# BirdGuides vs WildOtter

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BirdGuides at none against WildOtter's 1. WildOtter's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.1). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WildOtter sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $14.99 per year. BirdGuides asks for nothing beyond the download.

BirdGuides ships an update every 2 weeks, WildOtter every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BirdGuides | WildOtter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | **60.8% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 5 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Warners Group Publications PLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/586192010) | [Shoothill](https://appshunter.io/developer/630682372) |

## 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


### WildOtter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wildotter/id6468110653)

This app provides reliable water safety information for recreational users, including routes, points of interest, and river levels. Content is user-generated and team-moderated to ensure accuracy. It aims to remove the worry associated with outdated information.

**Highlights:** User-generated content, Team-moderated information, Latest routes, Wild swimming spots, Points of interest, River level information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WildOtter Full Subscription | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BirdGuides free?

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

### Is WildOtter free?

WildOtter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do BirdGuides or WildOtter have ads?

Neither BirdGuides nor WildOtter shows ads.

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

BirdGuides ships an update every 2 weeks, and WildOtter every 3 weeks. Most recently, BirdGuides was updated on September 7, 2026 and WildOtter on June 1, 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.*