Comparison

GLOBE Observer vs Emma

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

Emma

This free enrollment advisor provides quick access to information about degree programs, including courses, earning potential, and funding. It guides users through the application process and offers support during their first week of classes.

Highlights
  • Degree program information
  • Earning potential insights
  • Funding options
  • Enrollment requirements
  • Application completion
  • Application status feedback
  • First week of class guidance
Features
Read full description

Don’t guess where you need to go, who you need to call, or what you need to do--download Emma to your mobile device today! Emma is a free enrollment advisor that is a fast, straightforward way to gain valuable information and learn of the steps needed to begin your degree program. As a representative of the school, Emma is available 24/7 with information at your fingertips. Learn about courses, future earning potential, funding options, enrollment requirements, complete an application for admission, and much more. Compare previous experience and educational history to program requirements and gain confidence in your fit, prior to applying. With Emma, you can save time and money. If you chose to submit an admission application, you do so when you are ready to apply. Emma makes it easy with step-by-step processes, providing feedback on your application status and guiding you through your first week of class. Download Emma to your mobile device today! It’s informative, fast, easy, and free!

Screenshots

GLOBE Observer4 screens
Emma4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Emma at 5.0 against GLOBE Observer's 3.1. Emma also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). GLOBE Observer's advantage is ratings volume (86 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Emma 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, Emma monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
GLOBE Observer versus Emma: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGLOBE ObserverEmma
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (86 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings86 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB64 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperNASAWCU Student Government

Customer experience

GLOBE Observer

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

Emma

All ratings1 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

Emma

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

GLOBE Observer

No in-app purchases

None

Emma

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GLOBE Observer free?
GLOBE Observer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Emma free?
Emma is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GLOBE Observer or Emma?
Emma is rated higher. GLOBE Observer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while Emma averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do GLOBE Observer or Emma have ads?
Neither GLOBE Observer nor Emma shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GLOBE Observer or Emma?
GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, and Emma monthly. Most recently, GLOBE Observer was updated on October 15, 2026 and Emma on October 2, 2026.

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