# Trail Explorer by CTRMA vs iNaturalist

The clearest difference is rating: Trail Explorer by CTRMA at 4.8 against iNaturalist's 4.1. iNaturalist's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (715 vs 6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Trail Explorer by CTRMA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 715 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Trail Explorer by CTRMA ships an update every 3 months, iNaturalist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trail Explorer by CTRMA | iNaturalist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trail-explorer-by-ctrma/id1490349687/reviews)** | [4.1 (715 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **715** |
| Positive reviews | — | 48.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#92** |
| Size | 412 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chocolate Milk & Donuts](https://appshunter.io/developer/1490349686) | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) |

## What reviewers say

### Trail Explorer by CTRMA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trail-explorer-by-ctrma/id1490349687)

Explore local trails with interactive augmented reality animations and voice narration in English and Spanish. Discover the history, native flora and fauna, and culture of the Texas Hill Country and Austin's East Side through engaging, educational experiences.

**Highlights:** Augmented Reality animations, Voice narration (English/Spanish), GPS guidance, Photo and social sharing, Educational content on local history and nature

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### iNaturalist

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

**Currently charting:** #92 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 Trail Explorer by CTRMA free?

Trail Explorer by CTRMA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is iNaturalist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Trail Explorer by CTRMA or iNaturalist?

Trail Explorer by CTRMA is rated higher. Trail Explorer by CTRMA averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while iNaturalist averages 4.1 from 715 ratings.

### Do Trail Explorer by CTRMA or iNaturalist have ads?

Neither Trail Explorer by CTRMA nor iNaturalist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Trail Explorer by CTRMA or iNaturalist?

Trail Explorer by CTRMA ships an update every 3 months, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, Trail Explorer by CTRMA was updated on October 26, 2026 and iNaturalist on October 30, 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.*