Comparison

eBird vs Raptor ID

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

Head to head
About

eBird

Easily record bird sightings in the field and contribute to a global database for scientific research and conservation. This app offers offline functionality, customized checklists, and GPS-enabled location plotting.

Highlights
  • Record bird observations globally
  • Global taxonomy and local common names
  • Location and time-based checklists
  • Rare species flagging
  • Offline functionality
  • GPS location plotting
  • Trip and day list tracking
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

eBird Mobile makes it easy to record the birds you see in the field, and seamlessly link these observations with eBird--a global online database of bird records used by hundreds of thousands of birders around the world. This free resource makes it easy to keep track of what you see, while making your data openly available for scientific research, education, and conservation. eBird Mobile is the only app that passes information directly from the iOS device to your eBird account on the web. Features - Enter bird observations from any location around the world. - Full global taxonomy based on The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. - Common names available in local languages (e.g., Portuguese names in Brazil or in Portugal). - Checklists customized for your location and time of year, showing most likely species based on eBird data. - Rare species flagged during data entry and on the checklist. - "Record as you go" functionality for incremental list keeping and counting while birding. - GPS enabled location plotting to ensure accuracy. - Map tools that enable selecting from hundreds of thousands of eBird "Hotspots." - Full offline functionality, enabling use in places with limited or no Internet connection. - Trip and Day list functionality that makes it easy to keep track of your species list on a particular outing. - Support for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. - Entire app translated to German, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Turkish, and Dutch.

About

Raptor ID

This app provides expert-level identification for North America's diurnal raptors. It features nearly 1000 annotated photos and videos to help users identify birds in flight, catering to both beginners and experienced birdwatchers.

Highlights
  • 1000+ annotated photos
  • Identification videos in flight
  • Range maps with eBird links
  • Species vocalizations
  • Expert Q&A forum
Features
Read full description

The first raptor identification app designed for mobile devices; "HawkWatch International's Identification Guide to Raptors" puts expert hawk identification content in the palm of your hand. In this guide to North America's 34 species of diurnal raptors, you'll find nearly 1000 annotated photos, and cutting edge identification video for each species, geared toward helping you identify raptors in flight. If you're just getting started with birding, this app covers the basics; if you're already an expert hawk watcher, this app covers all the variation that can lead to identification confusion, even among the most seasoned birders. • Developed by HawkWatch International in partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology • Comprehensive identification content created by Jerry Liguori and Brian Sullivan • ~1000 annotated photos covering plumage, age/sex, and geographic variation • Cutting edge ID-focused video showing each species in flight, including voice-over ID tips from Jerry Liguori • Range maps with links to interactive seasonal eBird maps • Vocalizations for each species • 'Ask the authors' raptor ID question forum

Screenshots

eBird4 screens
Raptor ID4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Raptor ID at 84% against eBird's 37%. Raptor ID also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.8) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). eBird's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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

Raptor ID holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: eBird has 803 ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of eBird's written reviews are positive against 84% of Raptor ID's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

eBird ships an update monthly, Raptor ID every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
eBird versus Raptor ID: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereBirdRaptor ID
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (803 ratings)4.5 (44 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.6% of reviews83.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings803 — better44
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
Best chart rank#112 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB766 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCornell UniversityHawkWatch International

Customer experience

eBird

All ratings803 ratings
Positive67.9%
Neutral9.7%
Negative22.4%
Written reviews361 reviews
Positive36.6%
Neutral18.6%
Negative44.9%

Raptor ID

All ratings44 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral6.8%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive83.9%
Neutral3.2%
Negative12.9%

Bugs and requests

eBird

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes when trying to start a new checklist
  • Inability to log in or access account
  • Inconsistent behavior with bird pack downloads
  • Checklist data not syncing across devices
  • Explore feature not working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to upload photos and audio directly in the app
  • Implement alphabetical sorting for checklists
  • Improve syncing between app and website
  • Add more advanced filtering and search options
  • Provide offline access to bird information

Raptor ID

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

eBird

No in-app purchases

None

Raptor ID

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is eBird free?
eBird is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Raptor ID free?
Raptor ID is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, eBird or Raptor ID?
Raptor ID is rated higher. eBird averages 3.8 out of 5 from 803 ratings, while Raptor ID averages 4.5 from 44 ratings.
Do eBird or Raptor ID have ads?
Raptor ID shows ads; eBird does not.
Which is updated more often, eBird or Raptor ID?
eBird ships an update monthly, and Raptor ID every 5 months. Most recently, eBird was updated on September 25, 2026 and Raptor ID on August 20, 2026.

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