# HerpMapper vs Pulse

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HerpMapper at none against Pulse's 1. HerpMapper also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). Pulse's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pulse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HerpMapper asks for nothing beyond the download.

HerpMapper ships an update every 3 months, Pulse every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HerpMapper | Pulse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.5 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/herpmapper/id1266037481/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **24** | — |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 67 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Donald Becker](https://appshunter.io/developer/525324975) | [Lucas Pascal Ciba](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877747622) |

## 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


### Pulse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulse-time-tracker/id6759267025)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pulse Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HerpMapper free?

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

### Is Pulse free?

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

### Do HerpMapper or Pulse have ads?

Neither HerpMapper nor Pulse shows ads.

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

HerpMapper ships an update every 3 months, and Pulse every 4 days. Most recently, HerpMapper was updated on October 1, 2026 and Pulse on October 1, 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.*