# Nature Notes vs iNaturalist

The clearest difference is rating: iNaturalist at 4.1 against Nature Notes's 1.0. iNaturalist also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (684 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nature Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iNaturalist asks for nothing beyond the download.

iNaturalist holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 684 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Nature Notes ships an update every 4 weeks, iNaturalist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nature Notes | iNaturalist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nature-notes/id1368239014/reviews) | **[4.1 (684 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **684** |
| Positive reviews | — | 48.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#60** |
| Size | 172 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kenneth Wahl](https://appshunter.io/developer/681454231) | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) |

## What reviewers say

### Nature Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nature-notes/id1368239014)

Record and share notes, photos, and audio from your outdoor adventures. Advanced tools allow for photo merging from other cameras and interactive map integration. Organize trips into multiple hikes and share them via email, web pages, or custom files.

**Highlights:** Record notes, photos, and audio, Merge photos from other cameras, Interactive Apple Maps integration, Organize trips into multiple hikes, Share via email, web pages, or files, GPS tracking and export (KML/GPX)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| English | $4.99 | one-time |


### iNaturalist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561)

**Currently charting:** #60 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Identify plants, animals, and fungi using your camera or imported photos. Get AI-powered species suggestions and connect with a global community of nature enthusiasts to learn more about the natural world and contribute to scientific conservation efforts.

**Highlights:** AI species identification, Record species observations, Contribute to scientific data, Explore biodiversity, Connect with nature enthusiasts

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faster and more intuitive UI
- 👍 Improved features from website
- 💡 Batch upload and sorting options
- 🚀 Responsive and smooth performance
- 👍 Easier to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with observation time and location
- 🔍 Difficulty finding advanced editing options
- 🔍 Overly complex UI for basic tasks
- 🔍 Removal of useful features like map view
- 🔍 Too much reliance on AI identification

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes when suggesting IDs on audio clips
- Inconsistent tap responsiveness in search menu
- Observation time not accurately filling based on upload time
- Map showing incorrect observation locations
- Crashes and performance issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to type in address/coordinates for location
- Option to add observations to projects during upload
- Batch editing/uploading of observations
- More precise search filters (e.g. aquatic, parasitic, migratory)
- Bring back colored observation markers on map


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nature Notes free?

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

### Is iNaturalist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nature Notes or iNaturalist?

iNaturalist is rated higher. Nature Notes averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while iNaturalist averages 4.1 from 684 ratings.

### Do Nature Notes or iNaturalist have ads?

Neither Nature Notes nor iNaturalist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nature Notes or iNaturalist?

Nature Notes ships an update every 4 weeks, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, Nature Notes was updated on October 10, 2026 and iNaturalist on October 16, 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.*