Comparison

ColonyIQ vs Hive Mind App

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

Head to head
About

ColonyIQ

Features
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ColonyIQ is the most comprehensive beekeeping management app built specifically for queen breeders, serious hobbyists, and commercial operations. Whether you're running a small apiary or managing hundreds of colonies across multiple locations, ColonyIQ gives you the tools to track, analyze, and improve every aspect of your operation from egg to laying queen. Colony and Queen Management Keep detailed records for every colony and queen in your operation. Log inspections with hive health scores, varroa mite counts, brood pattern ratings, temperament, honey stores, and more. Attach photos directly to colonies, queens, inspections, and calendar events so you always know exactly which hive is which even when you're suited up in the field. Track each queen's lineage, genetics, emergence date, instrumental insemination records, and performance history. Replace queens and automatically maintain bidirectional links between colonies and their queens. Queen Rearing Calendar ColonyIQ's built-in queen rearing timeline calculator automatically generates a step-by-step schedule from your graft date including capping dates, emergence, mating flights, and the first day queens can be instrumentally inseminated, accurately set to Day 7-10, the real-world window used by professional II breeders. Set custom reminders for key milestones and never miss a critical rearing step again. Instrumental Insemination Tracking Designed by beekeepers for II breeders, ColonyIQ tracks every insemination event with donor drone batch data, date, semen source, techniques used, and outcomes. BLUP genetic scoring lets you quantify performance traits across generations and identify your best breeding stock. The pedigree viewer visualizes multi-generation lineage at a glance. Mite Management and Treatment Records Log alcohol wash and sugar roll mite counts with colony-level trending over time. Record every treatment including oxalic acid vaporization, ApiLife VAR, MAQS, Apistan, and any custom method with dosage, application dates, and efficacy notes. The beekeeping calendar includes pre-built treatment regiment templates with automatic follow-up reminders. NFC Smart Tags Tap any NFC sticker to instantly open the colony, queen, or apiary record it's linked to with no searching and no scrolling. Write new tags directly from within the app, reassign them in seconds, and manage your entire tag inventory from the NFC Manager dashboard. NFC scanning works even when the app is fully closed on both iOS and Android. Apiaries and Locations Organize your colonies by apiary with custom location names, GPS coordinates, and notes. Move colonies between locations and maintain a full movement history. Attach photos to apiary locations for easy identification in the field. Harvests and Production Tracking Record honey, wax, pollen, and propolis harvests with weights, grades, and notes. Track production per colony over time to identify your most productive genetics. Beekeeping Calendar and Reminders A full-featured beekeeping calendar lets you schedule inspections, treatments, queen rearing cycles, drone production batches, swarm prevention checks, and custom events. Set reminder notifications so nothing falls through the cracks during your busiest season. Vaccination and Biocontrol Records Track American Foulbrood vaccination events, Oxalic Acid Extended Release treatments using the Randy Oliver and Aluen Cap method, and any other biocontrol treatments with complete records for each colony. Offline Ready ColonyIQ is designed to work in remote apiaries with no cell service. Records sync automatically when you return to connectivity so you never lose data from a day in the field. Free and Pro Plans Get started free with core colony and queen tracking. Upgrade to ColonyIQ Pro for unlimited colonies, advanced genetics scoring, NFC tag support, full calendar features, and priority support. Subscribe directly through the app or at colonyiq.app.

About

Hive Mind App

Features
Read full description

Hive Mind is a modern platform for beekeepers that combines a passion for beekeeping with the latest technology. Our app uses satellite data, AI analysis, and monitoring systems to help you increase apiary productivity and provide your bees with the best conditions for growth. Why choose Hive Mind? Satellite Forage Map: Stop guessing. Thanks to satellite image analysis, Hive Mind provides precise information about plant blooming in your area. Plan your apiary migrations based on hard data, not assumptions. Location Optimization: Analyze apiary density and the abundance of forage. We believe that, thanks to our analyses, in the coming years we will create an ecosystem where there will be enough space and nectar for every hive, and competition for forage will be a thing of the past. AI Monitoring: Monitor the health of your bee colonies alongside Maya, powered by beekeeping literature. Supporting the Ecosystem: We connect beekeepers with farmers and landowners to promote sustainable development and protect pollinators. Key app features: Real-time view of foraging maps. Management of apiary locations and hive inventory. Alerts about approaching weather hazards. Sustainable beekeeping at your fingertips Join the Hive Mind community and start using technology that protects bees and optimizes your work. Together, we’re building a smart future for beekeeping. More information: https://erend.space/hive-mind/

Screenshots

ColonyIQ4 screens
Hive Mind App4 screens

Verdict

The call

ColonyIQ and Hive Mind App are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters β€” price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them β€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ColonyIQ ships an update fortnightly, Hive Mind App every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
ColonyIQ versus Hive Mind App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterColonyIQHive Mind App
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 10 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS16.015.6 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size39 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJASON ALLEN BRAGGMariusz Dmochowski

In-app purchases

None

ColonyIQ

No in-app purchases

None

Hive Mind App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ColonyIQ free?
ColonyIQ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hive Mind App free?
Hive Mind App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ColonyIQ or Hive Mind App have ads?
Neither ColonyIQ nor Hive Mind App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ColonyIQ or Hive Mind App?
ColonyIQ ships an update fortnightly, and Hive Mind App every 10 days. Most recently, ColonyIQ was updated on October 14, 2026 and Hive Mind App on October 25, 2026.

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