# GLOBE Observer vs Leave No Trace Citizen Science

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Leave No Trace Citizen Science at 100% against GLOBE Observer's 34%. Leave No Trace Citizen Science also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.1). GLOBE Observer's advantage is ratings volume (91 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Leave No Trace Citizen Science holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GLOBE Observer has 91 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of Leave No Trace Citizen Science's.

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, Leave No Trace Citizen Science every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | GLOBE Observer | Leave No Trace Citizen Science |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/globe-observer/id1090456751/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leave-no-trace-citizen-science/id1536428995/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **91** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [Greg Newman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536428997) |

## 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


### Leave No Trace Citizen Science

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leave-no-trace-citizen-science/id1536428995)

Empower volunteers to monitor outdoor resource conditions over time. This citizen science application supports the mission of protecting natural spaces through responsible enjoyment and education.

**Highlights:** Citizen science data collection, Resource condition monitoring, Outdoor ethics education, Inspires responsible enjoyment, Volunteer empowerment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GLOBE Observer free?

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

### Is Leave No Trace Citizen Science free?

Leave No Trace Citizen Science is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, GLOBE Observer or Leave No Trace Citizen Science?

Leave No Trace Citizen Science is rated higher. GLOBE Observer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 91 ratings, while Leave No Trace Citizen Science averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do GLOBE Observer or Leave No Trace Citizen Science have ads?

Neither GLOBE Observer nor Leave No Trace Citizen Science shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GLOBE Observer or Leave No Trace Citizen Science?

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, and Leave No Trace Citizen Science every 6 weeks. Most recently, GLOBE Observer was updated on October 24, 2026 and Leave No Trace Citizen Science on October 24, 2026.

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