Comparison

HerpMapper vs Reptile Rocket

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HerpMapper

Record reptile and amphibian observations with photos, sounds, and GPS locations. Your data supports scientific research and conservation efforts globally. Access your findings online and contribute to a shared database.

Highlights
  • Record observations with photos and sound
  • Automatic GPS location tagging
  • Offline recording capability
  • Searchable herpetofauna database
  • Data contribution to research and conservation
  • View records on the HerpMapper website
Features
Read full description

HerpMapper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designed to gather and share information about reptile and amphibian observations across the planet. Using the HerpMapper mobile app, you can create records of your herp observations and keep them all in one place. In turn, your data is made available to HerpMapper Partners – groups who use your recorded observations for research, conservation, and preservation purposes. Your observations can make valuable contributions on the behalf of amphibians and reptiles. Using your phone’s camera and GPS capabilities, the HerpMapper mobile app creates a ‘voucher record’ of your find, incorporating photos of the animal, and recording the location. For calling frogs and toads, the app enables you to record and include a sound file in a record. The date and time of day are also recorded. The app features a searchable database of the common and scientific names for all of the world’s herpetofauna, and you can search for either type of name by entering just a fragment. The newest version of the app allows you to add multiple photos and soundfiles to a record The HerpMapper mobile app does not require wireless or cellular service in order to properly record locations - it uses your phone’s native GPS device, which remains in satellite contact when outside (many HerpMapper records have been recorded in remote corners of the globe). Once you are back in wireless or cellular range, you can upload (sync) your collected records to the HerpMapper database. Once uploaded, you can view any and all of your records from the HerpMapper website (www.herpmapper.org). Creating a HerpMapper account is fast, simple, and free, and you can use the site and the mobile app to keep track of your finds, build a life list, and contribute to science and herp conservation! Instructions for creating an account, and installing and using the mobile app, are listed on the HerpMapper website. Who can see the records you create? There are two levels of visibility for records. Only you and HerpMapper Partners have access to all of the data in the records you create. Other users of HerpMapper and the general public can only see very basic information in your records – they do not have access to exact locality data. Any pictures attached to a record have their locality metadata stripped, so they can be seen by everyone on the HerpMapper website, which means you can also see the cool herps being recorded by other people from around the world. Who are HerpMapper's Partners? For the most part, they are biologists working for state or regional agencies, university researchers, or conservation organizations across the globe. A list of HerpMapper Partners is maintained on the HerpMapper website.

About

Reptile Rocket

Manage your reptile pets with detailed tracking for feeding, growth, and health. Tools are available for individual owners, large collections, and breeders, including event scheduling and breeding logs. Easily share animal information with new owners.

Highlights
  • Interval feeding reminders
  • Track shedding and growth
  • Manage large collections with QR codes
  • Breeding project logs
  • Record medical and feeding history
  • Export animal data
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Reptile Rocket. With this app you can track everything about your pets and even more. Interval Feeding Obesity is one of the most common reptile diseases. The application will help you meet the required feeding intervals and does not offer food more often than necessary. When it's time to feed, the app will send a notification. Growing process With Reptile Rocket you can track sheddings and the growth process. Add animal measurements and photos to see how your reptile pet has changed over time. Tools for keepers with large collections Keeping one reptile pet seems easy. Everything's changing when you acquire more and more. Reptile Rocket helps you manage your workload with such tools as a calendar, mass (bulk) feeding, and QR codes. Tools for breeders Breeding is one of the most exciting parts of the reptile hobby. In Reptile Rocket you can find convenient tools developed especially for breeders. Project log helps you to understand your experience, especially if something went wrong. You can record all your breeding activities. Many breeders meet hatchlings that refuse to eat. In Reptile Rocket, you can tag picky eaters with medical records. With this application, you no longer have to answer questions about when was the last feeding, shedding and what genotype has the animal. All this information can be sent to the new owner through a special link in the animal's profile. Reptile Rocket is a perfect tool to track pet reptiles, amphibians, spiders and other cold blooded animals. *** The list of features - Animal cards with QR code - Animal groups - Feeding journal - Cleaning and other events - Auto-repeat of the events - Calendar - Shedding log - Measurements of the animal - Health indicators - History - Breeding projects - Exporting animal lists to .xlsx - Archiving animal cards - Backups *** One animal is always free. Two or more animals available by subscription. Privacy Policy URL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/reptileApp/agreements/master/Privacy%20Policy.txt Terms of Use (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

HerpMapper4 screens
Reptile Rocket4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Reptile Rocket at 4.3 against HerpMapper's 3.5. Reptile Rocket also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 42%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). HerpMapper's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Reptile Rocket sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. HerpMapper asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reptile Rocket holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 97 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of HerpMapper's written reviews are positive against 75% of Reptile Rocket's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HerpMapper ships an update every 3 months, Reptile Rocket every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
HerpMapper versus Reptile Rocket: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHerpMapperReptile Rocket
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (24 ratings)4.3 (97 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.7% of reviews75.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2497 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDonald BeckerMikhail Agapov

Customer experience

HerpMapper

All ratings24 ratings
Positive58.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative50.0%

Reptile Rocket

All ratings97 ratings
Positive81.4%
Neutral3.1%
Negative15.5%
Written reviews105 reviews
Positive75.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

HerpMapper

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Reptile Rocket

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Subscription issues (incorrect charges)
  • Unreliable data syncing
  • Compatibility problems on some devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow more than 1 pet in free version
  • Implement one-time purchase option
  • Add more customization options
  • Improve data sync between devices
  • Enhance reporting and analytics features

In-app purchases

None

HerpMapper

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Reptile Rocket

Subscriptions2
  • Premium for 1 month$3.991 Month
  • Premium for 12 months$39.991 Year

Questions

Is HerpMapper free?
HerpMapper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reptile Rocket free?
Reptile Rocket is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HerpMapper or Reptile Rocket?
Reptile Rocket is rated higher. HerpMapper averages 3.5 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Reptile Rocket averages 4.3 from 97 ratings.
Do HerpMapper or Reptile Rocket have ads?
Neither HerpMapper nor Reptile Rocket shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HerpMapper or Reptile Rocket?
HerpMapper ships an update every 3 months, and Reptile Rocket every 5 weeks. Most recently, HerpMapper was updated on June 1, 2026 and Reptile Rocket on September 8, 2026.

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