# iNaturalist vs Mathalon

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mathalon at every 2 days against iNaturalist's fortnightly. iNaturalist's advantage is chart position (#70 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

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

## The numbers

| Metric | iNaturalist | Mathalon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (714 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **714** | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#70** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) | [PETER CHRISTER ANDREAS NODTVEIDT](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788535616) |

## What reviewers say

### iNaturalist

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

**Currently charting:** #70 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


### Mathalon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathalon/id6788535614)

**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 Mathalon free?

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

### Do iNaturalist or Mathalon have ads?

Neither iNaturalist nor Mathalon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNaturalist or Mathalon?

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, and Mathalon every 2 days. Most recently, iNaturalist was updated on October 27, 2026 and Mathalon 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.*