# GLOBE Observer vs Kingston K

The clearest difference is rating: Kingston K at 5.0 against GLOBE Observer's 3.1. GLOBE Observer's advantage is ratings volume (86 vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). 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.

Kingston K 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 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, Kingston K every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GLOBE Observer | Kingston K |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/globe-observer/id1090456751/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kingston-k-14/id6743128569/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **86** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 147 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [Kingston K-14](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801544215) |

## 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


### Kingston K

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kingston-k-14/id6743128569)

Stay informed about school events, district news, and cafeteria menus. Customize notifications for your student's organizations and easily access staff contact information. Never miss an important update or event.

**Highlights:** Event calendar with sharing, Customizable organization notifications, Weekly cafeteria menus, Live district updates feed, Staff and department directory

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GLOBE Observer free?

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

### Is Kingston K free?

Kingston K is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, GLOBE Observer or Kingston K?

Kingston K is rated higher. GLOBE Observer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while Kingston K averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do GLOBE Observer or Kingston K have ads?

Neither GLOBE Observer nor Kingston K shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GLOBE Observer or Kingston K?

GLOBE Observer ships an update every 2 months, and Kingston K every 3 months. Most recently, GLOBE Observer was updated on October 15, 2026 and Kingston K on October 3, 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.*