Shoresearch vs pippyg
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Shoresearch
Easily record marine wildlife data from intertidal surveys. Contribute to scientific research, conservation efforts, and monitoring of marine protected areas. Explore your local coast and learn about its unique ecosystem.
- Record marine data
- Citizen science surveys
- Wildlife identification
- Contribute to research
- Monitor marine areas
- Explore local coast
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The Shoresearch app is the perfect way to easily add your marine data from Wildlife Trust Shoresearch surveys. Shoresearch is The Wildlife Trusts’ national citizen science survey program of the intertidal shore, the exciting world of extremes where the sea meets the land. It’s a great way to explore your local coast, learn more about the wildlife found there and add to our understanding of this important habitat. There are four different surveys which collect valuable marine data that can be used to designate and monitor Marine Protected Areas, contribute to scientific research, assess planning applications and even monitor long-term changes in the marine environment, such as the effects of pollution, climate change and invasive alien species! Volunteers are trained by local Wildlife Trusts to identify and record the wildlife on shores across the UK. Want to be involved? Please contact your local Wildlife Trust and ask to become a Shoresearch Volunteer, we can't wait for you to join us!
pippyg
Configure your bat recording devices remotely using your phone. Set device IDs, wake/sleep times, and location data. The app uses your phone's microphone to transmit settings to the recorder.
- Configure real-time clock
- Set device ID
- Define deployment latitude and longitude
- Set wake and sleep times
- Configure PIPPYG bat recorder
- Configure π•pistrelle bat detector
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This tool gives you a convenient and reliable method to set the real-time clock, device ID, deployment latitude and longitude, and wake and sleep times for the PIPPYG bat recorder bat detector, in the field, using just your phone and the PIPPYG's onboard microphone. To use the app, set up the configuration you want in terms of Device ID and sleep/wake times, turn your phone volume up to between 1/4 and 1/3 full volume and place your phone's speaker about 4 - 6 inches your PIPPYG's microphone. Now press the Configure / Deploy. SInce the PIPPYG red LED responds to sound after power-up, it flash when your phone makes the "triple chirp" sound. If the LED flashes just when it is responding to the sound, the PIPPYG did not successfully decode the data packete encoded into the chirp, so you need to try again - try changing the phone volume (typically quieter is better), adjust and the distance from the microphone, or positioning the phone more carefully relaive to the PIPPYG - it helps if you point the phone's bottom speakers right at the microphone hole, from a few inches away. If the PIPPYG's red LED flashes 8 times in rapid succession, you have successfully programmed your device, and it will enter a wake/sleep cycle, recording bats (or birds) when it is awake. Note that this app works with both self-build PIPPYG units and with commercially-produced Apodemus PIPPYG and PIPPYG2 devices.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: pippyg at every 2 months against Shoresearch's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Shoresearch ships an update every 4 months, pippyg every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Shoresearch | pippyg |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Wildlife Trusts | Phil Atkin |
Customer experience
Shoresearch
pippyg
In-app purchases
Shoresearch
No in-app purchases
pippyg
No in-app purchases









