Comparison

Smart Access VMS vs Critter

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Smart Access VMS

Features
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The Smart Access Control App for Business. Once registered, your staff will have full control of their access in and out of the building using facial, QR or keypad options.

About

Critter

Easily track and count any animals or objects you spot during your walks. The app logs the time, location, and quantity of each sighting, allowing you to review your discoveries on a map and in your walk history. It offers a simple, one-tap interface and an Apple Watch companion for convenient counting.

Highlights
  • Count anything with custom lists
  • One-tap logging for sightings
  • Sighting map with location data
  • Detailed walk history
  • Apple Watch companion app
  • Calm, dark-mode-friendly design
  • Guest mode for privacy
Features
Read full description

Critter Counter is the simplest way to keep score of the animals (and anything else) you spot on a walk. Tap once for every critter you see. We'll quietly log the time and location of each sighting so you can revisit the walk later, see exactly where you spotted what, how many you found, and how long you were out. Track one animal or twenty. Rabbits, squirrels, hawks, frogs, neighborhood cats, mushrooms, cool rocks... whatever you want to notice, Critter Counter will count it. Whether you're on a slow evening stroll, a morning loop through the park, or a backyard wander at dusk, Critter Counter turns noticing into a tiny, joyful ritual. FEATURES • Count anything: Start with the twenty common animals we ship with, or add your own. Rabbits, squirrels, owls, butterflies, or "the weird heron at the pond." It's your list. • One-tap counters: A big, satisfying button for each thing you're tracking. No menus, no fuss. See it, tap it. • Sighting map: Every tap is pinned to where you were standing. Review your route as a map of small moments. • Walk history: Every walk is saved with its totals, duration, and sightings. Scroll back through every evening you've been out. • Apple Watch companion: Leave your phone in your pocket. Count from your wrist while you walk, even with multiple critters tracked at once. • A calm design: Dark-mode-friendly so it won't blast your eyes after sundown. • Undo a tap: Accidentally double-counted? One button removes the most recent sighting. • Guest mode: Don't want an account? Use the app without signing in. Your walks stay on your device. • Optional sync: Sign in with a magic link (no password) to back up your walks and sync between iPhone and Apple Watch. WHY USE IT Most fitness apps care about your pace and heart rate. Critter Counter cares about what you noticed. It's a small, single-purpose app for people who pay attention to the world around them and want a record of the small wonders they've crossed paths with. Great for: • Daily dog walkers • Suburban evening strollers • Birders, naturalists, and backyard observers • Kids learning to notice wildlife • Anyone who finds animals delightful (so, everyone) PRIVACY Your location is used only to tag your sightings and draw your walk on a map. In guest mode, nothing leaves your device. If you sign in, your walks sync securely so you can see them on any device you're signed in on. We never sell your data and we don't show ads. You can delete your account and all of your data from inside the app at any time. Happy spotting!

Screenshots

Smart Access VMS4 screens
Critter3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Smart Access VMS at 14.0 against Critter's 16.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smart Access VMS ships an update fortnightly, Critter every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Smart Access VMS versus Critter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmart Access VMSCritter
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCloudsellCHRISTOPHER RYAN SPURLOCK

In-app purchases

None

Smart Access VMS

No in-app purchases

None

Critter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Smart Access VMS free?
Smart Access VMS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Critter free?
Critter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Smart Access VMS or Critter have ads?
Neither Smart Access VMS nor Critter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smart Access VMS or Critter?
Smart Access VMS ships an update fortnightly, and Critter every 2 weeks. Most recently, Smart Access VMS was updated on September 28, 2026 and Critter on October 7, 2026.

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