# Anime Reference vs PikaDex

The clearest difference is update cadence: PikaDex at every 10 days against Anime Reference's every 2 months. PikaDex also leads on ratings volume (747 vs 80). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Anime Reference sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and PikaDex sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Anime Reference against 4.6 for PikaDex. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PikaDex has 747 ratings behind it against 80, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 74% positive.

Anime Reference ships an update every 2 months, PikaDex every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and August 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Anime Reference | PikaDex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (80 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anime-reference/id1498269603/reviews) | **[4.6 (747 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikadex-dex-for-every-game/id1509561856/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 80 | **747** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 74.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 49 MB | 1.5 GB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aaron Treinish](https://appshunter.io/developer/1391336505) | [Daniel Byon](https://appshunter.io/developer/309681721) |

## What reviewers say

### Anime Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anime-reference/id1498269603)

Easily track, discover, and organize your anime and manga collections. Manage watchlists, monitor progress, and find new series with detailed information and seasonal updates.

**Highlights:** Track anime and manga progress, Discover new and trending series, Manage custom watchlists, View detailed anime information, Receive episode air notifications, Customize app theme

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PLUS ULTRA Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| PLUS ULTRA 1 month | $4.99 | per month |
| PLUS ULTRA 6 months | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| PLUS ULTRA 1 year | $29.99 | per year |
| Shonen Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Weeb Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| PLUS ULTRA | $2.99 | one-time |
| Otaku Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sugoi Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Sensei Tip | $14.99 | one-time |
| Hokage Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


### PikaDex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikadex-dex-for-every-game/id1509561856)

This comprehensive encyclopedia provides all the essential information for Pokémon trainers, covering every core game from Red/Blue to Scarlet/Violet. It features detailed data on Pokémon, moves, items, and locations, along with a unique battle assistant and team builder.

**Highlights:** Pokémon, Moves, Items, and Locations Info, Dual Type Effectiveness Checker, Battle Assistant for tactical information, In-game Team Builder, Dark Mode and Search Functionality, Filters for Pokémon list

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| All GameBoy Games | $0.99 | one-time |
| All DS Games | $0.99 | one-time |
| All 3DS Games | $0.99 | one-time |
| All Switch Games | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Premium (All Games) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Excellent Pokédex app
- 🔍 Comprehensive Pokémon information
- 🛠️ Useful team building features
- 💰 Fair one-time premium purchase
- 🔄 Regularly updated

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Some features locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Missing Pokémon data for certain games
- 🔀 Issues with team/move editing
- 🎨 Lack of shiny Pokémon sprites

**Reported bugs**

- Pokémon data not loading correctly
- Team information being lost
- Crashes when renaming teams
- Incorrect move/ability information

**Requested features**

- Add shiny Pokémon sprites
- Include Pokémon locations and item data
- Implement National Pokédex view
- Add Pokémon catch/owned tracking
- Improve team building functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Anime Reference free?

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

### Is PikaDex free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Anime Reference or PikaDex?

PikaDex is rated higher. Anime Reference averages 4.5 out of 5 from 80 ratings, while PikaDex averages 4.6 from 747 ratings.

### Do Anime Reference or PikaDex have ads?

Neither Anime Reference nor PikaDex shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Anime Reference or PikaDex?

Anime Reference ships an update every 2 months, and PikaDex every 10 days. Most recently, Anime Reference was updated on June 10, 2026 and PikaDex on August 29, 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.*