# Bug Identifier vs Butterfly

The clearest difference is rating: Butterfly at 5.0 against Bug Identifier's 4.3. Butterfly also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). Bug Identifier's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 19 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bug Identifier sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Butterfly asks for nothing beyond the download.

Butterfly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bug Identifier has 4.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Bug Identifier ships an update every 2 months, Butterfly every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bug Identifier | Butterfly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bug-identifier-bugalert/id1554181884/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/butterfly-identify-search/id6740738266/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.1K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 24.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 19 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 103 MB | 182 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FAMO Connect LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552437545) | [Tam Vo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1777667253) |

## What reviewers say

### Bug Identifier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bug-identifier-bugalert/id1554181884)

Identify bugs, spiders, and insects instantly with AI. Snap a photo to get detailed information including common and scientific names, habitat, behavior, and ecological role. Save and share your discoveries.

**Highlights:** AI-powered insect identification, Identify bugs and spiders from photos, Detailed insect information, Save and share identifications, Light and dark mode, Educational insect facts

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Annual | $24.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for identifying insects
- 🚀 Accurate identification in some cases
- 💡 Useful for discovering new species

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate identification in many cases
- 💸 Excessive ads and in-app purchases
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with photo access
- 🤔 Inconsistent results for the same bug

**Reported bugs**

- Misidentifies common insects like spiders and beetles
- App crashes or freezes when trying to identify bugs
- Requires full photo library access instead of selected photos

**Requested features**

- Add option to save identified insects
- Improve accuracy of identification
- Reduce number of ads and in-app purchases


### Butterfly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/butterfly-identify-search/id6740738266)

Instantly identify butterfly species by taking a photo or uploading an image from your gallery. Access a detailed guide with facts and connect with a community of nature enthusiasts to share sightings and aid in identification.

**Highlights:** Instant photo identification, Gallery scan for identification, In-depth species guide, Community photo sharing, Offline identification mode, Multi-language support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bug Identifier free?

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

### Is Butterfly free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bug Identifier or Butterfly?

Butterfly is rated higher. Bug Identifier averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while Butterfly averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Bug Identifier or Butterfly have ads?

Butterfly shows ads; Bug Identifier does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bug Identifier or Butterfly?

Bug Identifier ships an update every 2 months, and Butterfly every 19 months. Most recently, Bug Identifier was updated on September 25, 2026 and Butterfly on September 4, 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.*