# BirdGuides vs NCMD

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NCMD at 100% against BirdGuides's 61%. NCMD also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.1). BirdGuides's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). 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.

BirdGuides ships an update every 2 weeks, NCMD every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BirdGuides | NCMD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 60.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Warners Group Publications PLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/586192010) | [BRAVE BEAR MARKETING LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1617638599) |

## What reviewers say

### BirdGuides

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdguides/id1218786227)

Access comprehensive bird news and sightings with an interactive map and advanced search. Submit your own observations and receive personalized notifications for desired species. Discover local and rare birds with detailed information and navigation assistance.

**Highlights:** Interactive BirdMap with sightings, Filter sightings by rarity, Sophisticated search of sightings database, Submit bird sightings from the field, Personalized species notifications, Detailed sighting information and directions

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and functional
- 📊 Excellent information and directions
- 💻 Great app overall
- 🤝 Recommended for birders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
- 🔄 Frequent login issues
- 📍 Lacking location details
- 🗺️ Poor map functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working
- Sightings not updating properly
- Crashes and freezes after updates
- Subscription issues after updates

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved map with precise locations
- Ability to set alerts for specific counties
- Better sorting and filtering options


### NCMD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ncmd/id1617638597)

Access your membership account, stay updated with the latest news, and engage in community forums. Document your discoveries by photographing them and recording their precise location.

**Highlights:** Membership account access, Latest news updates, Community forum, Competitions, Find documentation (photo & location), Legislation updates

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BirdGuides free?

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

### Is NCMD free?

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

### Do BirdGuides or NCMD have ads?

Neither BirdGuides nor NCMD shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BirdGuides or NCMD?

BirdGuides ships an update every 2 weeks, and NCMD every 2 months. Most recently, BirdGuides was updated on September 7, 2026 and NCMD on June 5, 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.*