Comparison

Hatchpedia vs CatchAtlas

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Insect identification by description
  • Detailed insect photos and life stages
  • Hatch timing and regional data
  • Offline functionality
  • Search by example
  • Location-based hatch suggestions
Features
Read 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

About

CatchAtlas

Log your fishing catches with detailed information, including species, size, bait, and photos. Analyze the rarity and estimate the age of your fish using scientific models. Automatically map your fishing spots and receive alerts for minimum sizes and breeding seasons.

Highlights
  • Log catches with species, size, bait, and photo
  • Advanced rarity analysis for every fish
  • Estimate fish age using scientific growth models
  • Map every fishing spot automatically
  • Track top catches and personal records
  • Minimum size and breeding season alerts
Features
Read full description

Track every catch, understand how rare your fish really is, and build your personal fishing history. FEATURES • Log catches with species, size, bait, and photo • Advanced rarity analysis for every fish • Estimate fish age using scientific growth models • Map every fishing spot automatically • Track top catches and personal records • Minimum size and breeding season alerts • Trophy certificate for exceptional catches Whether you’re a casual angler or a dedicated fisherman, CatchAtlas helps you understand your catches like never before.

Screenshots

Hatchpedia4 screens
CatchAtlas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CatchAtlas at 5.0 against Hatchpedia's 4.5. CatchAtlas also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 days). Hatchpedia's advantage is ratings volume (75 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Hatchpedia sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. CatchAtlas asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CatchAtlas holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hatchpedia has 75 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hatchpedia ships an update every 4 days, CatchAtlas every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Hatchpedia versus CatchAtlas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHatchpediaCatchAtlas
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (75 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings75 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.1 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size396 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJames SpeakerAlbert Harry Lawrenz

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Hatchpedia

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$2.491 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$26.991 Year
One-time1
  • Hatchpedia Lifetime Access$89.99
None

CatchAtlas

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hatchpedia free?
Hatchpedia is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CatchAtlas free?
CatchAtlas is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hatchpedia or CatchAtlas?
CatchAtlas is rated higher. Hatchpedia averages 4.5 out of 5 from 75 ratings, while CatchAtlas averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Hatchpedia or CatchAtlas have ads?
Neither Hatchpedia nor CatchAtlas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hatchpedia or CatchAtlas?
Hatchpedia ships an update every 4 days, and CatchAtlas every 2 days. Most recently, Hatchpedia was updated on November 7, 2026 and CatchAtlas on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons