# PADI AWARE vs iNaturalist

The clearest difference is rating: iNaturalist at 4.1 against PADI AWARE's 3.0. iNaturalist also leads on ratings volume (715 vs 1) and chart position (#87 vs unranked). PADI AWARE's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

iNaturalist holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 715 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of PADI AWARE's written reviews are positive against 49% of iNaturalist's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PADI AWARE ships an update monthly, iNaturalist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PADI AWARE | iNaturalist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padi-aware/id1260943783/reviews) | **[4.1 (715 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **715** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 48.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#87** |
| Size | 85 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PADI AWARE Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1800734511) | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) |

## What reviewers say

### PADI AWARE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padi-aware/id1260943783)

This app empowers users to find, track, and share conservation actions for ocean health. It supports initiatives like marine debris removal and citizen science, connecting individuals to a global movement for a healthier blue planet.

**Highlights:** Find conservation actions, Track conservation efforts, Share impactful actions, Support marine debris removal, Advocate for marine protected areas, Participate in citizen science

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### iNaturalist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561)

**Currently charting:** #87 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Identify plants, animals, and fungi using your camera or imported photos. Get AI-powered species suggestions and connect with a global community of nature enthusiasts to learn more about the natural world and contribute to scientific conservation efforts.

**Highlights:** AI species identification, Record species observations, Contribute to scientific data, Explore biodiversity, Connect with nature enthusiasts

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faster and more intuitive UI
- 👍 Improved features from website
- 💡 Batch upload and sorting options
- 🚀 Responsive and smooth performance
- 👍 Easier to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with observation time and location
- 🔍 Difficulty finding advanced editing options
- 🔍 Overly complex UI for basic tasks
- 🔍 Removal of useful features like map view
- 🔍 Too much reliance on AI identification

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes when suggesting IDs on audio clips
- Inconsistent tap responsiveness in search menu
- Observation time not accurately filling based on upload time
- Map showing incorrect observation locations
- Crashes and performance issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to type in address/coordinates for location
- Option to add observations to projects during upload
- Batch editing/uploading of observations
- More precise search filters (e.g. aquatic, parasitic, migratory)
- Bring back colored observation markers on map


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PADI AWARE free?

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

### Is iNaturalist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PADI AWARE or iNaturalist?

iNaturalist is rated higher. PADI AWARE averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while iNaturalist averages 4.1 from 715 ratings.

### Do PADI AWARE or iNaturalist have ads?

Neither PADI AWARE nor iNaturalist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PADI AWARE or iNaturalist?

PADI AWARE ships an update monthly, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, PADI AWARE was updated on October 24, 2026 and iNaturalist on October 30, 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.*