Comparison

Whale and Dolphin Tracker vs STC Turtle Tracker

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

Head to head
About

Whale and Dolphin Tracker

Record sightings of whales and dolphins worldwide. Contribute to global research by logging your observations with GPS data and photos. Help scientists understand marine wildlife distribution and environmental interactions.

Highlights
  • Log sightings in real-time
  • Built-in GPS logger
  • Upload photos with sightings
  • Access submitted data
  • View global sightings map
  • Contribute to citizen science
Read full description

Log sightings and identify species of commonly sighted whales and dolphins from any location around the world. Whale and Dolphin Tracker provides a platform where both professional scientists and members of the public can participate in research and conservation by contributing their marine wildlife sightings. By submitting your sightings you will add to a global database that will help researchers determine patterns of species distribution and how these species interact with their environment. Features: -Log sightings in real-time during your trip. -Use the built-in GPS logger to create a full GPS track of your trip. -Upload photos from your mobile device to submit with your sighting. -Maintain full access to your submitted data through your Whale and Dolphin Tracker account. -View global sightings submitted by all users on a live sightings map updated in real time. Contribute to research: -Crowdsourcing allows for a larger scope of data collection than what is possible for dedicated researchers to achieve. -Greater coverage in both time and space increases the likelihood of documenting rare and/or understudied marine wildlife. -Citizen science creates ocean stewards and leads to a greater awareness of marine wildlife. How to submit a sighting: - Use the app to record GPS location of any sightings of whales, dolphins, and other marine wildlife. - Help researchers account for survey effort by associating a track with each sighting. Simply start the GPS track when you depart land and stop the track upon your return. Complete GPS tracks enable calculations of sightings per distance and are valuable for research on distribution of marine animals. - Upload photos associated with your sightings directly from your mobile device. Photos will be used by researchers to confirm species identification and will be added to photo-identification databases, where applicable.

About

STC Turtle Tracker

Follow the real-time journeys of tagged sea turtles as they migrate across oceans. Learn their individual stories and discover how your support helps protect these vital ocean indicators.

Highlights
  • Real-time turtle tracking
  • Individual turtle stories and histories
  • Detailed migration route maps
  • Updates on turtle movements
  • Support conservation efforts
  • Learn about ocean health
Features
Read full description

Follow real sea turtles – Koa, Donna Shello, Haven, and dozens more – as they navigate thousands of miles across the world's oceans. Watch their journeys unfold in real time, learn their stories, and become part of the effort to protect them. The Turtle Tracker app connects you directly to sea turtles fitted with satellite transmitters by researchers and conservationists. These aren't simulations – they're real animals, tracked as they migrate between feeding grounds, traverse ocean currents, and return to nest on the beaches where they were born. Get to know each turtle Every turtle has a name, a history, and a journey worth following. See where they were released, how far they've traveled, and what they've been up to. Add your favorites and check in as their tracks grow across the map. Watch migrations unfold Explore detailed route maps showing each turtle's path from release to their latest ping. See the distances they cover – sometimes thousands of miles – and the speeds they maintain across the open ocean. Stay updated The home feed shows you which turtles moved recently, highlights the week's top travelers, and keeps you connected to what's happening in real time. Go Premium to support sea turtle conservation Upgrade to unlock leaderboards, exclusive features, and – most importantly – directly fund the research and protection efforts that keep these animals safe. Every subscription helps Sea Turtle Conservancy continue its work. Why it matters Sea turtles are among the oldest creatures on Earth and vital indicators of ocean health. Whether they thrive or vanish says something profound about our ability to share this planet with other species. Sea Turtle Conservancy, founded in 1959 by world-renowned naturalist Dr. Archie Carr, is the world's oldest sea turtle research and conservation organization. Your engagement — and your support — helps continue over six decades of work protecting these remarkable animals. Important links: https://conserveturtles.org/terms-of-use/ https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ https://conserveturtles.org/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Whale and Dolphin Tracker4 screens
STC Turtle Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: STC Turtle Tracker at 88% against Whale and Dolphin Tracker's 17%. STC Turtle Tracker also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.5). Whale and Dolphin Tracker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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. STC Turtle Tracker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whale and Dolphin Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

STC Turtle Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 42 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Whale and Dolphin Tracker's written reviews are positive against 88% of STC Turtle Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Whale and Dolphin Tracker ships an update monthly, STC Turtle Tracker every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 9, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Whale and Dolphin Tracker versus STC Turtle Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhale and Dolphin TrackerSTC Turtle Tracker
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (22 ratings)4.7 (42 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2242 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPacific Whale FoundationSEA TURTLE CONSERVANCY, INC.

Customer experience

Whale and Dolphin Tracker

All ratings22 ratings
Positive36.4%
Neutral4.5%
Negative59.1%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral11.1%
Negative72.2%

STC Turtle Tracker

All ratings42 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.4%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Whale and Dolphin Tracker

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

STC Turtle Tracker

Subscriptions2
  • STC Turtle Tracker Premium$2.991 Month
  • STC Turtle Tracker Premium$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Whale and Dolphin Tracker free?
Whale and Dolphin Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is STC Turtle Tracker free?
STC Turtle Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Whale and Dolphin Tracker or STC Turtle Tracker?
STC Turtle Tracker is rated higher. Whale and Dolphin Tracker averages 2.5 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while STC Turtle Tracker averages 4.7 from 42 ratings.
Do Whale and Dolphin Tracker or STC Turtle Tracker have ads?
Neither Whale and Dolphin Tracker nor STC Turtle Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Whale and Dolphin Tracker or STC Turtle Tracker?
Whale and Dolphin Tracker ships an update monthly, and STC Turtle Tracker every 2 months. Most recently, Whale and Dolphin Tracker was updated on September 9, 2026 and STC Turtle Tracker on September 9, 2026.

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