# HerpMapper vs Project Monarch Science

The clearest difference is update cadence: Project Monarch Science at weekly against HerpMapper's every 3 months. Project Monarch Science also leads on rating (3.7 vs 3.5). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Project Monarch Science holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of HerpMapper's written reviews are positive against 45% of Project Monarch Science's.

HerpMapper ships an update every 3 months, Project Monarch Science weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HerpMapper | Project Monarch Science |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/herpmapper/id1266037481/reviews) | **[3.7 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/project-monarch-science/id6460006970/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | **45.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 67 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Donald Becker](https://appshunter.io/developer/525324975) | [Cellular Tracking Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1588087267) |

## 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


### Project Monarch Science

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/project-monarch-science/id6460006970)

This app transforms your smartphone into a receiver for tiny tracking devices attached to monarch butterflies. By crowdsourcing data, it helps scientists monitor butterfly migration patterns in unprecedented detail, aiding conservation efforts.

**Highlights:** Crowdsourced tracking network, Monarch butterfly migration monitoring, Detailed movement data, Habitat conservation insights, Utilizes Bluetooth frequency, Citizen science participation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HerpMapper free?

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

### Is Project Monarch Science free?

Project Monarch Science is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HerpMapper or Project Monarch Science?

Project Monarch Science is rated higher. HerpMapper averages 3.5 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Project Monarch Science averages 3.7 from 18 ratings.

### Do HerpMapper or Project Monarch Science have ads?

Neither HerpMapper nor Project Monarch Science shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HerpMapper or Project Monarch Science?

HerpMapper ships an update every 3 months, and Project Monarch Science weekly. Most recently, HerpMapper was updated on June 1, 2026 and Project Monarch Science on September 21, 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.*