CactusDiary vs Node.
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CactusDiary
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This is an app that allows you to easily record the growth of your cacti and other houseplants every day. No tools such as rulers are required. With AR camera–based height measurement, you can easily keep track of your cactus’s growth. Simply point your iPhone camera at the cactus to capture its length and a photo at the same time. In addition to photos and total height (cm), you can also save watering amounts and notes, which are displayed on a named dashboard. You can see the growth of the cactus you carefully nurture at a glance. You can also share your dashboard with a single tap on social media and share your growth records with others. Observe your favorite cactus every day and record its growth. The app is free to use!
Node.
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Node. is an observation archive app for preserving plant growth through photos. Save observation photos, care logs, and notes on your device, then revisit each plant’s changes through timelines and comparison views. Node. supports fixed-point shooting with a previous-photo overlay, photo comparison, timelapse generation, Quick Log, custom care buttons, and local watering reminders. With the Plus Pack, you can use tags, search, iCloud Backup, and plant transfer export. Plant data can be exported as a .nodeplant file and passed to another device running Node. via AirDrop or the share sheet. A Local First plant record app you can start using without creating an account. Down to the memories you grew.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Node. at weekly against CactusDiary's every 6 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. CactusDiary sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Node. sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
CactusDiary ships an update every 6 weeks, Node. weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and July 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CactusDiary | Node. |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Takehiro Asari | Toshiki Isawa |
In-app purchases
CactusDiary
- CactusDiary App (Pro Plan)$1.99
Node.
- Plus Pack$9.99





