# Forest Insect Pests vs iNaturalist

The clearest difference is rating: Forest Insect Pests at 4.8 against iNaturalist's 4.1. iNaturalist's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 45 months) and ratings volume (715 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Forest Insect Pests holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 715 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Forest Insect Pests ships an update every 45 months, iNaturalist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forest Insect Pests | iNaturalist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-insect-pests/id575295408/reviews)** | [4.1 (715 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **715** |
| Positive reviews | — | 48.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 45 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#117** |
| Size | 586 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Charles T. Bargeron](https://appshunter.io/developer/381326173) | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) |

## What reviewers say

### Forest Insect Pests

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-insect-pests/id575295408)

Identify common North American tree pests with detailed photos and life cycle information. This educational tool aids foresters and landscapers in recognizing insect damage and finding further resources.

**Highlights:** Pest identification photos, Life cycle information, Damage recognition, Resource links, North American focus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### iNaturalist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561)

**Currently charting:** #117 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Identify plants, animals, and fungi using your camera or imported photos. Get AI-powered species suggestions and connect with a global community of nature enthusiasts to learn more about the natural world and contribute to scientific conservation efforts.

**Highlights:** AI species identification, Record species observations, Contribute to scientific data, Explore biodiversity, Connect with nature enthusiasts

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faster and more intuitive UI
- 👍 Improved features from website
- 💡 Batch upload and sorting options
- 🚀 Responsive and smooth performance
- 👍 Easier to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with observation time and location
- 🔍 Difficulty finding advanced editing options
- 🔍 Overly complex UI for basic tasks
- 🔍 Removal of useful features like map view
- 🔍 Too much reliance on AI identification

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes when suggesting IDs on audio clips
- Inconsistent tap responsiveness in search menu
- Observation time not accurately filling based on upload time
- Map showing incorrect observation locations
- Crashes and performance issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to type in address/coordinates for location
- Option to add observations to projects during upload
- Batch editing/uploading of observations
- More precise search filters (e.g. aquatic, parasitic, migratory)
- Bring back colored observation markers on map


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forest Insect Pests free?

Forest Insect Pests is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is iNaturalist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Forest Insect Pests or iNaturalist?

Forest Insect Pests is rated higher. Forest Insect Pests averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while iNaturalist averages 4.1 from 715 ratings.

### Do Forest Insect Pests or iNaturalist have ads?

Neither Forest Insect Pests nor iNaturalist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Forest Insect Pests or iNaturalist?

Forest Insect Pests ships an update every 45 months, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, Forest Insect Pests was updated on October 20, 2026 and iNaturalist on October 30, 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.*