# RayLab vs Birdathon

The clearest difference is ads: Birdathon at none against RayLab's shown. Birdathon also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). RayLab's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (63 vs 15). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RayLab sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Birdathon sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for RayLab against 4.7 for Birdathon. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 63 and 15 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of RayLab's written reviews are positive against 100% of Birdathon's.

RayLab ships an update every 6 weeks, Birdathon every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on July 29, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RayLab | Birdathon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raylab/id710190065/reviews) | **[4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdathon/id1211977440/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **63** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 39 MB | 192 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kamyar Ghandi](https://appshunter.io/developer/710190068) | [Barry Langdon-Lassagne](https://appshunter.io/developer/730758814) |

## What reviewers say

### RayLab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raylab/id710190065)

Design and simulate optical systems with this powerful tool. Explore 2D and 3D models, perform advanced ray tracing, and analyze optical performance. Ideal for learning or professional design.

**Highlights:** 2D/3D optical modeling, Geometric ray tracing, Sequential and non-sequential analysis, Advanced optical elements, Polarization ray tracing, Design optimization, Glass catalogs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RayLab Pro Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| RayLab Pro Upgrade | Free | one-time |
| Schott Glass Catalog | $0.99 | one-time |
| Custom Glass Editor | $0.99 | one-time |
| Advanced Optical Elements | $1.99 | one-time |
| Source and Lens Arrays | $1.99 | one-time |
| Solver/Optimizer Module | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3D Modeling | $4.99 | one-time |
| RayLab Pro 2 | $19.99 | one-time |
| RayLab Pro Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |


### Birdathon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdathon/id1211977440)

This app helps birdwatchers create and organize detailed checklists of their observations. It automatically records time and location, allowing for easy editing and customization. Users can visualize their sightings on maps, add field notes, and export data for sharing or further analysis.

**Highlights:** Observation-centric checklists, Automatic time and location recording, Customizable maps with boundary overlays, Field notes for additional observations, Multiple checklist sorting options, Data export to CSV and other formats, Create checklist templates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Good Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Great Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Amazing Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Incredible Tip | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RayLab free?

RayLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Birdathon free?

Birdathon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RayLab or Birdathon?

Birdathon is rated higher. RayLab averages 4.6 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while Birdathon averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do RayLab or Birdathon have ads?

RayLab shows ads; Birdathon does not.

### Which is updated more often, RayLab or Birdathon?

RayLab ships an update every 6 weeks, and Birdathon every 4 months. Most recently, RayLab was updated on July 29, 2026 and Birdathon on September 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*