Comparison

BatLib vs iNaturalist

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BatLib

Features
Read full description

The BatLib app plays the different ultrasonic calls of most European bats, transformed into the audible range using the heterodyne mixer method. This is particularly useful for comparing directly with the output of the BATSCANNER device to help determine the species. 1. Enter the frequency that your BATSCANNER displays to filter the species 2. Listen to the typical bat call sequences 3. Compare the sound with what you hear from your BATSCANNER 4. Sounds similar? Read additional information about the bat species, such as acoustic characteristics, size, habitat, photos, etc. Further information about our bat products: www.batscanner.ch

About

iNaturalist

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
Currently charting
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Your photos of plants, animals, fungi, and more can help protect nature all around the world. iNaturalist is free, nonprofit, and community-powered. iNaturalist helps millions of people learn about and document the nature around them. Point your camera at plants, animals, and fungi to get instant identification suggestions, then share your photos or sound recordings as an "observation." Then, see your observation get reviewed by a global community of knowledgeable nature-lovers to turn it into a useful data point for science and conservation efforts. Your everyday moments of curiosity can directly contribute to protecting nature, and you don't need any previous experience or knowledge to get started. iNaturalist is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to connecting people to nature and advancing biodiversity science and conservation, and is freely available thanks to the generous support of our community. KEY FEATURES • Identify species from anywhere in the world • Contribute to science by sharing your observations • Keep a record of species you see • Explore and protect biodiversity • Connect with and learn from other nature enthusiasts

Screenshots

BatLib3 screens
iNaturalist4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: iNaturalist at fortnightly against BatLib's every 26 months. iNaturalist also leads on chart position (#66 vs unranked). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BatLib ships an update every 26 months, iNaturalist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
BatLib versus iNaturalist: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBatLibiNaturalist
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.1 (684 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—48.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—684 — better
Update frequencyEvery 26 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
Best chart rank—#66 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB220 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElekon AGiNaturalist

Bugs and requests

BatLib

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

iNaturalist

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

None

BatLib

No in-app purchases

None

iNaturalist

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BatLib free?
BatLib is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is iNaturalist free?
iNaturalist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BatLib or iNaturalist have ads?
Neither BatLib nor iNaturalist shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BatLib or iNaturalist?
BatLib ships an update every 26 months, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, BatLib was updated on September 29, 2026 and iNaturalist on October 18, 2026.

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