# HiveBloom vs ApiNote

The clearest difference is ratings volume: HiveBloom at 287 against ApiNote's 3. HiveBloom also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 67%). ApiNote's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HiveBloom sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ApiNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ApiNote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HiveBloom has 287 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of HiveBloom's written reviews are positive against 67% of ApiNote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HiveBloom ships an update fortnightly, ApiNote every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 27, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HiveBloom | ApiNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (287 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hivebloom/id1490920620/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apinote-beekeeping-hive-log/id6752503587/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **287** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **88.2% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 93 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Martin Fuhry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1490920619) | [Petr Drabek](https://appshunter.io/developer/1538337928) |

## What reviewers say

### HiveBloom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hivebloom/id1490920620)

This app simplifies beekeeping by providing a digital journal for managing your hives. It helps you track colonies, record inspections, and stay organized, with features like cloud syncing and weather-based reminders. The free version supports up to two hives.

**Highlights:** Free management for up to 2 hives, Unlimited hive inspections, Apiary mapping and organization, Detailed hive health tracking, Cloud backup and syncing, Weather-based inspection reminders, Offline functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HiveBloom Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| HiveBloom Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| HiveBloom Yearly | $17.99 | per year |
| HiveBloom Yearly Subscription | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 👍 Intuitive design
- 👍 Excellent for tracking hives
- 👍 Comprehensive record-keeping options
- 👍 Voice note taker feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Lack of response from support
- 🐛 Paywall/cost concerns
- 🐛 Missing financial management feature
- 🐛 No Spanish version available
- 🐛 Issues with data loss after trial

**Reported bugs**

- Technical issue with no support response
- Lost all entries and data after free trial
- Issues with reloading records after phone death (resolved by support)
- Harvest feature issue (resolved by support)

**Requested features**

- Ability to share notes/inspections read-only
- Summary views for varroa counts, hive weights, gentleness over time
- Line graphs for data visualization
- Financial management features (recording sales, units)
- Ability to modify dates to be in the past


### ApiNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apinote-beekeeping-hive-log/id6752503587)

This app helps beekeepers manage their apiaries and hives. It allows for detailed tracking of inspections, treatments, feedings, and honey harvests. Features include AI voice logging, weather tracking, and cloud storage for easy access and collaboration.

**Highlights:** AI Voice hive inspections, Track hive inspections and health, Manage apiary and hive data, Monitor honey production, Plan beekeeping tasks, Weather tracking, Cloud storage and multi-user access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ApiNote Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| ApiNote Pro monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| ApiNote Pro yearly | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HiveBloom free?

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

### Is ApiNote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HiveBloom or ApiNote?

ApiNote is rated higher. HiveBloom averages 4.8 out of 5 from 287 ratings, while ApiNote averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do HiveBloom or ApiNote have ads?

Neither HiveBloom nor ApiNote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HiveBloom or ApiNote?

HiveBloom ships an update fortnightly, and ApiNote every 2 weeks. Most recently, HiveBloom was updated on August 27, 2026 and ApiNote on September 14, 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.*