# iNaturalist vs Bat Detector

The clearest difference is rating: Bat Detector at 5.0 against iNaturalist's 4.1. iNaturalist's advantage is ratings volume (714 vs 4) and chart position (#78 vs unranked). 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.

Bat Detector holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 714 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of iNaturalist's written reviews are positive against 40% of Bat Detector's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, Bat Detector monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iNaturalist | Bat Detector |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (714 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bat-detector/id6504186190/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **714** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **48.6% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#78** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 136 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) | [Phil Atkin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1751268739) |

## What reviewers say

### iNaturalist

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

**Currently charting:** #78 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


### Bat Detector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bat-detector/id6504186190)

Listen to and record the ultrasonic sounds of bats using your iPhone or iPad. This app reveals bat acoustics through heterodyne detection and 16x time expansion, making their calls audible and musical. It also offers full-spectrum recordings triggered by bat sounds.

**Highlights:** Heterodyne bat detection without manual tuning, 16x time expansion for audible bat sounds, Full-spectrum recordings triggered by bat sounds, Real-time sound demodulation, Preserves harmonic relationships in bat calls, Supports European and global microbats

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iNaturalist free?

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

### Is Bat Detector free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iNaturalist or Bat Detector?

Bat Detector is rated higher. iNaturalist averages 4.1 out of 5 from 714 ratings, while Bat Detector averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do iNaturalist or Bat Detector have ads?

Neither iNaturalist nor Bat Detector shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNaturalist or Bat Detector?

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, and Bat Detector monthly. Most recently, iNaturalist was updated on October 27, 2026 and Bat Detector on October 24, 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.*