# Secchi vs iNaturalist

The clearest difference is update cadence: iNaturalist at fortnightly against Secchi's every 7 months. iNaturalist also leads on chart position (#73 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Secchi ships an update every 7 months, iNaturalist fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Secchi | iNaturalist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.1 (714 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **714** |
| Positive reviews | — | 48.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#73** |
| Size | 45 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Secchi Disk Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1487320010) | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) |

## What reviewers say

### Secchi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secchi/id1524837284)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### iNaturalist

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

**Currently charting:** #73 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 Secchi free?

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

### Is iNaturalist free?

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

### Do Secchi or iNaturalist have ads?

Neither Secchi nor iNaturalist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Secchi or iNaturalist?

Secchi ships an update every 7 months, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, Secchi was updated on October 27, 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.*