Comparison

Frog Census vs Birda

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

Head to head
About

Frog Census

This app helps you identify and record frog calls in the Melbourne region. Become a citizen scientist by submitting recordings and photos to help track frog populations and inform environmental management.

Highlights
  • Identify 16 local frog species
  • Submit frog call recordings
  • Upload photos with descriptive text
  • Interactive map of frog records
  • Auto-capture GPS location
  • Auto-fill weather conditions
Features
Read full description

The Frog Census app provides a description of the 16 species of frogs commonly found in the Melbourne region and enables community members to submit frog calls easily and efficiently to the Frog Census program - a community frog monitoring program that has operated since 2001. Frog Census aims to engage the community around the value, importance and threats to frog species throughout Melbourne. The census seeks to collate data gathered by volunteers to provide further information on frog species’ distribution across the Port Phillip and Western Port region. The program encourages community members to get involved by becoming citizen scientists and recording frog calls at their local waterway. This data is used to track the movement of frog populations across Melbourne and help inform and influence river health management within Melbourne Water and other land management organisations. It is also added to the Atlas of Living Australia and the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas. The contribution of citizen science data helps us to protect frog species across Melbourne and can provide an indication of water quality in our local waterways. The Frog Census program is designed to target all regions within Melbourne Water’s service area with a focus on locations that are deficient in frog data, or have been identified as areas of interest. The Frog Census app was developed by Melbourne Water using code from the NatureBlitz app developed by North Central Catchment CMA’s Waterwatch program. The Frog Census app - allows the user to submit a frog recording and/or upload photos with additional descriptive text to accompany the records. - includes an interactive map display where all frog records are displayed. - Auto-captures GPS location data. - Auto-fills weather conditions from the Bureau of Meteorology. - Verifies all frog recordings using a professional ecologist. Users will be asked to identify themselves with name and email address when submitting a record for the first time. This information is required to submit a record. The app will remember a user’s details for subsequent recordings. Names and email addresses will not be shared and are used to verify recordings when required. Frog photographs are courtesy of Peter Robertson and frog audio calls are courtesy of Ed McNabb. All images and sounds are copyright of the creators. To seek permission to use any media from the Frog Census app, or for further information, please contact the Melbourne Water Frog Census team at frogs@melbournewater.com.au

About

Birda

This app helps you identify birds using AI and a detailed species guide. Log your sightings, track your progress with life lists, and connect with a global community of birdwatchers. It also supports conservation efforts by sharing data with research organizations.

Highlights
  • AI bird identification from photos
  • Detailed species guide with calls and maps
  • Log and track bird sightings
  • Automatic life list creation
  • Discover nearby bird hotspots
  • Connect with a birding community
  • Import data from other platforms
Features
Read full description

Birda is birdwatching, reimagined. Birda is more than a birdwatching app, it’s your companion for getting outside, noticing more, and reconnecting with nature. Whether you’re spotting your first bird or chasing your next life tick, Birda helps you identify birds, track your progress, and share the experience with a friendly global community. Modern life pulls us indoors. Birda helps you push back. From gardens and local patches to national parks and far-flung adventures, Birda makes birding more fun, more rewarding, and easier to stick with. IDENTIFY BIRDS - Identify birds your way. Use powerful AI to identify birds from photos (even blurry ones), describe a bird in your own words with AI text identification, or explore Birda’s beautifully detailed species guide with photos, bird calls, maps, and key ID tips. Not quite sure yet? Post your sighting and let the Birda community help confirm the ID so you learn faster and grow your confidence with every bird you see. RECORD YOUR SIGHTINGS - Log birds in seconds, whether it’s a single sighting or a full birding session. Birda keeps everything in one place, so your birding memories don’t fade, they grow. STAY ORGANISED - Birda automatically records dates and locations, manages your sessions, and creates elegant life lists for you, from garden and patch lists to country and global totals. Spend less time logging and sorting, and more time out in the field discovering new species. DISCOVER MORE BIRDS - Find birdwatching hotspots near you, see what others are spotting, and explore birds from around the world. Planning a trip or just curious? Discover what’s being seen and where right now. A FRIENDLY BIRDING COMMUNITY - Birding is better together. Share sightings, swap tips, celebrate wins, and help each other learn. Whether you’re asking for ID help or offering it, Birda is a welcoming place for birders of all levels. MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE - Every sighting you log helps more than just you. Birda shares data with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), supporting real-world research and conservation efforts, turning everyday birding into meaningful impact. GOALS, CHALLENGES & MOTIVATION - Stay inspired with birding challenges, achievement badges, and personal milestones. Birda helps you build healthy habits, spend more time outdoors, and enjoy the simple joy of noticing wildlife around you. SYNC YOUR BIRDING HISTORY - Already use other platforms? Easily import sightings from eBird, Merlin Bird ID, BirdTrack, BirdLasser, iNaturalist, and more. You’re always free to export your data, your birding history stays yours. LIFE LISTS THAT GROW WITH YOU - Birda automatically builds life lists organised by time, place, and region, so you can see your progress unfold, from your first bird to your biggest year yet. PRIVACY YOU CAN TRUST - You’re in control. Set privacy zones around your home, hide sensitive locations, and decide exactly what you share, birding safely and responsibly. BUILT FOR SERIOUS & CURIOUS BIRDERS - Birda brings together curious beginners and seasoned birders in one welcoming community. Learn from others, share what you know, and grow your birding skills at your own pace, whether you’re identifying your first bird or helping others confirm theirs. Whether you’re brand new to birding or have years of experience, Birda is for you. Download Birda today, head outside, and start noticing more of the natural world, one bird at a time. Reconnect with nature. Learn as you go. Make every sighting count. Community Standards: https://birda.org/community-standards/ Terms of Service: https://birda.org/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://birda.org/privacy/

Screenshots

Frog Census4 screens
Birda4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Birda at 64% against Frog Census's 0%. Birda also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 9 months). Frog Census's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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. Birda sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Frog Census asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Birda holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Birda has 2.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Frog Census's written reviews are positive against 64% of Birda's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Frog Census ships an update every 9 months, Birda weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Frog Census versus Birda: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFrog CensusBirda
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (2 ratings)4.7 (2.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews64.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB195 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperMelbourne WaterChirp Birding Ltd.

Customer experience

Frog Census

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

Birda

All ratings2,318 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral2.8%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews329 reviews
Positive64.1%
Neutral7.6%
Negative28.3%

Bugs and requests

Frog Census

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Birda

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Account reset issues causing data loss
  • Keyboard issues when adding comments
  • Inconsistent GPS tracking during birding sessions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Sound identification feature
  • Ability to log multiple birds in a single sighting
  • Improved search and filtering options
  • Integration with eBird for seamless data sync
  • Option to mark sightings as captive/non-wild birds

In-app purchases

None

Frog Census

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Birda

Subscriptions10
  • Birda+ Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Birda+ Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Birda+ Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 7 more
  • Birda+ Yearly7 Days trial$35.991 Year
  • Birda+ Yearly1 Year trial$35.991 Year
  • Birda+ Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Birda+ Yearly1 Year trial$39.991 Year
  • Birda+ Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Birda+ Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Birda+ Yearly1 Year trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Frog Census free?
Frog Census is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Birda free?
Birda is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Frog Census or Birda?
Birda is rated higher. Frog Census averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Birda averages 4.7 from 2.3K ratings.
Do Frog Census or Birda have ads?
Neither Frog Census nor Birda shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Frog Census or Birda?
Frog Census ships an update every 9 months, and Birda weekly. Most recently, Frog Census was updated on November 2, 2026 and Birda on November 4, 2026.

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