Comparison

TankLab vs FishDiary

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

Head to head
About

TankLab

Manage all aspects of your aquarium, from water parameters and livestock to maintenance schedules and expenses. Utilize AI for test strip analysis and personalized advice to keep your aquatic life thriving.

Highlights
  • AI test strip scanner
  • AI aquarium advisor
  • Water parameter tracking
  • Maintenance scheduler
  • Livestock manager
  • Expense tracker
Features
Read full description

TankLab is the all-in-one aquarium management app for freshwater, saltwater, brackish, and planted tanks. Whether you're cycling your first tank or maintaining a mature reef, TankLab keeps everything organized and your fish healthy. AI TEST STRIP SCANNER Snap a photo of your test strip next to the color chart and let AI read the values instantly. Results pre-fill your parameter log, just review and save. Supports API 5-in-1, Tetra 6-in-1, and similar multi-parameter strips. AI AQUARIUM ADVISOR Ask TankLab's AI anything about fishkeeping. It knows your tank's current setup, water parameters, livestock, and maintenance history, so every answer is tailored to your situation. Get help with water chemistry, fish compatibility, disease diagnosis, feeding schedules, plant care, and more. WATER PARAMETER TRACKING Log pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, GH, KH, temperature, salinity, phosphate, calcium, and more. Enter in ppm or degrees, the app auto-converts. View trends over time with interactive charts and get insights when values are out of range. MAINTENANCE SCHEDULER Set up recurring tasks for water changes, filter cleaning, feeding, dosing, and equipment checks. Get notifications when tasks are due. Check them off and build a maintenance streak. LIVESTOCK MANAGER Track every fish, invertebrate, coral, and plant in your tank. Browse species info, check compatibility, and keep a complete record of your aquarium inhabitants. TANK GALLERY & JOURNAL Document your tank's evolution with photos and journal entries. Look back at how far your aquarium has come. EXPENSE TRACKER Keep track of what you spend on equipment, livestock, food, and supplies. Know exactly where your aquarium budget goes. TANKLAB+ SUBSCRIPTION Free users get 1 tank, 5 AI questions per month, and all core tracking features. Upgrade to TankLab+ for unlimited AI questions, test strip scanning, iCloud sync across devices, and expanded tank and livestock limits. Download TankLab and give your aquarium the care it deserves. By using this app, you agree to Apple’s Standard End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

FishDiary

Features
Read full description

FishDiary is a quiet log book for aquarium keepers. Write down what you did to each tank and the water values you measured, then look back at how things changed. FishDiary keeps records. It does not decide anything for you: no scores, no verdicts, no advice. What you write is what you get back. WATER VALUES, DRAWN AS A LINE Save pH, GH, KH, NO3, NO2, NH3, PO4, Ca, Mg, temperature and salinity, each with the unit you actually use. Every tank gets its own chart, so a slow drift over several weeks is easy to notice. If a value you follow is not on the list, add your own. TODAY'S RECORD IN A FEW TAPS Log water changes, feeding, algae removal, dosing, equipment care, water tests and anything else. Add a date, a note and photos. You can define your own work types, and record the same work for several tanks at once. RECORDS AND PLANS ON ONE CALENDAR What you have done and what is coming up sit on the same calendar. Set repeating plans for weekly or monthly work. If you want a nudge, switch on a daily summary or a water change notification and pick the time yourself. YOUR TANKS, YOUR WAY Add as many tanks as you like, freshwater or marine, with photos, tags and the details you care about. Search across every tank and record when you need to find something. Archive a tank when it is closed down, and bring it back whenever you want. FREE AND PRO The whole app is usable for free, with a small banner at the bottom of three screens. On the free plan you can create up to three custom water parameters, custom work types, repeating plans and tags, and attach up to three photos per entry. Pro removes the banner and those limits, and adds export: - CSV of your tank list, care history, care summary or water values - PDF report for a single tank, or for your whole collection Pro comes as a monthly or yearly plan, or as a one-time Lifetime purchase with no renewal. A FEW MORE THINGS - Your records stay on your device. No account, no sign-in. - Backup and restore, so moving to a new phone keeps your history. - Light and dark appearance, or follow your system setting. - Available in 19 languages. Terms of Use: https://fishdiary.doooooraku.workers.dev/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://fishdiary.doooooraku.workers.dev/privacy/

Screenshots

TankLab4 screens
FishDiary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: TankLab at none against FishDiary's shown. On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. TankLab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and FishDiary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
TankLab versus FishDiary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTankLabFishDiary
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequency—Monthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB115 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperSquatchCraft LLCMAKOTO NAKAGAWA

In-app purchases

2 purchases

TankLab

Subscriptions2
  • TankLab+$4.991 Month
  • Annual subscription$34.991 Year
3 purchases

FishDiary

Subscriptions2
  • FishDiary Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • FishDiary Pro Annual$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • FishDiary Pro Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is TankLab free?
TankLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FishDiary free?
FishDiary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do TankLab or FishDiary have ads?
FishDiary shows ads; TankLab does not.

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