Comparison

GLOBE Observer vs PA AIS Field Guide

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Make environmental observations
  • Document clouds
  • Map mosquito habitats
  • Record land cover
  • Measure tree height
  • Contribute to scientific research
Features
Read full description

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.

About

PA AIS Field Guide

Identify, report, and catalog non-native aquatic animal and plant species in Pennsylvania. This educational tool helps users contribute to conservation efforts by documenting invasive species.

Highlights
  • Identify aquatic invasive species
  • Report sightings
  • Catalog species
  • Educational resource
  • Contribute to conservation
Features
Read full description

The Pennsylvania Aquatic Invasive Species app is used to identify, report, and catalog aquatic species of animal & plant life not native to the region.

Screenshots

GLOBE Observer4 screens
PA AIS Field Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PA AIS Field Guide at 5.0 against GLOBE Observer's 3.1. GLOBE Observer's advantage is ratings volume (86 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PA AIS Field Guide holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GLOBE Observer has 86 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, PA AIS Field Guide every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
GLOBE Observer versus PA AIS Field Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGLOBE ObserverPA AIS Field Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (86 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings86 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNASASkyward App Company

Customer experience

GLOBE Observer

All ratings86 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral7.0%
Negative43.0%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive33.9%
Neutral18.6%
Negative47.5%

PA AIS Field Guide

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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 more
  • 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 more
  • More explanation/examples for cloud types
  • Export data in spreadsheet/GPS format
  • Allow users to contribute design improvements

PA AIS Field Guide

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

GLOBE Observer

No in-app purchases

None

PA AIS Field Guide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GLOBE Observer free?
GLOBE Observer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PA AIS Field Guide free?
PA AIS Field Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GLOBE Observer or PA AIS Field Guide?
PA AIS Field Guide is rated higher. GLOBE Observer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while PA AIS Field Guide averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do GLOBE Observer or PA AIS Field Guide have ads?
Neither GLOBE Observer nor PA AIS Field Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GLOBE Observer or PA AIS Field Guide?
GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, and PA AIS Field Guide every 5 months. Most recently, GLOBE Observer was updated on September 23, 2026 and PA AIS Field Guide on September 15, 2026.

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