Comparison

GLOBE Observer vs OpenLitterMap

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

OpenLitterMap

Contribute to a global database of litter and plastic pollution by taking photos and tagging them. The interactive map visualizes pollution data, allowing users to create custom tags and see live updates. Participate in a worldwide competition to collect the most data.

Highlights
  • Interactive global litter map
  • Photo tagging of pollution
  • Customizable tag creation
  • Live map updates
  • Open source data
  • Country-based data collection competition
Features
Read full description

OpenLitterMap is an open source, interactive, and accessible database of the world's litter and plastic pollution. Just take a photo and tag it with our app. Litter is the first application of this real-time data collection platform. For the last 8+ years we have been crowdsourcing data to help train the OpenLitterAI to help with detection and classification. You can extend our pre-defined list of tags with your own custom tags. Just type in whatever you want and press enter. Keep the global map open to see live updates. If you click on a notification, you will be zoomed to the data that was just recorded. Copy the URL to get a link that can send anyone to any photo. Our code & data is open and accessible. Anyone can download our data for free, and use it for any purpose. This is necessary to bring transparency and democracy to science on pollution. As you tag litter, you help your country compete at the #LitterWorldCup to see who can collect the most data. By default, all users are anonymous. However, you can make your name or username appear on the map or leaderboards and compete for a position. You can also add your social media links which will appear on each upload. Like getting upvoted, the more data you upload means the more visibility you will get! Follow us on social media to keep up to date with all of the latest updates and developments.

Screenshots

GLOBE Observer4 screens
OpenLitterMap4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: OpenLitterMap at 83% against GLOBE Observer's 34%. OpenLitterMap also leads on rating (3.6 vs 3.1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). GLOBE Observer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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

OpenLitterMap holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GLOBE Observer has 86 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of GLOBE Observer's written reviews are positive against 83% of OpenLitterMap's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, OpenLitterMap every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
GLOBE Observer versus OpenLitterMap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGLOBE ObserverOpenLitterMap
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (86 ratings)3.6 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.9% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings86 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB47 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperNASASean Lynch

Customer experience

GLOBE Observer

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

OpenLitterMap

All ratings9 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

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

OpenLitterMap

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

GLOBE Observer

No in-app purchases

None

OpenLitterMap

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GLOBE Observer free?
GLOBE Observer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpenLitterMap free?
OpenLitterMap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GLOBE Observer or OpenLitterMap?
OpenLitterMap is rated higher. GLOBE Observer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while OpenLitterMap averages 3.6 from 9 ratings.
Do GLOBE Observer or OpenLitterMap have ads?
OpenLitterMap shows ads; GLOBE Observer does not.
Which is updated more often, GLOBE Observer or OpenLitterMap?
GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, and OpenLitterMap every 3 weeks. Most recently, GLOBE Observer was updated on October 2, 2026 and OpenLitterMap on September 26, 2026.

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