Comparison

AquaSense.fish vs ReefNote

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

Head to head
About

AquaSense.fish

This app helps you maintain healthy aquariums by monitoring water parameters, identifying fish from photos, and providing compatibility information. It offers tools for planning tank setups, tracking livestock, and logging maintenance, with AI-powered guidance for both freshwater and saltwater tanks.

Highlights
  • Water parameter monitoring (pH, ammonia, etc.)
  • Photo-based fish identification
  • Livestock compatibility checker
  • Species library with care requirements
  • Tank build planning tool
  • Maintenance logging and reminders
  • AI-powered care guidance
Features
Read full description

AquaSense is the all-in-one companion for keeping a healthy freshwater or saltwater aquarium. Whether you run a nano reef, a planted community tank, or a big cichlid setup, AquaSense turns guesswork into clear, confident care. YOUR TANK'S HEALTH AT A GLANCE See pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, KH, salinity and more the moment you open the app. Every reading is checked against the ideal range for your water type and livestock, so you instantly know what's fine and what needs attention. IDENTIFY ANY FISH FROM A PHOTO Not sure what you're looking at — at the store or in your own tank? Snap a photo and AquaSense identifies the species, then tells you how to care for it. KNOW WHAT LIVES WELL TOGETHER Before you add a new fish, check it against everything already in your tank. AquaSense flags aggression, size mismatches, and other conflicts so you avoid costly mistakes. TRACK EVERY FISH YOU KEEP Build a livestock list for each tank, with care levels, temperament, and notes. Tap any fish for a full species profile. A DEEP, TRUSTED SPECIES LIBRARY Browse a growing library of freshwater and saltwater species with real care requirements — temperature, parameters, diet, tank size, and compatibility. PLAN BEFORE YOU BUY Sketch out a tank build — water type, size, filtration, and stocking — and see whether it works before you spend a cent. CARE TOOLS BUILT IN Log water changes and maintenance, set reminders, and get AI-powered guidance tailored to your specific tank. AQUASENSE PRO Upgrade to Pro for unlimited photo fish ID, the full AI assistant, and advanced care insights. Subscriptions are billed through your app store account and can be managed or canceled anytime in your account settings. Freshwater or saltwater, beginner or expert — AquaSense helps you keep your fish healthy and your water right. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://aquasense.fish/privacy

About

ReefNote

Features
Read full description

ReefNote keeps your aquarium on track: log every water parameter, flag anything out of range, and keep dosing and maintenance on schedule. Testing is fast. Pick a parameter, tap the value on a big pad with the right unit (dKH, ppm, SG), and save. Each parameter remembers its last value, so a routine round of tests takes seconds. WHAT YOU GET - Parameter log with target ranges: reef and freshwater presets you can edit per tank, with out-of-range flags the moment you save - Trend charts: every parameter over 30 days, 90 days, or a year, with your target band drawn behind the line and each point coloured by its flag - Dosing and water changes: repeat schedules with clear overdue and due-today states, one tap to mark done - Livestock registry: fish, coral, and inverts with photos, added dates, and notes - Maintenance reminders: a per-task reminder so nothing slips - Tank journal: one timeline that mixes your tests, doses, and events - Tank report: a shareable PDF of parameters versus targets, livestock, and schedule, plus a CSV of every reading (Pro) REEF OR FRESHWATER Set the tank type and ReefNote starts with common target bands for each parameter, then lets you tune every band to the numbers you keep. FREE AND PRO Free includes one tank and 30 tests, with target ranges, trends, the schedule, and the livestock registry. Pro unlocks unlimited tanks, unlimited test history, and the PDF and CSV exports. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything stays on your iPhone. No account, no cloud, no tracking. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS ReefNote Pro is available as a monthly or yearly subscription, or as a one time lifetime purchase. The current price is shown in the app and on this page before you buy. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current period. Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

AquaSense.fish4 screens
ReefNote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AquaSense.fish at none against ReefNote's 3. AquaSense.fish also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, 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. ReefNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. AquaSense.fish asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AquaSense.fish ships an update every 5 days, ReefNote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
AquaSense.fish versus ReefNote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAquaSense.fishReefNote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB6 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperBRYCE SCOTT SMITHInnovaLabWorks

In-app purchases

None

AquaSense.fish

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

ReefNote

Subscriptions2
  • ReefNote Pro$5.991 Month
  • ReefNote Pro$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • ReefNote Lifetime$2.99

Questions

Is AquaSense.fish free?
AquaSense.fish is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ReefNote free?
ReefNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do AquaSense.fish or ReefNote have ads?
Neither AquaSense.fish nor ReefNote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AquaSense.fish or ReefNote?
AquaSense.fish ships an update every 5 days, and ReefNote every 3 weeks. Most recently, AquaSense.fish was updated on October 24, 2026 and ReefNote on October 4, 2026.

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