# Zooniverse vs OpenLitterMap

The clearest difference is ads: Zooniverse at none against OpenLitterMap's shown. Zooniverse also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and ratings volume (37 vs 9). OpenLitterMap's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 59%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.7 for Zooniverse against 3.6 for OpenLitterMap. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 9 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Zooniverse's written reviews are positive against 83% of OpenLitterMap's.

Zooniverse ships an update every 2 months, OpenLitterMap every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and June 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zooniverse | OpenLitterMap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zooniverse/id1194130243/reviews)** | [3.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openlittermap/id1475982147/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **37** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 58.8% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 50 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Zooniverse](https://appshunter.io/developer/1851894671) | [Sean Lynch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475982146) |

## What reviewers say

### Zooniverse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zooniverse/id1194130243)

Participate in real scientific research by classifying data for projects across various disciplines. Contribute to discoveries and datasets that advance knowledge, all from your mobile device. This platform connects volunteers with professional researchers for impactful citizen science.

**Highlights:** People-powered research platform, Volunteer opportunities, Access to mobile-friendly projects, Push notification updates, View publications, Contribute to scientific discoveries

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### OpenLitterMap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openlittermap/id1475982147)

Contribute to a global database of litter and plastic pollution by taking photos and tagging them. The interactive map visualizes pollution data, allowing users to create custom tags and see live updates. Participate in a worldwide competition to collect the most data.

**Highlights:** Interactive global litter map, Photo tagging of pollution, Customizable tag creation, Live map updates, Open source data, Country-based data collection competition

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zooniverse free?

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

### Is OpenLitterMap free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Zooniverse or OpenLitterMap?

Zooniverse is rated higher. Zooniverse averages 3.7 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while OpenLitterMap averages 3.6 from 9 ratings.

### Do Zooniverse or OpenLitterMap have ads?

OpenLitterMap shows ads; Zooniverse does not.

### Which is updated more often, Zooniverse or OpenLitterMap?

Zooniverse ships an update every 2 months, and OpenLitterMap every 3 weeks. Most recently, Zooniverse was updated on September 14, 2026 and OpenLitterMap on June 20, 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.*