# Zooniverse vs Budburst

The clearest difference is rating: Budburst at 4.2 against Zooniverse's 3.7. Zooniverse's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 50%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Budburst holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 13 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of Zooniverse's written reviews are positive against 50% of Budburst's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zooniverse | Budburst |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zooniverse/id1194130243/reviews) | **[4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budburst/id1531186881/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **38** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **58.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 50 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zooniverse](https://appshunter.io/developer/1851894671) | [Chicago Botanic Garden](https://appshunter.io/developer/566331682) |

## 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


### Budburst

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budburst/id1531186881)

Observe and record plant data to contribute to a national community science project. Identify plants, monitor their life cycles, and collaborate with others to understand and preserve nature.

**Highlights:** Observe plants with interactive map, In-app plant identification tool, Monitor plant life cycles, Track plant-animal interactions, Collaborate in community groups

**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 Budburst free?

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

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

Budburst is rated higher. Zooniverse averages 3.7 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Budburst averages 4.2 from 13 ratings.

### Do Zooniverse or Budburst have ads?

Neither Zooniverse nor Budburst shows ads.

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

Zooniverse ships an update every 2 months, and Budburst every 2 months. Most recently, Zooniverse was updated on November 2, 2026 and Budburst on November 7, 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.*