# Monarch SOS vs Budburst

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Monarch SOS at 100% against Budburst's 50%. Monarch SOS also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Monarch SOS holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Monarch SOS's written reviews are positive against 50% of Budburst's.

Monarch SOS ships an update every 5 weeks, Budburst every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monarch SOS | Budburst |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monarch-sos/id956347677/reviews)** | [4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budburst/id1531186881/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 176 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Naturedigger LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/658672412) | [Chicago Horticultural Society](https://appshunter.io/developer/566331682) |

## What reviewers say

### Monarch SOS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monarch-sos/id956347677)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Budburst

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budburst/id1531186881)

Observe and record plant data to contribute to a national community science project. Identify plants, track their life cycles, and collaborate with others to understand and preserve nature.

**Highlights:** Observe plants with interactive map, In-app plant identification tool, Monitor plant life cycles, Track plant-animal interactions, Collaborate in community groups

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monarch SOS free?

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

### Is Budburst free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Monarch SOS or Budburst?

Monarch SOS is rated higher. Monarch SOS averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Budburst averages 4.2 from 13 ratings.

### Do Monarch SOS or Budburst have ads?

Neither Monarch SOS nor Budburst shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monarch SOS or Budburst?

Monarch SOS ships an update every 5 weeks, and Budburst every 2 months. Most recently, Monarch SOS was updated on November 1, 2026 and Budburst on November 3, 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.*