Comparison

BinBuddy vs SortlyAI

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

Head to head
About

BinBuddy

This app helps expats in Korea correctly sort and dispose of trash. It uses AI to identify waste items and provides step-by-step disposal instructions in English, tailored to district-specific rules. Avoid fines and confusion with this essential tool for navigating Korea's recycling system.

Highlights
  • AI-powered trash recognition
  • English disposal instructions
  • District-specific recycling rules
  • Scan history
  • Multi-language support
Features
Read full description

Bin Buddy tells you which bin your trash goes in, and when to put it out, wherever you live in Korea. Point your camera at something you want to throw away. Bin Buddy shows you the right bin, what to do first (rinse it, flatten it, take the label off) and the Korean word to look for on the bin. The photo is checked on your iPhone and never uploaded. FIND ANY ITEM Search in English or Korean, or in Chinese, Vietnamese or Japanese. Each item shows how to prepare it, the mistakes people often make, and when it goes out. The guide works without an internet connection. YOUR DISTRICT'S SCHEDULE Choose your district, or let Bin Buddy find it, and see which bins go out tonight and from what time. Turn on reminders for trash nights, and add the widget to your Home Screen or Lock Screen. Pickup days come from Korea's national household waste data. FURNITURE AND OTHER BIG ITEMS See how bulky waste pickup works, find your district's booking page, and book a free pickup for large appliances. Bin Buddy can write a polite message to your building manager in Korean, and translate your district's notices. NOT IN THE GUIDE? Ask about anything else and get an answer on your iPhone, in your language. WHAT'S FREE The guide, your district's schedule, reminders and widgets are free, and so are your first few scans. Unlimited scans are a one-time purchase that your family can share. There's no subscription. If you subscribed to an earlier version, you keep unlimited scans while your subscription lasts. Scanning and asking questions use Apple Intelligence, on iPhone 15 Pro and newer. Bin Buddy is an independent guide, not a government service. Rules can differ from building to building, so your district's and your building's rules come first. Questions or ideas: hello@koreatrash.com Privacy: https://koreatrash.com/privacy Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

SortlyAI

Features
Read full description

SortlyAI helps you sort your waste correctly using AI. Simply scan an item with your camera and SortlyAI will tell you which bin it goes into. Features: - AI-powered waste scanning: Point your camera at any item and get instant sorting guidance - Smart bin management: Configure your bins based on your country's recycling system - Collection calendar: Never miss a pickup with smart reminders - Search database: Look up any item to find the right bin - Multi-language support: Available in English, Romanian, German, and Hungarian - Dark mode support - Household sharing: Share bins and schedules with family members SortlyAI supports recycling systems from Romania, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and more countries coming soon. Make recycling easy. Make a difference. Premium subscription: SortlyAI Premium unlocks unlimited AI scans, custom schedules, and household sharing. Available as a monthly ($0.99/month) or annual ($5.99/year) auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://sortlyai.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

BinBuddy4 screens
SortlyAI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SortlyAI at every 4 days against BinBuddy's every 4 months. SortlyAI also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 27.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BinBuddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and SortlyAI sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BinBuddy ships an update every 4 months, SortlyAI every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BinBuddy versus SortlyAI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBinBuddySortlyAI
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS27.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChris DeWeeseRaul Alex Ratiu

In-app purchases

3 purchases

BinBuddy

Subscriptions2
  • BinBuddy Monthly$0.991 Month
  • BinBuddy Yearly$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Bin Buddy Pro$9.99
2 purchases

SortlyAI

Subscriptions2
  • Sortly Premium Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Sortly Premium Annual$5.991 Year

Questions

Is BinBuddy free?
BinBuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SortlyAI free?
SortlyAI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BinBuddy or SortlyAI have ads?
Neither BinBuddy nor SortlyAI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BinBuddy or SortlyAI?
BinBuddy ships an update every 4 months, and SortlyAI every 4 days. Most recently, BinBuddy was updated on November 1, 2026 and SortlyAI on October 31, 2026.

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