Comparison

Phyto vs Wales Coast Explorer

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

Head to head
About

Phyto

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
Read full description

Phyto helps you learn to identify phytoplankton and their proper pronunciation. It includes the most common marine and freshwater phytoplankton. --------------------- Phyto Version 2.0 - Completely redesigned! --------------------- - Many new species added with more details and photos. - Freshwater and Marine species now included - Flash Cards and Fast Phyto: two games to help learn how to identify phytoplankton - Species Identification Guide - Phytoplankton Monitoring Network volunteers can submit sample observation results - Embedded news and information browser - Universal App: now works well on both the iPhone and iPad (support for all screen sizes and resolutions) ----------------- This application was developed by the Phytoplankton Monitoring Network which is sponsored by the Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research division of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

About

Wales Coast Explorer

Explore the entire Welsh coastline with this comprehensive guide. Identify wildlife, discover maritime archaeology, and learn about local geology and industry. Plan your trips with tide tables and receive alerts for access restrictions to protect marine life.

Highlights
  • Wildlife identification guide
  • Maritime archaeology map
  • Report wildlife and site sightings
  • Marine codes of conduct
  • Tide tables
  • Restriction alerts
  • Bilingual interface
Features
Read full description

Become a Wales Coast Explorer, with the coastline in your pocket. The Wales Coast Explorer | Crwydro Arfordir Cymru is your go-to FREE app for exploring the whole Welsh coastline – from estuary to ocean, beach to clifftop. Whether visiting or living locally, use the Wales Coast Explorer to plan your trip, enjoy the wildlife and landscapes and learn how to protect them. Features: Marine Codes of Conduct Equip yourself with the knowledge you need to enjoy the coastline responsibly – including exclusion zone maps, voluntary codes of conduct, and push notifications for sensitive habitats Wildlife Identification Your handy pocket guide to identifying the wildlife you are likely to see while out and about on the Welsh coast, estuaries and seas Wildlife Facts Learn about the amazing wildlife around the coastline of Wales – from seabirds to seals, dolphins to anemones, creepy crawlies to plants! Report a Sighting Share photos and locations of your wildlife sightings, and contribute towards the body of knowledge collected by your local Biodiversity Information Centre Maritime Archaeology NEW for 2022! Use our handy map to discover archaeological sites along the Welsh coast – including shipwrecks, promontory forts, ancient forests and other fascinating sites. Report an Archaeological site! As tides wash out and sands shift, old sites of interest can be exposed. Archaeologists at the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales https://rcahmw.gov.uk/ are looking for YOUR help to record the condition of these sites. Submit your photos and sightings via the App! Invasive Species Spotted something that shouldn’t be there? Get to know the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) for your area and support your local Biodiversity Information Centre by reporting your sighting through the App Fully bilingual The Wales Coast Explorer | Crwydro Arfordir Cymru is a fully bilingual App – just set your preference to English or Welsh within the App Tide Tables Never be caught out by the tide – use the accurate tide tables on the App to plan your trip (currently only available in Pembrokeshire) Geology and Industry Find sites showcasing the geology and industry of your area (currently only available in Pembrokeshire) Restriction Alerts 
By enabling background location mode, receive push notifications to agreed access restrictions that have been drawn up by conservation organisations and coastal users. These have been agreed to preserve and protect the marine wildlife, including the following access restriction zones: • Seabirds nesting • Seal area • Priority to wildlife • Slow: Minimum speed • Harbour • Ministry of Defence area • Extreme Caution: Porpoise area Plan ahead – Keep your distance – Reduce speed and sound Wildlife Safari • Explore regions • View walking routes • Lean and identify 'The Big 5' species • 360 VR images on current and 'Changed Landscapes' Note: Continued use of GPS can decrease the battery life of your device. The Wales Coast Explorer | Crwydro Arfordir Cymru is a project led by Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and delivered jointly by Marine SACs in Wales and NRW, funded by Welsh Government via Wales Marine Protected Areas. Maritime Archaeology information funded by and developed in collaboration with the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW). https://rcahmw.gov.uk/

Screenshots

Phyto4 screens
Wales Coast Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Phyto at 64% against Wales Coast Explorer's 50%. Wales Coast Explorer's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phyto ships an update every 10 months, Wales Coast Explorer every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Phyto versus Wales Coast Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhytoWales Coast Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews64.3% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 9 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGano Technologies LLCTinopolis Interactive Ltd

Customer experience

Phyto

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive64.3%
Neutral7.1%
Negative28.6%

Wales Coast Explorer

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Phyto

No in-app purchases

None

Wales Coast Explorer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Phyto free?
Phyto is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wales Coast Explorer free?
Wales Coast Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Phyto or Wales Coast Explorer have ads?
Neither Phyto nor Wales Coast Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Phyto or Wales Coast Explorer?
Phyto ships an update every 10 months, and Wales Coast Explorer every 9 months. Most recently, Phyto was updated on October 31, 2026 and Wales Coast Explorer on November 2, 2026.

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