# BirdGuides vs EMStaffs

The clearest difference is review sentiment: EMStaffs at 100% against BirdGuides's 60%. EMStaffs also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.1). BirdGuides's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 38 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, EMStaffs every 38 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BirdGuides | EMStaffs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 59.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 38 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Warners Group Publications PLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/586192010) | [Cliff Mitchell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1208940805) |

## 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


### EMStaffs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emstaffs/id1640904434)

Access comprehensive information, news, data, and analysis about Europe. This app provides high-quality content for individuals interested in European affairs and integration.

**Highlights:** European Union information, News updates, Data and analysis, Content on European integration, Pocket-sized facts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BirdGuides free?

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

### Is EMStaffs free?

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

### Do BirdGuides or EMStaffs have ads?

Neither BirdGuides nor EMStaffs shows ads.

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

BirdGuides ships an update every 2 weeks, and EMStaffs every 38 months. Most recently, BirdGuides was updated on November 2, 2026 and EMStaffs on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*