# Swim Guide vs Ottawa Collection Calendar

The clearest difference is rating: Ottawa Collection Calendar at 4.9 against Swim Guide's 3.6. Ottawa Collection Calendar also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 62%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Ottawa Collection Calendar holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 109 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Swim Guide's written reviews are positive against 84% of Ottawa Collection Calendar's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swim Guide | Ottawa Collection Calendar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swim-guide/id435811871/reviews) | **[4.9 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ottawa-collection-calendar/id1247586800/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 39 | **109** |
| Positive reviews | 62.0% of reviews | **83.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 64 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Swim Drink Fish Canada](https://appshunter.io/developer/1593229299) | [City of Ottawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/858285439) |

## What reviewers say

### Swim Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swim-guide/id435811871)

Access up-to-date water quality information for thousands of beaches, lakes, and rivers worldwide. Easily find swimmable locations with clear indicators of water safety and detailed beach information. Discover new spots, get directions, and share your favorites.

**Highlights:** Real-time water quality status, Beach amenity and parking information, Map-based beach discovery, Searchable beach database, Directions to beaches, Bookmark favorite beaches, Share beach information

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ottawa Collection Calendar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ottawa-collection-calendar/id1247586800)

Access your garbage and recycling schedules for the City of Ottawa. Receive timely collection notifications directly through the app to ensure you never miss a pickup.

**Highlights:** Garbage schedules, Recycling schedules, Collection reminders, City of Ottawa specific

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly and easy to use interface
- 🔔 Helpful weekly reminder notifications
- 📅 Clear collection schedule information
- 🌍 Bilingual support (English and French)
- 💡 Waste Explorer feature for item categorization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- ⚠️ Blank screen after splash page
- 🔍 Address lookup failures
- 📍 Missing location locator feature
- 🖼️ Low resolution logo/splash screen

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when accessing details or Waste Explorer
- Blank screen loading after splash page
- Address not found errors
- App unresponsive to user interactions
- Crashes on iPhone when clicking bin information

**Requested features**

- Location/address locator integration
- Consolidated city services in one app
- Improved front screen with bin details displayed directly
- Calendar synchronization option
- Better support for special waste disposal items


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Swim Guide free?

Swim Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ottawa Collection Calendar free?

Ottawa Collection Calendar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Swim Guide or Ottawa Collection Calendar?

Ottawa Collection Calendar is rated higher. Swim Guide averages 3.6 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while Ottawa Collection Calendar averages 4.9 from 109 ratings.

### Do Swim Guide or Ottawa Collection Calendar have ads?

Neither Swim Guide nor Ottawa Collection Calendar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Swim Guide or Ottawa Collection Calendar?

Swim Guide ships an update every 3 months, and Ottawa Collection Calendar every 3 months. Most recently, Swim Guide was updated on October 29, 2026 and Ottawa Collection Calendar on October 29, 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.*