Comparison

Eco vs EI Field App

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

Head to head
About

Eco

This tool allows users to map plants and animals, record detailed attributes for each find, and display them on a map. It includes preset international databases and supports custom attribute definitions for tailored data collection.

Highlights
  • GPS-enabled location tracking
  • Customizable data attributes and forms
  • Integrated international species databases
  • Data export in CSV, KML, GPX, and Darwin Core formats
  • In-app photography with slideshow
  • Limited field trips and finds for Lite version
Features
Read full description

Eco:Map is a professional tool for mapping plants and animals as well as for biomonitoring with surveys on iPhone, iPad or iPod. Devices with a GPS unit determine the coordinates of each find automatically. For each find you can store a number of additional attributes e.g. the sex of a species. Each find can immediately be displayed on a map. Users who want to define their own attributes are able to do so by defining them while editing data. An easy-to-use editor supports enables you to design entire new forms which can be shared with other users. Eco:Map comprises fifteen preset international, German and European databases among them the „Catalogue of Life“ released by Species 2000 and ITIS. The latter one contains more than 2.34 million scientific names and synonyms and 70,000 English names of all organisms world wide. Besides that Eco:Map is able to import user defined databases. For further processing in other databases and applications you can export your data in the formats CSV, Simple Darwin Core, KML (Google Earth), and GPX. You decide whether you transfer a field trip's data to your computer via e-mail, via a browser in a local area network or via iTunes. Eco:Map enables you to take photographs within the app which you can view in a slide show. These photographs can be transferred to your computer just like any other data. Eco:Map Lite can save up to 3 field trips with 5 finds and 5 photographs per field trip. It is possible to import up to three own databases: the maximum number of species per database is 50. The maximum number of user defined templates is 3. The Catalogue of Life database contains only plants and funghi.

About

EI Field App

Features
Read full description

Surveyors can document on-the ground, ecological conditions for natural landscapes and waterways. This app is intuitive for users of any skill level, from experts to those with limited ecological background and training. Data collected with the Field App are used in the Ecosystem Intelligence Platform Design Module to assess the natural benefits (ecosystem services) provided by the environment. Key Features • Map habitat details and developed areas • Guided survey questions to accurately document site characteristics • Capture photos to support your assessment • Easily sync your data with the EI Design Module

Screenshots

Eco4 screens
EI Field App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Eco at 9.3 against EI Field App's 17.6. 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

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Eco versus EI Field App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEcoEI Field App
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.3 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size213 MB123 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMartin SeifertEcoMetrix Solutions Group

In-app purchases

None

Eco

No in-app purchases

None

EI Field App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Eco free?
Eco is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EI Field App free?
EI Field App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Eco or EI Field App have ads?
Neither Eco nor EI Field App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Eco or EI Field App?
Eco ships an update every 4 months, and EI Field App every 4 months. Most recently, Eco was updated on October 9, 2026 and EI Field App on October 24, 2026.

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