# iNaturalist vs LARE App

The clearest difference is review sentiment: LARE App at 100% against iNaturalist's 49%. LARE App also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.1). iNaturalist's advantage is ratings volume (714 vs 19) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). 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.

LARE App holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 714 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of iNaturalist's written reviews are positive against 100% of LARE App's.

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, LARE App every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iNaturalist | LARE App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (714 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews) | **[4.9 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lare-app/id6499281985/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **714** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | 48.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#102** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) | [Zhiyuan Yang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706157451) |

## What reviewers say

### iNaturalist

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

**Currently charting:** #102 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


### LARE App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lare-app/id6499281985)

Prepare for the Landscape Architect Registration Examination with a comprehensive app. It offers over 3,000 quiz questions, AI-powered assistance, and multiple study modes to help you master all exam sections and boost your confidence.

**Highlights:** 3,000+ quiz questions, LARE Expert AI assistance, Four study sections, Four study modes, Continuous updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iNaturalist free?

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

### Is LARE App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iNaturalist or LARE App?

LARE App is rated higher. iNaturalist averages 4.1 out of 5 from 714 ratings, while LARE App averages 4.9 from 19 ratings.

### Do iNaturalist or LARE App have ads?

Neither iNaturalist nor LARE App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNaturalist or LARE App?

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, and LARE App every 2 months. Most recently, iNaturalist was updated on October 27, 2026 and LARE App on October 25, 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.*