours
Requested features
8 requests- Improve UI/UX design
- Add dark mode
- Better translation
- Notifications for satellite flyovers
- Integrate with WorldView or Google Earth
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- More explanation/examples for cloud types
- Export data in spreadsheet/GPS format
- Allow users to contribute design improvements
Project FeederWatch
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
GLOBE Observer
No in-app purchases
Project FeederWatch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is GLOBE Observer free?
Is Project FeederWatch free?
Which has better reviews, GLOBE Observer or Project FeederWatch?
Do GLOBE Observer or Project FeederWatch have ads?
Which is updated more often, GLOBE Observer or Project FeederWatch?
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