# The Garden Guide vs DPPL Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: DPPL Mobile at 4.0 against The Garden Guide's 3.7. DPPL Mobile also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

DPPL Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of The Garden Guide's written reviews are positive against 67% of DPPL Mobile's.

The Garden Guide ships an update every 7 months, DPPL Mobile every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Garden Guide | DPPL Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-garden-guide/id566331679/reviews) | **[4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dppl-mobile/id1219940977/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 36 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chicago Horticultural Society](https://appshunter.io/developer/566331682) | [Des Plaines Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/522540997) |

## What reviewers say

### The Garden Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-garden-guide/id566331679)

Explore the Chicago Botanic Garden with this app. Discover plants, find your way around, and learn about the garden's features through tours and audio guides. It's a helpful companion for both visitors and home gardeners.

**Highlights:** Navigate 385 acres and 26 gardens, Discover plant information by name, color, or characteristics, Access walking tours and audio guides, Pin favorite locations, Track seasonal blooms, Personal garden docent

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### DPPL Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dppl-mobile/id1219940977)

Manage your library account, renew borrowed items, and search the catalog. Access digital content, discover library events, and receive personalized recommendations. The app also features a digital library card for convenient checkouts.

**Highlights:** Renew items, Manage account, Search catalog, Access digital content, Find library events, Digital library card

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Garden Guide free?

The Garden Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DPPL Mobile free?

DPPL Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Garden Guide or DPPL Mobile?

DPPL Mobile is rated higher. The Garden Guide averages 3.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while DPPL Mobile averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do The Garden Guide or DPPL Mobile have ads?

Neither The Garden Guide nor DPPL Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Garden Guide or DPPL Mobile?

The Garden Guide ships an update every 7 months, and DPPL Mobile every 6 months. Most recently, The Garden Guide was updated on October 23, 2026 and DPPL Mobile on October 6, 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.*