Comparison

Monarch Watch vs Frog Spot

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Monarch tagging data submission
  • Recovery and calendar data logging
  • Automatic tag image capture
  • Streamlined data entry
  • Offline data saving
  • Educational materials
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Frog Spot

Identify frog species instantly by recording their calls. Explore detailed profiles, visualize sound patterns, and contribute to amphibian monitoring. This guide is perfect for nature lovers and researchers alike.

Highlights
  • Instant frog call identification
  • Custom spectrogram visualization
  • Live call activity map
  • Detailed species profiles
  • Frog ecology knowledge hub
  • Personal field journal logging
  • Contribute to amphibian monitoring
Features
Read full description

Frog Spot is the definitive guide to frogs near you. Record a frog call and identify the species in seconds with Frog Spot’s powerful call identifier. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a researcher, or just curious, this app makes exploring frog species easy and enjoyable. Features: • Instant call identification that lets you record a frog and receive a species match in seconds. • Custom spectrograms that visualize the unique sound patterns of every recording. • A live call map that shows where frog activity is most likely based on location. • Detailed species profiles with range maps, identification tips, behavior notes, and reference calls. • A comprehensive knowledge hub covering frog ecology, conservation, behavior, and anatomy. • Logging of identifications and recordings to build your personal field journal in the Explorer Dashboard. • Contributing recordings to help improve amphibian identification and monitoring. Designed for educators, citizen scientists, field researchers, and nature enthusiasts. Currently supports species identification across the Eastern and Western United States, with additional regions coming soon. Download Frog Spot and start discovering the frogs around you. Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Monarch Watch4 screens
Frog Spot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Monarch Watch at 100% against Frog Spot's 54%. Monarch Watch also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Frog Spot sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Monarch Watch asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Monarch Watch holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Monarch Watch's written reviews are positive against 54% of Frog Spot's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Monarch Watch versus Frog Spot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonarch WatchFrog Spot
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (7 ratings) — better2.7 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better53.8% of reviews
Number of ratings715 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB123 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe University of KansasEpoch Technologies LLC

Customer experience

Monarch Watch

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Frog Spot

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative38.5%

In-app purchases

None

Monarch Watch

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Frog Spot

Subscriptions1
  • Frog Spot Unlimited$2.991 Month
One-time1
  • Frog Spot Infinite$19.99

Questions

Is Monarch Watch free?
Monarch Watch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Frog Spot free?
Frog Spot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Monarch Watch or Frog Spot?
Monarch Watch is rated higher. Monarch Watch averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Frog Spot averages 2.7 from 15 ratings.
Do Monarch Watch or Frog Spot have ads?
Neither Monarch Watch nor Frog Spot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monarch Watch or Frog Spot?
Monarch Watch ships an update monthly, and Frog Spot monthly. Most recently, Monarch Watch was updated on October 23, 2026 and Frog Spot on October 24, 2026.

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