Comparison

Virtual Observer vs Bivalves@IPMA

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

Head to head

About

Virtual Observer

Features

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Our unique solar or boat powered camera mounts onto a fishing vessels of all shapes and sizes and works with a simple smart-phone app.

About

Bivalves@IPMA

Features

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App of the Portuguese System for Bivalve Mollusc Monitoring bivalves@ipma is a free application of the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, which provides up-to-date information on the current status of bivalve mollusc harvesting in Portugal.

Screenshots

Virtual Observer4 screens

Bivalves@IPMA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Virtual Observer at every 2 weeks against Bivalves@IPMA's every 3 months. Virtual Observer also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Virtual Observer ships an update every 2 weeks, Bivalves@IPMA every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 5, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level

Virtual Observer versus Bivalves@IPMA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter	Virtual Observer	Bivalves@IPMA
Price	Free	Free
Update frequency	Every 2 weeks — better	Every 3 months
Ads	No	No
In-app purchases	No	No
Devices	iPhone, iPad, iPod	iPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS	13.4 — better	15.6
Further details — not scored
Size	70 MB	39 MB
Age rating	4+	4+
Developer	Shellcatch Inc	Gisgeo Information Systems, LDA

In-app purchases

None

Virtual Observer

No in-app purchases

None

Bivalves@IPMA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Virtual Observer free?

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

Is Bivalves@IPMA free?

Bivalves@IPMA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

Do Virtual Observer or Bivalves@IPMA have ads?

Neither Virtual Observer nor Bivalves@IPMA shows ads.

Which is updated more often, Virtual Observer or Bivalves@IPMA?

Virtual Observer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Bivalves@IPMA every 3 months. Most recently, Virtual Observer was updated on October 5, 2026 and Bivalves@IPMA on October 5, 2026.