The Waterbug App vs AMDI Data Collection
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.
AMDI Data Collection
This application allows citizen scientists and organizations to record and submit data on marine debris found during clean-up events. It uses a standardized methodology to contribute to a national database, providing insights into the types and amounts of litter impacting Australian coastlines.
- Data collection for marine debris
- Standardized methodology
- National database contribution
- Analysis of debris types and amounts
- Supports clean-up event organizers
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The Australian Marine Debris Initiative® Database enables citizen scientists and organisations who are running clean-up events to collect data on what they are finding with a consistent methodology so it can be collated into a standardised national database on marine debris and litter. The AMDI® Database provides a comprehensive overview of what amounts and types of debris are impacting coastlines and estuaries around the country, and is the most comprehensive marine debris database in the southern hemisphere.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Waterbug App at 88% against AMDI Data Collection's 0%. AMDI Data Collection's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 9 months). 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
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, AMDI Data Collection every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Waterbug App | AMDI Data Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 87 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Michael Sharman | TANGAROA BLUE FOUNDATION LTD |
Customer experience
The Waterbug App
AMDI Data Collection
In-app purchases
The Waterbug App
No in-app purchases
AMDI Data Collection
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Waterbug App free?
Is AMDI Data Collection free?
Do The Waterbug App or AMDI Data Collection have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Waterbug App or AMDI Data Collection?
Other comparisons
