Hatchpedia vs FlyFinder™
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hatchpedia
Identify aquatic insects for fly fishing by describing their appearance. Access detailed photos, hatch timing, and regional information. Works offline for remote fishing trips.
- Insect identification by description
- Detailed insect photos and life stages
- Hatch timing and regional data
- Offline functionality
- Search by example
- Location-based hatch suggestions
Read full descriptionHide full description
A mayfly lands on you. What is it? What's a good fly to tie on? Hatchpedia puts a pocket-sized aquatic entomologist in your hand. Identify mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, and hundreds of other aquatic insects using everyday observations. Explore detailed photos, life stages, and hatch timing, whether you’re beside your favorite stream or planning your next trip. DESCRIBE THE BUG. DISCOVER THE INSECT. Upright wings. Yellow body. Two tails. 1/2 inch body. Describe what you see in your own words. Hatchpedia’s purpose-built search engine matches your observations against more than 520 insects that trout love to eat. No scientific names or special search syntax required. Not sure where to start? Search by Example gives you ready-made descriptions to try and adapt. BUILT FOR DAYS OFF THE GRID Your favorite fishing spots don’t always come with cell service. Hatchpedia’s insect identification and reference content work offline, so you can stay on the water instead of searching for a signal. Subscribers can use Hatchpedia offline for up to 14 days after their last successful subscription verification. Open the app online before heading into the backcountry. SEE THE DETAILS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE Explore more than 1,000 professionally licensed photographs selected to help you recognize aquatic insects through their life stages. Look beyond a name with detailed information including: - Common and scientific names - Approximate adult size - Known U.S. hatch regions and seasonal timing - An explanation of why an insect matched your search - Life-stage guidance explaining why each phase matters to trout FIND WHAT FITS YOUR WATER Use your location and date to narrow your search to insects associated with your area and season. Planning a trip? Choose a U.S. region and date to explore likely hatches before you pack your fly box. START LEARNING FOR FREE Explore Hatchpedia’s free educational pages about aquatic insects and their life cycles. Subscribe to unlock identification and the full reference experience. From the first insect you notice to a deeper understanding of your home water, Hatchpedia helps you fish with knowledge and confidence. Privacy policy: https://www.hatchpedia.com/privacy Terms and conditions: https://www.hatchpedia.com/terms Join our community: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hatchpedia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hatchpedia X: https://twitter.com/hatchpedia
FlyFinder™
Read full descriptionHide full description
DISCOVER THE PERFECT FLY FOR ANY WATER, ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA FlyFinder uses regional hatch data, live river conditions and weather to recommend the best flies for your location. Built by anglers, for anglers. From the technical trout streams of the Rockies to the vast lakes of the Canadian Shield, from spring creeks in Montana to tailwaters in the East, FlyFinder combines traditional fly fishing knowledge with modern technology to help you make better decisions on the water. WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT LOCATION-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS Get personalized fly suggestions based on your exact location, the season and regional hatch patterns. LIVE RIVER CONDITIONS (NEW) See flow, water level and whether the river is rising or falling at the nearest gauge (Environment Canada and USGS), with a plain-English read on what it means for your fishing. HATCH WINDOWS (NEW) Know when each insect is most likely to be on the water today, based on real sunrise and sunset times. ACCURATE SEASONAL DATA Explore detailed hatch calendars for regions across Canada and the United States. WEATHER AND WATER TEMPERATURE Current weather and real water temperatures (where gauges measure them) shape every recommendation. YOUR FLY BOX Save your favourite patterns. Recommended flies you already own are marked "In your fly box." PERSONAL LOGBOOK Track your catches, flies used and conditions, and FlyFinder learns what works for you. OFFLINE MODE Hatch data is built into the app, and your latest recommendations are saved for when you're away from cell service. COMPREHENSIVE FLY DATABASE 70+ curated fly patterns with detailed information and high-quality images. HOW IT WORKS 1. Download the app and allow location access (or enter a location by hand) 2. Get fly recommendations based on season, weather, river conditions and local hatches 3. Check today's hatch windows and plan your time on the water 4. Log your catches for even more personalized recommendations PERFECT FOR • Anglers fishing anywhere in Canada and the United States • Targeting brookies in remote wilderness or rainbows on famous rivers • Anyone wanting to make better decisions on the water • Building personal fishing knowledge over time SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Try every feature free for 14 days. After that, FlyFinder Pro unlocks personalized fly recommendations, live river conditions, hatch windows, weather analysis and unlimited logbook entries. • FlyFinder Pro Monthly: 1 month, auto-renewing • FlyFinder Pro Annual: 12 months, auto-renewing (save over 50% compared with monthly) • Prices are shown in the app in your local currency before you buy Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store account settings after purchase. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://flyfinder.ca/privacy BUILT BY ANGLERS, FOR ANGLERS Join anglers across North America who are making better decisions on the water. SUPPORT Questions? Contact us at info@flyfinder.ca Download FlyFinder and find your perfect fly today!
Screenshots
Verdict
Hatchpedia and FlyFinder™ are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. Hatchpedia sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and FlyFinder™ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Hatchpedia ships an update every 4 days, FlyFinder™ weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hatchpedia | FlyFinder™ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (75 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 75 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 396 MB | 127 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | James Speaker | Sarah Lewis |
In-app purchases
Hatchpedia
- Monthly7 Days trial$2.491 Month
- Annual7 Days trial$26.991 Year
- Hatchpedia Lifetime Access$89.99
FlyFinder™
- FlyFinder Pro Monthly14 Days trial$6.991 Month
- Flyfinder Pro Annual14 Days trial$39.991 Year








