# bloomWatch vs EDDMapS

The clearest difference is review sentiment: EDDMapS at 57% against bloomWatch's 0%. EDDMapS also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.6) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). bloomWatch's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

EDDMapS holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EDDMapS has 120 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of bloomWatch's written reviews are positive against 57% of EDDMapS's.

bloomWatch ships an update every 4 months, EDDMapS monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | bloomWatch | EDDMapS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bloomwatch/id1107300124/reviews) | **[4.7 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eddmaps/id1497390237/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **120** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 216 MB | 251 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)](https://appshunter.io/developer/466052690) | [Charles T. Bargeron](https://appshunter.io/developer/381326173) |

## What reviewers say

### bloomWatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bloomwatch/id1107300124)

This app allows users to document and track the occurrence of freshwater algae blooms. Your submissions help scientists and public health officials monitor water quality and manage resources for recreation and potable water.

**Highlights:** Document algae bloom occurrences, Track bloom location and frequency, Contribute to water quality monitoring, Support scientific research, Report potentially harmful blooms

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### EDDMapS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eddmaps/id1497390237)

Document and map the distribution of invasive species with this user-friendly system. It allows for easy data submission, visualization, and querying, aiding in early detection and rapid response efforts. All data is reviewed by experts for accuracy.

**Highlights:** Document invasive species distribution, User-friendly mapping system, Data submission and querying, Interactive maps, Expert data verification, Early Detection and Rapid Response support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is bloomWatch free?

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

### Is EDDMapS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, bloomWatch or EDDMapS?

EDDMapS is rated higher. bloomWatch averages 3.6 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while EDDMapS averages 4.7 from 120 ratings.

### Do bloomWatch or EDDMapS have ads?

Neither bloomWatch nor EDDMapS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, bloomWatch or EDDMapS?

bloomWatch ships an update every 4 months, and EDDMapS monthly. Most recently, bloomWatch was updated on September 10, 2026 and EDDMapS on September 25, 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.*