# iRecord App vs CodonQ

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iRecord App at none against CodonQ's 1. iRecord App also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). CodonQ's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CodonQ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iRecord App asks for nothing beyond the download.

iRecord App ships an update every 3 weeks, CodonQ every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRecord App | CodonQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 93.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 30 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Centre for Ecology and Hydrology](https://appshunter.io/developer/986306797) | [Yoshikazu Mikawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1778069380) |

## What reviewers say

### iRecord App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irecord-app/id1094633183)

Contribute species sightings with GPS data and descriptions to aid scientific research and nature conservation. Your observations help gather vital biodiversity information, supporting conservation efforts, planning, research, and education.

**Highlights:** Record species sightings with GPS, Offline functionality, Supports all UK species, Automatic data checks, Expert review of sightings, Share sightings with community, Contribute to science and conservation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 👍 Quick and simple recording
- 👍 Great for citizen science
- 👍 Valuable for conservation
- 👍 Expert verification of records

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Slow record verification
- 🐛 Verification is too conservative
- 🐛 Observations vanish
- 🐛 ID confirmation takes months
- 🐛 Discouraging user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Records vanish
- Observations have vanished
- Unable to login since iOS upgrade
- Edit function on website freezes
- Map disappears on edit page

**Requested features**

- Add short videos
- Add an explore function to view nearby records
- Add species profile for comparison
- Link across devices/sync records
- Allow downloading from camera without re-downloading library


### CodonQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codonq/id6479198761)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CodonQ Premium Access | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iRecord App free?

iRecord App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CodonQ free?

CodonQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do iRecord App or CodonQ have ads?

Neither iRecord App nor CodonQ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iRecord App or CodonQ?

iRecord App ships an update every 3 weeks, and CodonQ every 9 days. Most recently, iRecord App was updated on October 24, 2026 and CodonQ on October 12, 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.*