# iNaturalist Classic vs Nature Notes

The clearest difference is rating: iNaturalist Classic at 4.6 against Nature Notes's 1.0. iNaturalist Classic also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (4.7K vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nature Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iNaturalist Classic asks for nothing beyond the download.

iNaturalist Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist Classic has 4.7K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

iNaturalist Classic ships an update every 5 weeks, Nature Notes every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iNaturalist Classic | Nature Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (4.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist-classic/id421397028/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nature-notes/id1368239014/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.7K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 81.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 44 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) | [Kenneth Wahl](https://appshunter.io/developer/681454231) |

## What reviewers say

### iNaturalist Classic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist-classic/id421397028)

Record and identify species encounters with a simple interface. Contribute to scientific research and learn about biodiversity. Connect with other nature enthusiasts and explore the natural world.

**Highlights:** Identify species globally, Record species sightings, Contribute observations to science, Add observations to projects, Learn about biodiversity, Connect with nature enthusiasts

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for identifying plants, animals, and fungi
- 🤝 Supportive community of experts
- 🌱 Contributes to citizen science and research
- 🔍 Accurate identification suggestions
- 🌐 Works well globally

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/sorting observations
- 🔒 Privacy concerns around data sharing
- 🤖 Concerns about AI/ML identification accuracy
- 💬 Negative interactions with some community members

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues or inability to create account
- Slow upload speeds or observation syncing
- Inconsistent performance between mobile and web versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to follow other users and see their observations
- More filtering and sorting options for observations
- Offline mode for taking photos and uploading later
- Easier location input for observations
- Private/personal project functionality


### Nature Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nature-notes/id1368239014)

Record and share notes, photos, and audio from your outdoor adventures. Advanced tools allow for photo merging from other cameras and interactive map integration. Organize trips into multiple hikes and share them via email, web pages, or custom files.

**Highlights:** Record notes, photos, and audio, Merge photos from other cameras, Interactive Apple Maps integration, Organize trips into multiple hikes, Share via email, web pages, or files, GPS tracking and export (KML/GPX)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| English | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iNaturalist Classic free?

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

### Is Nature Notes free?

Nature Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iNaturalist Classic or Nature Notes?

iNaturalist Classic is rated higher. iNaturalist Classic averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.7K ratings, while Nature Notes averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do iNaturalist Classic or Nature Notes have ads?

Neither iNaturalist Classic nor Nature Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNaturalist Classic or Nature Notes?

iNaturalist Classic ships an update every 5 weeks, and Nature Notes every 4 weeks. Most recently, iNaturalist Classic was updated on November 1, 2026 and Nature Notes on October 10, 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.*