Comparison

Swarmkeeper vs BeeXchange

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Swarmkeeper

Receive real-time alerts for honey bee swarms and connect with other beekeepers. Organize clubs, build a network, and collaborate to protect bees and their habitats. Join a community dedicated to bee conservation.

Highlights
  • Real-time swarm reports
  • Connect with beekeepers
  • Form beekeeping clubs
  • Collaborate on bee conservation
  • Build a beekeeper network
Features
Read full description

Discover swarms, save bees, and connect with fellow beekeepers! Our app lets you receive real-time honey bee swarm reports from the public. Start a club, build your network, and collaborate to protect bees and their ecosystems. Join the hive today! Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms & Conditions: https://www.thehoneybeesociety.org/terms

About

BeeXchange

Connect with beekeepers worldwide in a dedicated community. Share knowledge, get advice on hive management, bee health, and honey harvesting. Find local connections and expert guidance for all levels of beekeeping experience.

Highlights
  • Dedicated forums and chat rooms
  • Seasonal hive management advice
  • Bee health and troubleshooting
  • Honey extraction and product tips
  • Gear and equipment reviews
  • Real-time field support
  • Hyper-local connections
Features
Read full description

Welcome to BeeXchange, the ultimate digital hive for beekeepers! Beekeeping is more than just a hobby. It’s a passion, a science, and a lifelong journey but sometimes it feels like a solitary endeavor. That’s why we created BeeXchange: a dedicated community where bee enthusiasts from across the globe can come together to connect, educate, and grow. WHO IS THIS COMMUNITY FOR? The Curious Beginner: If you’re fascinated by bees, you’ll find step-by-step guidance and a welcoming space to ask those early questions. The Backyard Hobbyist: Perfect for those managing a few hives who want to improve their honey harvest, increase winter survival rates, and share their backyard triumphs. The Seasoned Apiarist: Experienced and master beekeepers looking to discuss advanced genetics, share decades of wisdom, and network with dedicated peers. The Pollinator Advocate: Anyone passionate about bee conservation, planting pollinator gardens, and protecting our ecosystem. WHAT ARE WE ABOUT? Dive into dedicated forums, chat rooms, and educational spaces covering every aspect of apiculture: Seasonal Hive Management: Checklists and advice for spring build-up, summer flows, and winterizing. Bee Health & Troubleshooting: Collaborative advice on identifying, treating, and preventing pests and diseases like Varroa mites, wax moths, and foulbrood. The Harvest: Tips on extracting honey, rendering beeswax, crafting candles, and even brewing mead! Gear & Equipment: Honest reviews, DIY hive building plans, and advice on the best protective gear. Swarm Catching & Splits: Techniques for growing your apiary safely and effectively. THE BENEFITS OF JOINING THE HIVE: Real-Time Field Support: Spot a strange queen cell or unusual brood pattern while doing an inspection? Snap a photo, upload it to the chat, and get fast feedback from experienced keepers. Premium Education: Access a growing library of resources, articles, tutorials, and live Q&A sessions. Learn the "why" behind the "how." Hyper-Local Connections: Beekeeping is deeply local. Connect with members in your specific climate zone to share relevant advice regarding local nectar flows and weather challenges. Find a Mentor: Connect with veterans to guide you through your first seasons, or pay it forward by helping out a newcomer. A Niche, Focused Space: Unlike chaotic, generalized social media networks, BeeXchange is a distraction-free, moderated space dedicated purely to the love of bees. Don’t navigate the complexities of apiculture alone. Whether your goal is to save the bees, harvest gallons of liquid gold, or just learn a fascinating new skill, there is a place for you in our apiary. Download BeeXchange today and join the most supportive, educational, and passionate beekeeping community in the world. Let’s get buzzing!

Screenshots

Swarmkeeper3 screens
BeeXchange4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BeeXchange at none against Swarmkeeper's 2. BeeXchange also leads on ratings volume (42 vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Swarmkeeper's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Swarmkeeper sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. BeeXchange asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Swarmkeeper against 4.9 for BeeXchange. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BeeXchange has 42 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swarmkeeper ships an update every 3 weeks, BeeXchange weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Swarmkeeper versus BeeXchange: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwarmkeeperBeeXchange
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.9 (42 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings142 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB146 MB
Age rating17+9+
DeveloperThe Honey Bee SocietyBeex Online

Customer experience

Swarmkeeper

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BeeXchange

All ratings42 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Swarmkeeper

Subscriptions1
  • Swarmkeeper Pro Subscription$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Swarmkeeper Pro Subscription$9.99
None

BeeXchange

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Swarmkeeper free?
Swarmkeeper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BeeXchange free?
BeeXchange is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Swarmkeeper or BeeXchange?
Swarmkeeper is rated higher. Swarmkeeper averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while BeeXchange averages 4.9 from 42 ratings.
Do Swarmkeeper or BeeXchange have ads?
Neither Swarmkeeper nor BeeXchange shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Swarmkeeper or BeeXchange?
Swarmkeeper ships an update every 3 weeks, and BeeXchange weekly. Most recently, Swarmkeeper was updated on September 11, 2026 and BeeXchange on September 20, 2026.

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