# Phyto vs Whale Encyclopedia

The clearest difference is rating: Phyto at 4.8 against Whale Encyclopedia's 4.2. Phyto also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (64% vs 50%). Whale Encyclopedia's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (20 vs 6). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Whale Encyclopedia sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Phyto asks for nothing beyond the download.

Phyto holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Phyto's written reviews are positive against 50% of Whale Encyclopedia's.

Phyto ships an update every 10 months, Whale Encyclopedia fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phyto | Whale Encyclopedia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phyto/id333237649/reviews)** | [4.2 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whale-encyclopedia/id1131302058/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | **64.3% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 81 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Gano Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/333237652) | [Good Spider, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1487595667) |

## What reviewers say

### Phyto

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phyto/id333237649)

Learn to identify common marine and freshwater phytoplankton with this educational app. It features a comprehensive identification guide, flashcards, and interactive games to aid learning. Developed with support from NOAA, it's designed for both iPhone and iPad.

**Highlights:** Phytoplankton identification guide, Marine and freshwater species, Flash cards for learning, Interactive identification games, Species details and photos, Submit observation results

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Whale Encyclopedia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whale-encyclopedia/id1131302058)

Discover detailed articles and stunning HD photos of whales from A-Z. This offline encyclopedia offers a simple, engaging interface perfect for both children and adults interested in marine life. Earn badges for reading and explore at your own pace.

**Highlights:** A-Z whale topics, HD photos, Offline access, Badge collection system, Simple user interface, Suitable for all ages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Full Version | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phyto free?

Phyto is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Whale Encyclopedia free?

Whale Encyclopedia is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Phyto or Whale Encyclopedia?

Phyto is rated higher. Phyto averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Whale Encyclopedia averages 4.2 from 20 ratings.

### Do Phyto or Whale Encyclopedia have ads?

Neither Phyto nor Whale Encyclopedia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phyto or Whale Encyclopedia?

Phyto ships an update every 10 months, and Whale Encyclopedia fortnightly. Most recently, Phyto was updated on October 23, 2026 and Whale Encyclopedia on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*