Comparison

American Bee Journal vs Apiary Docket

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

Apiary Docket

Manage your entire apiary with this comprehensive beekeeping platform. Track hives, log detailed inspections, monitor mite levels, manage queens, and record harvests. Stay organized with task management and smart reminders, all synced across your devices.

Highlights
  • Hive and apiary organization
  • Detailed inspection logging
  • Varroa mite monitoring
  • Queen management
  • Harvest records
  • Treatment and feeding logs
  • Equipment inventory
  • Task management and reminders
Features
Read full description

For apiarydocket.com members Apiary Docket the all-in-one beekeeping management platform built for every beekeeper, whether you tend a single backyard hive or run a commercial operation with hundreds. Replace scattered notebooks, spreadsheets, and sticky notes with one powerful, beautifully designed app that keeps your entire apiary at your fingertips. **HIVE & APIARY MANAGEMENT** Organize unlimited apiaries and hives with GPS coordinates, color coding, setup dates, and custom notes. See the health status of every colony at a glance from your apiary dashboard. **DETAILED INSPECTION LOGS** Record every hive visit with structured forms — brood pattern, egg-laying, population, temperament, comb condition, disease signs, and more. Attach photos for visual documentation. Scroll through your complete inspection history with a timeline view. **VARROA MITE MONITORING** Log mite checks using alcohol wash or sugar roll methods. Track mite levels over time with trend charts, get threshold alerts when levels approach danger, and correlate mite counts with treatment history to evaluate what works. **QUEEN MANAGEMENT** Never lose track of your most important bee. Record queen origin, breed, age, marked color, and introduction date. Log laying performance and temperament over time. Set automatic re-queening reminders when queens age or performance declines. **HARVEST RECORDS** Log every honey, wax, and propolis harvest with weight, date, and notes. Build a complete history of your apiary's productivity season after season. Track totals and trends to understand your yields. **TREATMENTS & FEEDING** Track all treatment events — oxalic acid, ApiVar, Apiguard, and more — with dosage, timing, and results. Log sugar syrup, pollen patties, and other feedings. Stay organized and compliant with a full treatment history. **EQUIPMENT & INVENTORY** Manage your beekeeping equipment by category with a clean table view. Track inventory levels with low-stock alerts and value calculations so you never show up to the yard unprepared. **GARDEN & FORAGE TRACKING** Map nearby forage plants and bloom calendars. Plan your garden plantings to support your bees with the nectar and pollen they need throughout the season. **TASK MANAGEMENT** Create and track beekeeping tasks with status filters and inline completion. Never forget an inspection, treatment window, or seasonal to-do again. **SMART REMINDERS** Get timely push notifications for upcoming inspections, treatment windows, re-queening dates, and seasonal tasks. Stay ahead of your bees, not behind. **BUILT FOR REAL BEEKEEPERS** • Works on iPhone, iPad, and the web at api-log.net • Syncs across all your devices in real time via the cloud • Clean, modern interface designed for use in the field • Secure — your data stays private with Firebase authentication • Start free and scale as you grow, or stay free forever Whether you're a first-year beekeeper learning the ropes or a seasoned professional managing hundreds of colonies, api-log.net gives you the tools to keep your bees healthy, your records organized, and your operation thriving. Download API Log today and give your hives the attention they deserve. Terms of Use (EULA): https://apiarydocket.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://apiarydocket.com/privacy/

Screenshots

American Bee Journal4 screens
Apiary Docket4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Apiary Docket at 5.0 against American Bee Journal's 1.3. Apiary Docket also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 months). American Bee Journal's advantage is ratings volume (26 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.2 vs 18.6). On price, ads, 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. American Bee Journal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per 3 months and Apiary Docket sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Apiary Docket holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: American Bee Journal has 26 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

American Bee Journal ships an update every 6 months, Apiary Docket every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
American Bee Journal versus Apiary Docket: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmerican Bee JournalApiary Docket
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.3 (26 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings26 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.2 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDadant & Sons IncFloating Axe Head Ministries LLC

Customer experience

American Bee Journal

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

Apiary Docket

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

American Bee Journal

Subscriptions1
  • American Bee Journal$3.993 Months
10 purchases

Apiary Docket

Subscriptions10
  • Baby Bee | Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Hobby | Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Baby Bee | Yearly$11.991 Year
Show 7 more
  • Pro | Monthly$11.991 Month
  • Team | Monthly$34.991 Month
  • Hobby | Yearly$45.991 Year
  • Commercial | Monthly$91.991 Month
  • Pro | Yearly$114.991 Year
  • Team | Yearly$344.991 Year
  • Commercial | Yearly$919.991 Year

Questions

Is American Bee Journal free?
American Bee Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Apiary Docket free?
Apiary Docket is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, American Bee Journal or Apiary Docket?
Apiary Docket is rated higher. American Bee Journal averages 1.3 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Apiary Docket averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do American Bee Journal or Apiary Docket have ads?
Neither American Bee Journal nor Apiary Docket shows ads.
Which is updated more often, American Bee Journal or Apiary Docket?
American Bee Journal ships an update every 6 months, and Apiary Docket every 9 days. Most recently, American Bee Journal was updated on September 20, 2026 and Apiary Docket on September 11, 2026.

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