The Waterbug App vs UNE Safe
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Waterbug App
Identify freshwater invertebrates found in Australian waterways. Assess the health of rivers, creeks, and wetlands by observing these creatures. Contribute your findings to a national citizen science program.
- Waterbug identification
- River health assessment
- Citizen science contribution
- Data submission
- Australian freshwater invertebrates
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Identify waterbugs (freshwater invertebrates) from Australia, assess the health of a river/creek/wetland and submit data to contribute to the citizen science program - The National Waterbug Blitz.
UNE Safe
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UNE Safe is an essential tool to enhance your safety at the University of New England. The app will send you important safety alerts and provide instant access to campus safety resources. UNE Safe is the official mobile safety app of the University of New England. UNE Safe benefits include: - Safety notifications: Receive instant notifications and instructions from campus safety when on-campus emergencies occur. - Emergency help: contact campus safety staff quickly for help in an emergency. - Campus safety resources: access all important safety resources in one convenient app. Download today and ensure that you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: The Waterbug App at every 9 months against UNE Safe's every 29 months. UNE Safe's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The Waterbug App ships an update every 9 months, UNE Safe every 29 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Waterbug App | UNE Safe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | — |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months — better | Every 29 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Sharman | University of New England |
In-app purchases
The Waterbug App
No in-app purchases
UNE Safe
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Waterbug App free?
Is UNE Safe free?
Do The Waterbug App or UNE Safe have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Waterbug App or UNE Safe?
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