# PolliNation ID vs iNaturalist

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iNaturalist at 49% against PolliNation ID's 0%. iNaturalist also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (714 vs 1). PolliNation ID's advantage is iOS requirement (13.2 vs 15.1). 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.

iNaturalist holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 714 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of PolliNation ID's written reviews are positive against 49% of iNaturalist's.

PolliNation ID ships an update every 5 weeks, iNaturalist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PolliNation ID | iNaturalist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pollination-id/id1509525273/reviews) | **[4.1 (714 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **714** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **48.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#84** |
| Size | 72 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.2** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The University of Michigan](https://appshunter.io/developer/380339599) | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) |

## What reviewers say

### PolliNation ID

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pollination-id/id1509525273)

Contribute to a citizen science project by identifying and documenting native pollinators. Learn about their habits and habitats, and submit photos to help researchers understand their distribution.

**Highlights:** Identify native pollinators, Learn about habits and habitats, Submit photos of findings, Contribute to citizen science, Increase awareness of pollinators

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### iNaturalist

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

**Currently charting:** #84 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 PolliNation ID free?

PolliNation ID 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, PolliNation ID or iNaturalist?

iNaturalist is rated higher. PolliNation ID averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while iNaturalist averages 4.1 from 714 ratings.

### Do PolliNation ID or iNaturalist have ads?

Neither PolliNation ID nor iNaturalist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PolliNation ID or iNaturalist?

PolliNation ID ships an update every 5 weeks, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, PolliNation ID was updated on October 10, 2026 and iNaturalist on October 27, 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.*