# iNaturalist vs MISIN Field Observer

The clearest difference is rating: MISIN Field Observer at 5.0 against iNaturalist's 4.1. iNaturalist's advantage is ratings volume (714 vs 3) 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.

MISIN Field Observer 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 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, MISIN Field Observer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iNaturalist | MISIN Field Observer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (714 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/misin-field-observer/id6770533769/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **714** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 48.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#84** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) | [Applied Spatial Ecology and Technical Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/549257962) |

## What reviewers say

### iNaturalist

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

**Currently charting:** #84 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


### MISIN Field Observer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/misin-field-observer/id6770533769)

Contribute to invasive species detection by submitting field observation data. The app allows for offline data capture, including GPS, photos, and species identification. Your contributions help track threats and inform management decisions.

**Highlights:** Offline observation submission, Species catalog with photos and descriptions, Interactive species map, Personal report history, Invasive species identification quiz, Earn achievement badges

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iNaturalist free?

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

### Is MISIN Field Observer free?

MISIN Field Observer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iNaturalist or MISIN Field Observer?

MISIN Field Observer is rated higher. iNaturalist averages 4.1 out of 5 from 714 ratings, while MISIN Field Observer averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do iNaturalist or MISIN Field Observer have ads?

Neither iNaturalist nor MISIN Field Observer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNaturalist or MISIN Field Observer?

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, and MISIN Field Observer every 2 months. Most recently, iNaturalist was updated on October 27, 2026 and MISIN Field Observer on October 9, 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.*