# Bug Journal vs BugFine

The clearest difference is rating: Bug Journal at 3.7 against BugFine's 3.0. Bug Journal also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). BugFine's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BugFine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Bug Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bug Journal holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Bug Journal's written reviews are positive against 100% of BugFine's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Bug Journal ships an update every 3 months, BugFine every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bug Journal | BugFine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bug-journal/id1232077952/reviews)** | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bugfine-catch-and-record/id1625380389/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 2 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Johnson](https://appshunter.io/developer/591103398) | [SHINY A LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506297410) |

## What reviewers say

### Bug Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bug-journal/id1232077952)

Document your insect discoveries with this virtual bug collection app. Capture photos, record field notes with automatic date and location data, and organize your findings. Features an interactive identification tool and educational bug information.

**Highlights:** Virtual bug collection, Photo capture with notes, Automatic date and location tagging, Interactive bug identification tool, Bug information lookup, Exportable reports for school projects

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### BugFine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bugfine-catch-and-record/id1625380389)

This app helps users document their insect catches with detailed records, including location and timestamp. Earn stamps for your collections and easily review past entries. It's designed for educational purposes, allowing users to discover new aspects of entomology.

**Highlights:** Record insect catches, Educational insect discovery, Earn stamps for collections, Review past entries, Location and timestamp data, Personal data privacy

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Quarterly | $4.99 | per 3 months |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bug Journal free?

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

### Is BugFine free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bug Journal or BugFine?

Bug Journal is rated higher. Bug Journal averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while BugFine averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Bug Journal or BugFine have ads?

Neither Bug Journal nor BugFine shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bug Journal or BugFine?

Bug Journal ships an update every 3 months, and BugFine every 2 weeks. Most recently, Bug Journal was updated on October 2, 2026 and BugFine on September 28, 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.*