Comparison

Monarch SOS vs Monarch Watch

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

Monarch Watch

Contribute to citizen science by tracking monarch butterflies. Log tagging, recovery, and calendar data with automatic image capture and field data import. Save data offline for later submission.

Highlights
  • Monarch tagging data submission
  • Recovery and calendar data logging
  • Automatic tag image capture
  • Streamlined data entry
  • Offline data saving
  • Educational materials
Features
Read full description

Participate in Monarch Watch community science projects and submit your monarch tagging, recovery and calendar data! Capture images of tags and automatically import codes for streamlined data entry. Easily import location, date, weather and other information then instantly submit data in the field. If no network connection is available, data may be saved and submitted later. All data from tagging, recovery, and calendar projects are saved on your device, giving you a record of what you have submitted. Detailed tagging instruction is provided as well as other educational materials and activities.

Screenshots

Monarch SOS4 screens
Monarch Watch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Monarch SOS at 13.0 against Monarch Watch's 15.6. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Monarch SOS against 4.7 for Monarch Watch. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Monarch SOS versus Monarch Watch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonarch SOSMonarch Watch
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (18 ratings)4.7 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings18 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size176 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNaturedigger LLCThe University of Kansas

Customer experience

Monarch SOS

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

Monarch Watch

All ratings7 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

Monarch Watch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Monarch SOS free?
Monarch SOS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Monarch Watch free?
Monarch Watch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Monarch SOS or Monarch Watch?
Monarch Watch is rated higher. Monarch SOS averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Monarch Watch averages 4.7 from 7 ratings.
Do Monarch SOS or Monarch Watch have ads?
Neither Monarch SOS nor Monarch Watch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monarch SOS or Monarch Watch?
Monarch SOS ships an update every 5 weeks, and Monarch Watch monthly. Most recently, Monarch SOS was updated on November 1, 2026 and Monarch Watch on November 3, 2026.

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