# Bug ID vs Butterfly

The clearest difference is rating: Butterfly at 5.0 against Bug ID's 4.0. Bug ID's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 19 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bug ID sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Butterfly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Butterfly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bug ID has 844 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Bug ID ships an update every 5 weeks, Butterfly every 19 months. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bug ID | Butterfly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (844 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bug-id-insect-identifier/id6499542846/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/butterfly-identify-search/id6740738266/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **844** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 22.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 19 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 182 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AIBY](https://appshunter.io/developer/1458102137) | [Tam Vo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1777667253) |

## What reviewers say

### Bug ID

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bug-id-insect-identifier/id6499542846)

Instantly identify insects, spiders, butterflies, and slugs by taking a picture. Access detailed information about each species, track your discoveries, and organize them into custom collections. Become an entomology expert with this comprehensive guide.

**Highlights:** Instant insect identification via photo, Detailed insect profiles, Pest control and prevention tips, Track and save insect finds, Customizable insect collections, AI-powered bug finder

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly access (3 days trial) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly access | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly access (3 days trial) | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly access (3 days trial) | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium subscription | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast identification
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔍 Accurate identification
- 🔍 Detailed insect information
- 💡 Helpful for students and nature enthusiasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate identification
- 🔒 Deceptive free trial
- 💰 Subscription required
- 🙅‍♀️ Difficult to cancel subscription
- 📷 Struggles with blurry/small images

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent identification results
- Deleting photos after closing the app

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Zoom functionality for small insects
- Ability to provide additional details about insects


### Butterfly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/butterfly-identify-search/id6740738266)

Instantly identify butterfly species by taking a photo or uploading an image from your gallery. Access a detailed guide with facts and connect with a community of nature enthusiasts to share sightings and aid in identification.

**Highlights:** Instant photo identification, Gallery scan for identification, In-depth species guide, Community photo sharing, Offline identification mode, Multi-language support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade auf Pro Edition | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bug ID free?

Bug ID is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Butterfly free?

Butterfly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bug ID or Butterfly?

Butterfly is rated higher. Bug ID averages 4.0 out of 5 from 844 ratings, while Butterfly averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Bug ID or Butterfly have ads?

Butterfly shows ads; Bug ID does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bug ID or Butterfly?

Bug ID ships an update every 5 weeks, and Butterfly every 19 months. Most recently, Bug ID was updated on November 4, 2026 and Butterfly on November 4, 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.*