Phyto vs Beach Detector
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Phytoplankton identification guide
- Marine and freshwater species
- Flash cards for learning
- Interactive identification games
- Species details and photos
- Submit observation results
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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).
Beach Detector
Discover and identify over 100 common animals, plants, and objects found on beaches. This app uses machine learning to recognize items via your phone's camera, offering quick and simple nature learning for all ages.
- Image recognition with machine learning
- Reference guide with 100+ beach items
- Learn about animals, plants, and more
- Intuitive and simple design
- Educational for children and adults
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Exploring the beach has never been more fun! Nature is fascinating, but you have to know something about what you see in order to have the greatest experience. With the Beach Detector you learn about the beach without being too nerdy, and in a quick and simple way. The app contains a reference book with 100 typical animals and plants and other things that you can often find on the beach. Beach Detector app also incorporates a feature that allows you to recognize many of the things you can find on the beach. By using the camera in your iPhone, you are provided with information about the various things you might encounter from the sea or living directly on the beach or in the dunes close by in Denmark. The beach is a paradise for locals and every single thing you find has its very own quirky history. Imagine being able to walk on the beach and learn about nature easily and simply, imagine being able to teach your children and each other about the adventurous world that is along Denmark's long coastlines. Suddenly you find out that the beach is nothing but sand and water. Kids will love it and the walk on the beach can easily go a little longer than usual. ************************ APP HIGHLIGHTS ************************ Beach Detector is your best friend when exploring the beach. - Intuitive design - Machine Learning for image recognition - More than 100 different animals and plants - Learning for both children and adults *********************** SAY HELLO *********************** We are always trying to improve Beach Detector and make it better and more fun. We therefore need your help. Do not hesitate to send us an email if you have any questions / suggestions / problems or if you just want to say hello. We love hearing from our users. If you like the app, be sure to rate us on the App Store. Tell your friends about how fun it is to use the Beach Detector.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Phyto at none against Beach Detector's 1. Phyto also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). Beach Detector's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (34 vs 6). On price and device support 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
Both are free to download. Beach Detector sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Phyto asks for nothing beyond the download.
Phyto holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beach Detector has 34 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Phyto ships an update every 10 months, Beach Detector every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Phyto | Beach Detector |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (6 ratings) — better | 4.6 (34 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 34 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 81 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Gano Technologies LLC | Grumsen Development ApS |
Customer experience
Phyto
Beach Detector
In-app purchases
Phyto
No in-app purchases
Beach Detector
- Lifetime access$2.99
Questions
Is Phyto free?
Is Beach Detector free?
Which has better reviews, Phyto or Beach Detector?
Do Phyto or Beach Detector have ads?
Which is updated more often, Phyto or Beach Detector?
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