Comparison

Micro Fi vs GLOBE Observer

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

Head to head
About

Micro Fi

This application connects to a specialized handheld microscope, allowing users to view magnified images on their mobile devices. It facilitates exploration and discovery of the microscopic world directly from a smartphone or tablet.

Highlights
  • Connects to Wi-Fi enabled microscopes
  • View magnified images on mobile
  • Explore the microscopic world
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

Micro Fi is a viewing APP for use with the Micro Fi Wi-Fi enabled handheld microscope by Celestron

About

GLOBE Observer

Contribute to real scientific research by making environmental observations. Document clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees using your mobile device. Your data supports scientists worldwide, including NASA and NOAA.

Highlights
  • Make environmental observations
  • Document clouds
  • Map mosquito habitats
  • Record land cover
  • Measure tree height
  • Contribute to scientific research
Features
Read full description

The GLOBE Observer app enables you to make observations of your environment. GLOBE Observer is the app of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program. The GLOBE Program is an international science and education program that provides students and people of all ages worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. By using the GLOBE Observer app, you contribute scientific data to your community, students and scientists worldwide, including researchers at NASA, NOAA, and other science research institutions. GLOBE Observer allows all users to contribute observations of clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees. Trained and certified users can also use the app to submit additional environmental measurements from all GLOBE protocols. GLOBE Clouds allows observers to make regular observations of Earth’s cloud cover and compare them to satellite observations. With GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper, users locate mosquito habitats, observe and identify mosquito larvae, and reduce the potential threat of mosquito borne disease. GLOBE Land Cover is designed to allow users to document what is on the land (trees, grass, buildings, etc.). GLOBE Trees asks users to estimate a tree’s height by taking pictures of trees with their device and answering a few questions. Additional capabilities may be added. Visit us at https://www.globe.gov and https://observer.globe.gov.

Screenshots

Micro Fi4 screens
GLOBE Observer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Micro Fi at 4.3 against GLOBE Observer's 3.1. Micro Fi also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 34%) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 13.0). GLOBE Observer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 44 months) and ratings volume (86 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Micro Fi holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GLOBE Observer has 86 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Micro Fi's written reviews are positive against 34% of GLOBE Observer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Micro Fi ships an update every 44 months, GLOBE Observer every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Micro Fi versus GLOBE Observer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicro FiGLOBE Observer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (4 ratings) — better3.1 (86 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better33.9% of reviews
Number of ratings486 — better
Update frequencyEvery 44 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.1 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCelestron, LLCNASA

Customer experience

Micro Fi

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

GLOBE Observer

All ratings86 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral7.0%
Negative43.0%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive33.9%
Neutral18.6%
Negative47.5%

Bugs and requests

Micro Fi

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

GLOBE Observer

Reported bugs

39 issues
  • Checking for updates loop
  • 504 error on account creation
  • Fails after step 5 in account creation
  • Robot verification loop
  • App crashes on opening
Show 34 more
  • Observations not submitting (error exclamation mark)
  • Interminable in-app required update
  • Errors in data entry, observations not sending/deleting
  • Invalid password errors
  • Cloud observation chart images disappear
  • No reply from support
  • App doesn't open on iPhone
  • Won't update
  • Logged out, wrong password, account locked
  • Data lost after system crash
  • Cloud ID chart not loading properly
  • Observations keep loading forever
  • iPhone stuck on installing updates
  • App crashes and never fully loads
  • Can't get photos to upload
  • User interface poorly designed
  • No observations shown when there are
  • No way to export data
  • App is forever 'installing updates'
  • Camera portion of data collection quit working
  • No way to submit a report from 'Pictures'
  • Compass won't calibrate
  • Photo feature locks screen
  • No button to take photo
  • App crashes if location is not set
  • Updates take too long
  • Photo submission portal hopeless
  • Native camera app has no prompts to submit photos
  • 'Done' button does nothing
  • 401 unknown error when sending reports
  • App goes bonkers when attaching photo
  • Screen flickers rapidly when attaching photo
  • Cannot get out of camera within app
  • Whirring wheel for update in progress for hours

Requested features

8 requests
  • Improve UI/UX design
  • Add dark mode
  • Better translation
  • Notifications for satellite flyovers
  • Integrate with WorldView or Google Earth
Show 3 more
  • More explanation/examples for cloud types
  • Export data in spreadsheet/GPS format
  • Allow users to contribute design improvements

In-app purchases

None

Micro Fi

No in-app purchases

None

GLOBE Observer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Micro Fi free?
Micro Fi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GLOBE Observer free?
GLOBE Observer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Micro Fi or GLOBE Observer?
Micro Fi is rated higher. Micro Fi averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while GLOBE Observer averages 3.1 from 86 ratings.
Do Micro Fi or GLOBE Observer have ads?
Neither Micro Fi nor GLOBE Observer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Micro Fi or GLOBE Observer?
Micro Fi ships an update every 44 months, and GLOBE Observer every 2 months. Most recently, Micro Fi was updated on October 15, 2026 and GLOBE Observer on October 15, 2026.

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