American Bee Journal vs Apiary Docket
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- How-to articles for all beekeeping levels
- Reader Q&A section
- Honey market outlook
- Beekeeping event listings
- Nationwide beekeeping news
- Offline access to issues
Read full descriptionHide 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.
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.
- Hive and apiary organization
- Detailed inspection logging
- Varroa mite monitoring
- Queen management
- Harvest records
- Treatment and feeding logs
- Equipment inventory
- Task management and reminders
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | American Bee Journal | Apiary Docket |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.3 (26 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 26 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 46 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dadant & Sons Inc | Floating Axe Head Ministries LLC |
Customer experience
American Bee Journal
Apiary Docket
In-app purchases
American Bee Journal
- American Bee Journal$3.993 Months
Apiary Docket
- Baby Bee | Monthly$1.991 Month
- Hobby | Monthly$4.991 Month
- Baby Bee | Yearly$11.991 Year
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- 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?
Is Apiary Docket free?
Which has better reviews, American Bee Journal or Apiary Docket?
Do American Bee Journal or Apiary Docket have ads?
Which is updated more often, American Bee Journal or Apiary Docket?
Other comparisons















