# MacroInvertebrates vs iNaturalist

MacroInvertebrates and iNaturalist both sit at 4.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of MacroInvertebrates's written reviews are positive against 49% of iNaturalist's. MacroInvertebrates also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). iNaturalist's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (714 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for MacroInvertebrates against 4.1 for iNaturalist. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNaturalist has 714 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of MacroInvertebrates's written reviews are positive against 49% of iNaturalist's.

MacroInvertebrates ships an update every 8 months, iNaturalist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MacroInvertebrates | iNaturalist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macroinvertebrates/id895060595/reviews) | **[4.1 (714 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **714** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 48.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#81** |
| Size | 24 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of Vermont](https://appshunter.io/developer/428584443) | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) |

## What reviewers say

### MacroInvertebrates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macroinvertebrates/id895060595)

This educational tool provides a mobile interface to a comprehensive database of Vermont macroinvertebrates. It aids researchers in the field by offering quick identification of aquatic organisms found in local streams.

**Highlights:** Mobile interface for macroinvertebrate database, Quick identification of aquatic organisms, Updates from online resource, User-friendly field interface, Educational tool for researchers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### iNaturalist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Identify plants, animals, and fungi using your camera or imported photos. Get AI-powered species suggestions and connect with a global community of nature enthusiasts to learn more about the natural world and contribute to scientific conservation efforts.

**Highlights:** AI species identification, Record species observations, Contribute to scientific data, Explore biodiversity, Connect with nature enthusiasts

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faster and more intuitive UI
- 👍 Improved features from website
- 💡 Batch upload and sorting options
- 🚀 Responsive and smooth performance
- 👍 Easier to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with observation time and location
- 🔍 Difficulty finding advanced editing options
- 🔍 Overly complex UI for basic tasks
- 🔍 Removal of useful features like map view
- 🔍 Too much reliance on AI identification

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes when suggesting IDs on audio clips
- Inconsistent tap responsiveness in search menu
- Observation time not accurately filling based on upload time
- Map showing incorrect observation locations
- Crashes and performance issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to type in address/coordinates for location
- Option to add observations to projects during upload
- Batch editing/uploading of observations
- More precise search filters (e.g. aquatic, parasitic, migratory)
- Bring back colored observation markers on map


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MacroInvertebrates free?

MacroInvertebrates is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is iNaturalist free?

iNaturalist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MacroInvertebrates or iNaturalist?

iNaturalist is rated higher. MacroInvertebrates averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while iNaturalist averages 4.1 from 714 ratings.

### Do MacroInvertebrates or iNaturalist have ads?

Neither MacroInvertebrates nor iNaturalist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MacroInvertebrates or iNaturalist?

MacroInvertebrates ships an update every 8 months, and iNaturalist fortnightly. Most recently, MacroInvertebrates was updated on October 24, 2026 and iNaturalist on October 27, 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.*