# Band Codes vs Raptor ID

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.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Band Codes | Raptor ID |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/band-codes/id509221314/reviews) | **[4.5 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raptor-id/id1033944000/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **50** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **83.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 14 MB | 766 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nemesis Code](https://appshunter.io/developer/500496365) | [HawkWatch International](https://appshunter.io/developer/1033943999) |

## What reviewers say

### Band Codes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/band-codes/id509221314)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Raptor ID

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raptor-id/id1033944000)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*