# American Bee Journal vs Apiary Docket

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | American Bee Journal | Apiary Docket |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/american-bee-journal/id518099492/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apiary-docket/id6746557567/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **26** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 40.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 66 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dadant & Sons Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/518099495) | [Floating Axe Head Ministries LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1698389541) |

## What reviewers say

### American Bee Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/american-bee-journal/id518099492)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| American Bee Journal | $3.99 | per 3 months |


### Apiary Docket

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apiary-docket/id6746557567)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Baby Bee \| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Hobby \| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Baby Bee \| Yearly | $11.99 | per year |
| Pro \| Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Team \| Monthly | $34.99 | per month |
| Hobby \| Yearly | $45.99 | per year |
| Commercial \| Monthly | $91.99 | per month |
| Pro \| Yearly | $114.99 | per year |
| Team \| Yearly | $344.99 | per year |
| Commercial \| Yearly | $919.99 | per year |


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