# MSA Forward vs iNaturalist

The clearest difference is rating: MSA Forward at 5.0 against iNaturalist's 4.1. iNaturalist's advantage is ratings volume (664 vs 1) and chart position (#51 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

MSA Forward holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 664 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MSA Forward ships an update monthly, iNaturalist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MSA Forward | iNaturalist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/msa-forward/id1615630710/reviews)** | [4.1 (664 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **664** |
| Positive reviews | — | 48.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#51** |
| Size | 55 MB | 219 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Museum Store Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615630712) | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) |

## What reviewers say

### MSA Forward

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/msa-forward/id1615630710)

This event app connects museum store professionals. Members can access the event agenda, session details, speaker and exhibitor information, and attendee lists. Stay informed with the latest news and announcements during the event.

**Highlights:** Event agenda access, Session and speaker details, Exhibitor information, Attendee networking, Event news and announcements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### iNaturalist

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

**Currently charting:** #51 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 MSA Forward free?

MSA Forward 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, MSA Forward or iNaturalist?

MSA Forward is rated higher. MSA Forward averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while iNaturalist averages 4.1 from 664 ratings.

### Do MSA Forward or iNaturalist have ads?

Neither MSA Forward nor iNaturalist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MSA Forward or iNaturalist?

MSA Forward ships an update monthly, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, MSA Forward was updated on September 10, 2026 and iNaturalist on September 23, 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.*