Comparison

Monarch SOS vs HabiTally

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

Head to head
About

Monarch SOS

Identify monarch butterflies and their host plants with this comprehensive field guide. Learn about their life cycle, threats, and conservation efforts. Compare look-alike species and stay updated on migration news.

Highlights
  • Monarch identification guide
  • Life cycle stages
  • Confusing look-alike comparison
  • Milkweed species identification
  • Conservation efforts information
  • Migration news updates
Read full description

Monarch SOS is a field guide for the public as well as a citizen science reporting app. It is the first monarch app developed by scientists that covers monarch identification in all life cycle stages, confusing look-alikes and numerous milkweed species (monarchs' larval host plants), frequently encountered in North America. Monarch SOS is a valuable tool for learning about monarch butterflies, threats they face and how everyone can help bring back the monarchs by making a few simple lifestyle changes. If viceroy and queen butterflies confuse you, quickly learn the differences in the "Compare" section under each butterfly. Keep up with the latest information on monarch conservation efforts and migration news by checking in daily with What's New? The feed is updated every time you open the app, so you'll always be in the loop!

About

HabiTally

This app allows users to record data about their monarch butterfly habitat conservation efforts. The collected, anonymized data is shared with conservation groups to help monarch populations recover.

Highlights
  • Record habitat conservation data
  • Support monarch butterfly recovery
  • Anonymized data aggregation
  • Data shared with conservation parties
  • Citizen science for wildlife
Features
Read full description

Monarch butterflies face many challenges that have contributed to a significant decline in their population over the last two decades. More breeding habitat and food resources, including milkweed and nectar sources, across the migration route will help monarch populations recover. HabiTally enables farmers, ranchers, landowners and private citizens to support these efforts by entering data about their monarch habitat conservation efforts. Data collected through HabiTally will be made anonymous and aggregated at the county level. HabiTally data will be shared with other parties involved in monarch conservation/habitat implementation while remaining anonymous.

Screenshots

Monarch SOS4 screens
HabiTally4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Monarch SOS at every 5 weeks against HabiTally's every 43 months. Monarch SOS also leads on ratings volume (18 vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). HabiTally's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

HabiTally holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 5 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Monarch SOS ships an update every 5 weeks, HabiTally every 43 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Monarch SOS versus HabiTally: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonarch SOSHabiTally
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (18 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings18 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 43 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size176 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNaturedigger LLCIowa State University of Science and Technology

Customer experience

Monarch SOS

All ratings18 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

HabiTally

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Monarch SOS

No in-app purchases

None

HabiTally

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Monarch SOS free?
Monarch SOS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HabiTally free?
HabiTally is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Monarch SOS or HabiTally?
HabiTally is rated higher. Monarch SOS averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while HabiTally averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Monarch SOS or HabiTally have ads?
Neither Monarch SOS nor HabiTally shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monarch SOS or HabiTally?
Monarch SOS ships an update every 5 weeks, and HabiTally every 43 months. Most recently, Monarch SOS was updated on October 16, 2026 and HabiTally on October 16, 2026.

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