# New Spider Orientation vs Nature's Notebook

The clearest difference is rating: New Spider Orientation at 3.8 against Nature's Notebook's 3.1. Nature's Notebook's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On price, ratings volume, 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.

New Spider Orientation holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 26 respectively.

New Spider Orientation ships an update every 4 months, Nature's Notebook every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | New Spider Orientation | Nature's Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/new-spider-orientation/id1320079916/reviews)** | [3.1 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/natures-notebook/id1463430668/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | — | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 54 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of Richmond](https://appshunter.io/developer/479907466) | [National Phenology Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/843843359) |

## What reviewers say

### New Spider Orientation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/new-spider-orientation/id1320079916)

This guide provides essential information for new members of the Spider Family. It includes orientation schedules, contact details, housing information, and tips for settling into your new environment.

**Highlights:** Orientation schedule, Important contacts, Housing information, Settling-in tips, Welcome to the Spider Family

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### Nature's Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/natures-notebook/id1463430668)

Record observations of plant and animal life cycles, such as flowering and migration. Mark observation sites, create species lists, and log seasonal changes in nature.

**Highlights:** Record plant and animal life cycle events, Mark observation sites, Create species lists, Log seasonal observations, Citizen science program

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is New Spider Orientation free?

New Spider Orientation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Nature's Notebook free?

Nature's Notebook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, New Spider Orientation or Nature's Notebook?

New Spider Orientation is rated higher. New Spider Orientation averages 3.8 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Nature's Notebook averages 3.1 from 26 ratings.

### Do New Spider Orientation or Nature's Notebook have ads?

Neither New Spider Orientation nor Nature's Notebook shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, New Spider Orientation or Nature's Notebook?

New Spider Orientation ships an update every 4 months, and Nature's Notebook every 3 weeks. Most recently, New Spider Orientation was updated on September 18, 2026 and Nature's Notebook on July 7, 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.*