iNaturalist Classic vs CloudLabs Ecosystems
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.
CloudLabs Ecosystems
Create and manage virtual aquariums and terrariums. Identify species and their ideal habitats to ensure their well-being in a simulated environment.
- Build aquariums
- Build terrariums
- Identify animals
- Identify plants
- Create ideal environments
- Simulate species well-being
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In this simulation, you will build an aquarium and a terrarium. Here, you will identify animals, plants, and the ideal environment for them to live well.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: iNaturalist Classic at 4.6 against CloudLabs Ecosystems's 1.5. iNaturalist Classic also leads on ratings volume (4.7K vs 4). CloudLabs Ecosystems's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). 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.
iNaturalist Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist Classic has 4.7K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.
iNaturalist Classic ships an update every 5 weeks, CloudLabs Ecosystems daily. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iNaturalist Classic | CloudLabs Ecosystems |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (4.7K ratings) — better | 1.5 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4.7K — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 164 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | iNaturalist | Jiovany Orozco |
Customer experience
iNaturalist Classic
CloudLabs Ecosystems
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
CloudLabs Ecosystems
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iNaturalist Classic
No in-app purchases
CloudLabs Ecosystems
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is iNaturalist Classic free?
Is CloudLabs Ecosystems free?
Which has better reviews, iNaturalist Classic or CloudLabs Ecosystems?
Do iNaturalist Classic or CloudLabs Ecosystems have ads?
Which is updated more often, iNaturalist Classic or CloudLabs Ecosystems?
Other comparisons
