Comparison

American Bee Journal vs BeePlus Beekeeping Manager

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

Head to head
About

American Bee Journal

This app provides comprehensive beekeeping information for hobbyists and commercial keepers. It features how-to articles, reader Q&A, market outlooks, and event listings. Access the digital version online or offline.

Highlights
  • How-to articles for all beekeeping levels
  • Reader Q&A section
  • Honey market outlook
  • Beekeeping event listings
  • Nationwide beekeeping news
  • Offline access to issues
Features
Read full description

The American Bee Journal is dedicated to providing information about Beekeeping to everyone from the individual who keep bees for a hobby to the commercial beekeeper with thousands of colonies. We are the oldest continuous English language Beekeeping Journal in print. We have how to articles for all levels of beekeepers. Our Classroom section answers questions submitted by our readers. We list the honey market outlook for the nation. We have an events section that list beekeeping events for those who wish to attend seminars on beekeeping. We also provide up to date information on the state of beekeeping nationwide. The digital version is the same as the printed version. You will be able to read the magazine when connected to the internet or download the issue to your mobile device to take it with you for access anytime. You may purchase a paid subscription for 3 issues for $3.99 to be delivered directly to your mobile device. We have an automatic renewal feature that will automatically charge your credit card for another subscription unless you change your subscription preferences in your account setting so you won’t miss an issue. Many of our printed subscribers have years of the journal in their library and take great pride in their collection of The American Bee Journal.

About

BeePlus Beekeeping Manager

This app helps beekeepers manage their apiaries by tracking hive histories, honey production, queen information, and equipment usage. It offers detailed inspection logs, photo additions, and data syncing across devices. Plan your beekeeping tasks, monitor finances, and export records for easy sharing and printing.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive hive histories
  • Log honey production
  • Track equipment
  • Monitor finances
  • QR hive IDs
  • Detailed inspection logs
  • Data syncing between devices
Features
Read full description

Much more than an old notebook or some paper inspection sheets, BeePlus can help keep your apiaries organised and healthy, from tracking inspection records and honey harvested, to info on queens or where equipment is being used, add as much or as little detail as you need. • Build comprehensive hive histories • Add photos • Log honey production • Sync data between devices • QR hive IDs • Track equipment • Monitor finances • Export records as txt or csv • Plan with the notebook and to do items • Timeline for a quick overview • Plot locations and forage areas • Record info on queens • Get organised with plans • Track captured swarms Use quick inspections for when a few notes is all thats needed or record more detailed information on frame count, cells, activity etc with a few more taps, making accurate record keeping simple and fast. Add photos for a visual record too or use QR codes for quick hive id, share data with your beekeeping associates or export to spreadsheets and text files for printing, BeePlus is the hive tool for the modern beekeeper. With no restrictions on the number of hives you can track, BeePlus can be used by new and experienced beeks alike and grow with them as their hive count grows. Download now and start being a better beekeeper today. Any questions or problems please contact us at beeplus@hive-tool.com so we can try to get it sorted.

Screenshots

American Bee Journal4 screens
BeePlus Beekeeping Manager4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: American Bee Journal at Free against BeePlus Beekeeping Manager's $9.99. BeePlus Beekeeping Manager's advantage is review sentiment (84% vs 41%) and rating (4.7 vs 1.3). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

American Bee Journal is free to download; BeePlus Beekeeping Manager costs $9.99 up front. American Bee Journal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per 3 months. BeePlus Beekeeping Manager asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BeePlus Beekeeping Manager holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BeePlus Beekeeping Manager has 869 ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of American Bee Journal's written reviews are positive against 84% of BeePlus Beekeeping Manager's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

American Bee Journal ships an update every 6 months, BeePlus Beekeeping Manager every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
American Bee Journal versus BeePlus Beekeeping Manager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmerican Bee JournalBeePlus Beekeeping Manager
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating1.3 (26 ratings)4.7 (869 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.9% of reviews84.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings26869 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.211.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDadant & Sons IncOmniChrome

Customer experience

American Bee Journal

All ratings26 ratings
Positive7.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative92.3%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive40.9%
Neutral6.8%
Negative52.3%

BeePlus Beekeeping Manager

All ratings869 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral3.7%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews169 reviews
Positive84.0%
Neutral9.5%
Negative6.5%

Bugs and requests

American Bee Journal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

BeePlus Beekeeping Manager

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Photos disappearing from the app
  • App crashes when trying to edit certain features
  • Inconsistent data sync between iPhone and iPad

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to archive/retire hives
  • Queen breeding/tracking features
  • Pollen/honey production tracking
  • Automated syncing between devices
  • More customization options

In-app purchases

1 purchases

American Bee Journal

Subscriptions1
  • American Bee Journal$3.993 Months
None

BeePlus Beekeeping Manager

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is American Bee Journal free?
American Bee Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BeePlus Beekeeping Manager free?
BeePlus Beekeeping Manager costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, American Bee Journal or BeePlus Beekeeping Manager?
BeePlus Beekeeping Manager is rated higher. American Bee Journal averages 1.3 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while BeePlus Beekeeping Manager averages 4.7 from 869 ratings.
Do American Bee Journal or BeePlus Beekeeping Manager have ads?
Neither American Bee Journal nor BeePlus Beekeeping Manager shows ads.
Which is updated more often, American Bee Journal or BeePlus Beekeeping Manager?
American Bee Journal ships an update every 6 months, and BeePlus Beekeeping Manager every 2 months. Most recently, American Bee Journal was updated on September 20, 2026 and BeePlus Beekeeping Manager on September 25, 2026.

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