Monarch Watch vs BeeMachine
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Monarch Watch
Contribute to citizen science by tracking monarch butterflies. Log tagging, recovery, and calendar data with automatic image capture and field data import. Save data offline for later submission.
- Monarch tagging data submission
- Recovery and calendar data logging
- Automatic tag image capture
- Streamlined data entry
- Offline data saving
- Educational materials
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Participate in Monarch Watch community science projects and submit your monarch tagging, recovery and calendar data! Capture images of tags and automatically import codes for streamlined data entry. Easily import location, date, weather and other information then instantly submit data in the field. If no network connection is available, data may be saved and submitted later. All data from tagging, recovery, and calendar projects are saved on your device, giving you a record of what you have submitted. Detailed tagging instruction is provided as well as other educational materials and activities.
BeeMachine
Identify bee species using AI-powered computer vision. This free app allows you to log your sightings, map them, and contribute to scientific research on bee populations. It's a fun way to learn about local pollinators and their diversity.
- AI-powered bee identification
- Log and map bee sightings
- Learn about bee species
- Contribute to scientific research
- Explore bee diversity
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Identify bee species using computer vision. BeeMachine is a free community science app and a fun way to learn about the different bee species in your neighborhood or anywhere your adventures take you. Save your sightings, map them, and explore the diversity of bees. BeeMachine was developed by a small team of scientists and enthusiasts to provide expert-level identification skills for all. Your sightings will help scientists understand trends in bee populations and help us conserve these essential pollinators. Privacy Policy: https://beemachine.ai/page/privacy-policy Terms of Service: https://dev.beemachine.ai/page/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BeeMachine at 5.0 against Monarch Watch's 4.7. Monarch Watch's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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.
BeeMachine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 9 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Monarch Watch ships an update monthly, BeeMachine every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Monarch Watch | BeeMachine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (7 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 9 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 86 MB | 62 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The University of Kansas | Brian Spiesman |
Customer experience
Monarch Watch
BeeMachine
In-app purchases
Monarch Watch
No in-app purchases
BeeMachine
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Monarch Watch free?
Is BeeMachine free?
Which has better reviews, Monarch Watch or BeeMachine?
Do Monarch Watch or BeeMachine have ads?
Which is updated more often, Monarch Watch or BeeMachine?
Other comparisons
