# Bug Journal vs Bug Identifier

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bug Journal at none against Bug Identifier's 2. Bug Identifier's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bug Identifier sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Bug Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bug Journal ships an update every 3 months, Bug Identifier every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bug Journal | Bug Identifier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bug-journal/id1232077952/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Johnson](https://appshunter.io/developer/591103398) | [ProductShake, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835019546) |

## 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


### Bug Identifier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bug-identifier-smart-id/id6757132368)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Annual | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bug Journal free?

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

### Is Bug Identifier free?

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

### Do Bug Journal or Bug Identifier have ads?

Neither Bug Journal nor Bug Identifier shows ads.

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

Bug Journal ships an update every 3 months, and Bug Identifier every 4 months. Most recently, Bug Journal was updated on October 2, 2026 and Bug Identifier on September 26, 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.*