# buttons event recorder vs Chronicling

The clearest difference is rating: Chronicling at 4.8 against buttons event recorder's 3.9. Chronicling also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (79% vs 60%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. buttons event recorder sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 6 months and Chronicling sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chronicling holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chronicling has 186 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of buttons event recorder's written reviews are positive against 79% of Chronicling's.

buttons event recorder ships an update every 2 months, Chronicling weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | buttons event recorder | Chronicling |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buttons-event-recorder/id955172667/reviews) | **[4.8 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chronicling-life-tracker/id6445992145/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **186** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **79.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 12 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **18.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Digital-Dirtbag](https://appshunter.io/developer/384470170) | [Rebecca Owen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1675314775) |

## What reviewers say

### buttons event recorder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buttons-event-recorder/id955172667)

Create and utilize custom macro keyboards for efficient event logging. Ideal for field notes, research, or hobbies, it tags events with time and location. Export data in KML, GPX, and CSV formats for easy sharing and analysis.

**Highlights:** Custom single-purpose macro keyboards, Field notes and research logging, Event tagging with time and location, Export data in KML, GPX, and CSV, Log detailed text beyond button labels, Exportable keyboards for team distribution

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features | $1.99 | per 6 months |
| 30 day free trial | Free | one-time |
| Unlimited logs and keyboards | $2.99 | one-time |


### Chronicling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chronicling-life-tracker/id6445992145)

This app provides a flexible way to monitor habits, health, mood, and daily activities. It offers customizable tracking options, quick logging methods, and insightful data visualization to help users identify patterns and maintain consistency. Secure syncing and data export are also available.

**Highlights:** All-in-one habit and health tracking, Fully customizable categories, Fast and effortless logging, Smart reminders for goals, Detailed data logging (notes, numbers), Visual insights and trends, Private and secure iCloud sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is buttons event recorder free?

buttons event recorder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chronicling free?

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

### Which has better reviews, buttons event recorder or Chronicling?

Chronicling is rated higher. buttons event recorder averages 3.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Chronicling averages 4.8 from 186 ratings.

### Do buttons event recorder or Chronicling have ads?

Neither buttons event recorder nor Chronicling shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, buttons event recorder or Chronicling?

buttons event recorder ships an update every 2 months, and Chronicling weekly. Most recently, buttons event recorder was updated on November 1, 2026 and Chronicling 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.*