Comparison

Band Codes vs Raptor ID

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Band Codes

Quickly access 4-letter codes used by bird banders for species identification. This reference tool also provides band sizes and important notes for banding specific birds, aiding in ornithological research.

Highlights
  • 4-letter species codes
  • Band size lookup
  • Banding notes
  • Quick reference
  • Ornithological research aid
Features
Read full description

Do you want to quickly find and learn the 4-letter codes which bird banders use to record each species? Do you need a quick reference to look up band sizes used for each species? The Band Codes app gives you quick access to the shorthand codes for the species names, as well as additional information such as band sizes and important notes regarding banding certain species. Bird banding is a common research technique to study migration timing and survival of birds. Birds are captured by a variety of methods and an aluminum band is attached to one of their legs. Each band has a unique number that allows researchers to learn about the birds movements and any physiological changes that may have occurred between the times it was captured. Note: If you are a birder, we suggest that you check out Bird Codes, which is more extensive, including all the species found in the area covered by the American Ornithologists Union. Banding birds is federally regulated, and only those trained and licensed as banders should attempt to catch and band birds.

About

Raptor ID

This app provides expert-level identification for North America's diurnal raptors. It features nearly 1000 annotated photos and videos to help users identify birds in flight, catering to both beginners and experienced birdwatchers.

Highlights
  • 1000+ annotated photos
  • Identification videos in flight
  • Range maps with eBird links
  • Species vocalizations
  • Expert Q&A forum
Features
Read full description

The first raptor identification app designed for mobile devices; "HawkWatch International's Identification Guide to Raptors" puts expert hawk identification content in the palm of your hand. In this guide to North America's 34 species of diurnal raptors, you'll find nearly 1000 annotated photos, and cutting edge identification video for each species, geared toward helping you identify raptors in flight. If you're just getting started with birding, this app covers the basics; if you're already an expert hawk watcher, this app covers all the variation that can lead to identification confusion, even among the most seasoned birders. • Developed by HawkWatch International in partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology • Comprehensive identification content created by Jerry Liguori and Brian Sullivan • ~1000 annotated photos covering plumage, age/sex, and geographic variation • Cutting edge ID-focused video showing each species in flight, including voice-over ID tips from Jerry Liguori • Range maps with links to interactive seasonal eBird maps • Vocalizations for each species • 'Ask the authors' raptor ID question forum

Screenshots

Band Codes2 screens
Raptor ID4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Raptor ID at 4.5 against Band Codes's 4.0. Raptor ID also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 34 months). Band Codes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Raptor ID holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Raptor ID has 50 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Band Codes's written reviews are positive against 84% of Raptor ID's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Band Codes ships an update every 34 months, Raptor ID every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Band Codes versus Raptor ID: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBand CodesRaptor ID
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.5 (50 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews83.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings450 — better
Update frequencyEvery 34 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB766 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNemesis CodeHawkWatch International

Customer experience

Band Codes

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Raptor ID

All ratings44 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral6.8%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive83.9%
Neutral3.2%
Negative12.9%

In-app purchases

None

Band Codes

No in-app purchases

None

Raptor ID

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Band Codes free?
Band Codes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Raptor ID free?
Raptor ID is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Band Codes or Raptor ID?
Raptor ID is rated higher. Band Codes averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Raptor ID averages 4.5 from 50 ratings.
Do Band Codes or Raptor ID have ads?
Raptor ID shows ads; Band Codes does not.
Which is updated more often, Band Codes or Raptor ID?
Band Codes ships an update every 34 months, and Raptor ID every 5 months. Most recently, Band Codes was updated on October 11, 2026 and Raptor ID on October 21, 2026.

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