# Phyto vs HAB Detection

The clearest difference is update cadence: HAB Detection at every 8 days against Phyto's every 10 months. Phyto's advantage is ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

HAB Detection holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phyto has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Phyto ships an update every 10 months, HAB Detection every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phyto | HAB Detection |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phyto/id333237649/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hab-detection/id6743957312/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 81 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gano Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/333237652) | [Yang Cai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805330645) |

## 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


### HAB Detection

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hab-detection/id6743957312)

This application assists in identifying harmful algae blooms in ocean waters. Developed for NOAA, it utilizes advanced detection methods to monitor marine environments.

**Highlights:** Harmful algae bloom detection, Ocean water monitoring, Designed for NOAA, Developed by UCSD VIS lab

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phyto free?

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

### Is HAB Detection free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Phyto or HAB Detection?

HAB Detection is rated higher. Phyto averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while HAB Detection averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Phyto or HAB Detection have ads?

Neither Phyto nor HAB Detection shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phyto or HAB Detection?

Phyto ships an update every 10 months, and HAB Detection every 8 days. Most recently, Phyto was updated on October 23, 2026 and HAB Detection on October 17, 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.*