# GLOBE Observer vs Nature's Notebook

The clearest difference is update cadence: Nature's Notebook at every 3 weeks against GLOBE Observer's every 2 months. GLOBE Observer's advantage is ratings volume (86 vs 26). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

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 3.1 for Nature's Notebook. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 86 and 26 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 34% of GLOBE Observer's written reviews are positive against 40% of Nature's Notebook's.

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, Nature's Notebook every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GLOBE Observer | Nature's Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/globe-observer/id1090456751/reviews) | **[3.1 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/natures-notebook/id1463430668/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **86** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews | **40.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [National Phenology Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/843843359) |

## 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


### Nature's Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/natures-notebook/id1463430668)

Record observations of plant and animal life cycles, such as flowering and migration. Mark observation sites, create species lists, and log seasonal changes in nature.

**Highlights:** Record plant and animal life cycle events, Mark observation sites, Create species lists, Log seasonal observations, Citizen science program

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GLOBE Observer free?

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

### Is Nature's Notebook free?

Nature's Notebook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, GLOBE Observer or Nature's Notebook?

Nature's Notebook is rated higher. GLOBE Observer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while Nature's Notebook averages 3.1 from 26 ratings.

### Do GLOBE Observer or Nature's Notebook have ads?

Neither GLOBE Observer nor Nature's Notebook shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GLOBE Observer or Nature's Notebook?

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, and Nature's Notebook every 3 weeks. Most recently, GLOBE Observer was updated on September 23, 2026 and Nature's Notebook on July 7, 2026.

---

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