iNaturalist Classic vs Cat Tracker 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iNaturalist Classic
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.
- Identify species globally
- Record species sightings
- Contribute observations to science
- Add observations to projects
- Learn about biodiversity
- Connect with nature enthusiasts
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iNaturalist Classic is the original version of our app. For the best experience, including many new features and ongoing updates, we recommend using the new, redesigned iNaturalist app. iNaturalist Classic offers a simple interface to record encounters with biodiversity for people who are already familiar with iNaturalist. KEY FEATURES • Identify species from anywhere in the world (while online) • Keep a record of species you see • Contribute to science by sharing your observations • Add your observations manually to projects • Learn about biodiversity • Connect with and learn from other nature enthusiasts iNaturalist’s nonprofit mission is to connect people to nature and advance science and conservation. iNaturalist is freely available thanks to generous support from our community of donors. Explore and learn even more at https://www.inaturalist.org.
Cat Tracker 2
This app helps researchers and enthusiasts understand the impact of domestic cats on native wildlife populations. It provides data to study cat population dynamics and their relationship with local ecosystems.
- Study cat population dynamics
- Analyze impact on native wildlife
- Data collection for research
- Understand ecosystem relationships
- Educational tool for conservation
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The domestic house cat (Felis catus) is considered one of the world’s worst invasive species. High densities of cats throughout cities wreak havoc on native small animal populations. The aim of my research is to better understand the dynamics of house cat populations in relation to the population dynamics of native wildlife.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: iNaturalist Classic at every 5 weeks against Cat Tracker 2's every 27 months. iNaturalist Classic also leads on ratings volume (4.7K vs 1). Cat Tracker 2's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Cat Tracker 2 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. 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, Cat Tracker 2 every 27 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iNaturalist Classic | Cat Tracker 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (4.7K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4.7K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 27 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | iNaturalist | AppHammer, LLC |
Customer experience
iNaturalist Classic
Cat Tracker 2
Bugs and requests
iNaturalist Classic
Reported bugs
3 issues- Login issues or inability to create account
- Slow upload speeds or observation syncing
- Inconsistent performance between mobile and web versions
Requested features
5 requests- 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
Cat Tracker 2
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iNaturalist Classic
No in-app purchases
Cat Tracker 2
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is iNaturalist Classic free?
Is Cat Tracker 2 free?
Which has better reviews, iNaturalist Classic or Cat Tracker 2?
Do iNaturalist Classic or Cat Tracker 2 have ads?
Which is updated more often, iNaturalist Classic or Cat Tracker 2?
Other comparisons
