# HPPL vs Budburst

The clearest difference is rating: Budburst at 4.2 against HPPL's 3.3. Budburst also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 33%). 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.

Budburst holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of HPPL's written reviews are positive against 50% of Budburst's.

HPPL ships an update every 12 months, Budburst every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HPPL | Budburst |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hppl/id1528215821/reviews) | **[4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budburst/id1531186881/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **13** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 45 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [City of Highland Park Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/1528215823) | [Chicago Botanic Garden](https://appshunter.io/developer/566331682) |

## What reviewers say

### HPPL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hppl/id1528215821)

Access library resources and services remotely. Discover new materials, manage your account, and register for programs. Your digital library card is available for easy checkouts.

**Highlights:** Search and browse library collection, Manage account, renew items, place holds, Stream and download digital media, Access digital library card, Register for programs and events, Reserve meeting rooms

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Budburst

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budburst/id1531186881)

Observe and record plant data to contribute to a national community science project. Identify plants, monitor their life cycles, and collaborate with others to understand and preserve nature.

**Highlights:** Observe plants with interactive map, In-app plant identification tool, Monitor plant life cycles, Track plant-animal interactions, Collaborate in community groups

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HPPL free?

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

### Is Budburst free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HPPL or Budburst?

Budburst is rated higher. HPPL averages 3.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Budburst averages 4.2 from 13 ratings.

### Do HPPL or Budburst have ads?

Neither HPPL nor Budburst shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HPPL or Budburst?

HPPL ships an update every 12 months, and Budburst every 2 months. Most recently, HPPL was updated on November 3, 2026 and Budburst on November 7, 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.*