# HerpMapper vs LizardBox

The clearest difference is rating: LizardBox at 4.3 against HerpMapper's 3.5. LizardBox also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (52% vs 42%). HerpMapper's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LizardBox sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. HerpMapper asks for nothing beyond the download.

LizardBox holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 70 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of HerpMapper's written reviews are positive against 52% of LizardBox's.

HerpMapper ships an update every 3 months, LizardBox weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HerpMapper | LizardBox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/herpmapper/id1266037481/reviews) | **[4.3 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lizardbox-critter-manager/id1603903840/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **70** |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | **52.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Donald Becker](https://appshunter.io/developer/525324975) | [Andrew Esamann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496449045) |

## What reviewers say

### HerpMapper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/herpmapper/id1266037481)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### LizardBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lizardbox-critter-manager/id1603903840)

Effortlessly manage and track a wide variety of pets like reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Log care activities, monitor growth, set custom reminders, and access curated knowledge. Optimized for phones and tablets.

**Highlights:** Critter logging with advanced filtering, Customizable care reminders, Length and weight tracking, Imperial and metric support, Multi-language support, Data export to CSV, QR code generation and scanning

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Unlimited (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Unlimited | $5.99 | per month |
| Pro Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Pro (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlimited (Yearly) | $39.99 | per year |
| Pro Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HerpMapper free?

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

### Is LizardBox free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HerpMapper or LizardBox?

LizardBox is rated higher. HerpMapper averages 3.5 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while LizardBox averages 4.3 from 70 ratings.

### Do HerpMapper or LizardBox have ads?

Neither HerpMapper nor LizardBox shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HerpMapper or LizardBox?

HerpMapper ships an update every 3 months, and LizardBox weekly. Most recently, HerpMapper was updated on June 1, 2026 and LizardBox on September 18, 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.*