Comparison

SCATalogue vs AQS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SCATalogue

This app streamlines the collection of shoreline oiling data during spill responses. It's designed for marine environments and uses NOAA's standard SCAT shoreline oiling summary form. Data can be easily transferred via email or other available methods.

Highlights
  • Shoreline cleanup assessment data collection
  • Supports NOAA standard SCAT form
  • Designed for marine spill response
  • Data transfer via email and other methods
  • JSON and geoJSON data output
  • Optimized for iPad use
Read full description

The SCATalogue app is a creation of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW, OSPR). SCATalogue simplifies the collection of shoreline cleanup assessment technique (SCAT) data during a spill response. Survey data attributes are based upon the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) standard SCAT shoreline oiling summary (SOS) paper form. A SCAT survey is a collection of SCAT data for a length of shoreline which is referred to as a shoreline segment. SCATalogue is designed to support spill response in the marine environment. The survey data can be transferred via email, via iTunes or other methods if available. These other methods are dependent on the user's and/or user's organizational iPad setup and/or information technology (IT) protocols. SCATalogue is, and was designed for use on an iPad, specifically the iPad mini which is used by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response's field response staff. CDFW OSPR's geographic information systems (GIS) unit utilizes ESRI ® GIS software almost exclusively. Data output is in JSON format. Data containing geographic/spatial data is formatted in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI ®) geoJSON format. This output can be converted into to feature class(es) using ArcGIS Desktop's © ArcToolbox's "JSON To Feature" tool. CDFW OSPR GIS processes the JSON/geoJSON output from SCATalogue using this tool and other custom scripts/tools in ArcGIS Desktop © software. For further information about SCATalogue, please contact CDFW OSPR GIS at osprgis@wildlife.ca.gov. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

AQS

Features
Read full description

Designed for water leak detection service providers or water utilities personnel. Aquarius-Spectrum™ installation tool provides: * Sensor mapping * Create Devices * Enable reviewing results on the web application * Online expert support available Simple, user friendly & cost effective.

Screenshots

AQS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: AQS at every 5 weeks against SCATalogue's every 6 months. SCATalogue's advantage is iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.0). On price, ads, 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SCATalogue ships an update every 6 months, AQS every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
SCATalogue versus AQS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSCATalogueAQS
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS12.4 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size164 MB70 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCalifornia Department of Fish and WildlifeAquarius-Spectrum

In-app purchases

None

SCATalogue

No in-app purchases

None

AQS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SCATalogue free?
SCATalogue is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AQS free?
AQS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SCATalogue or AQS have ads?
Neither SCATalogue nor AQS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SCATalogue or AQS?
SCATalogue ships an update every 6 months, and AQS every 5 weeks. Most recently, SCATalogue was updated on October 15, 2026 and AQS on October 24, 2026.

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