# iNaturalist Classic vs CloudLabs Ecosystems

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | iNaturalist Classic | CloudLabs Ecosystems |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (4.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist-classic/id421397028/reviews)** | [1.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cloudlabs-ecosystems/id6449609362/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.7K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 81.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 44 MB | 164 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) | [Jiovany Orozco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114670847) |

## 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


### CloudLabs Ecosystems

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cloudlabs-ecosystems/id6449609362)

Create and manage virtual aquariums and terrariums. Identify species and their ideal habitats to ensure their well-being in a simulated environment.

**Highlights:** Build aquariums, Build terrariums, Identify animals, Identify plants, Create ideal environments, Simulate species well-being

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iNaturalist Classic free?

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

### Is CloudLabs Ecosystems free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iNaturalist Classic or CloudLabs Ecosystems?

iNaturalist Classic is rated higher. iNaturalist Classic averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.7K ratings, while CloudLabs Ecosystems averages 1.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do iNaturalist Classic or CloudLabs Ecosystems have ads?

Neither iNaturalist Classic nor CloudLabs Ecosystems shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNaturalist Classic or CloudLabs Ecosystems?

iNaturalist Classic ships an update every 5 weeks, and CloudLabs Ecosystems daily. Most recently, iNaturalist Classic was updated on November 4, 2026 and CloudLabs Ecosystems on November 3, 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.*