# eBird vs Trek Central

The clearest difference is rating: Trek Central at 4.7 against eBird's 3.8. Trek Central also leads on ratings volume (2.9K vs 803). eBird's advantage is chart position (#107 vs unranked) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Trek Central holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 803 and 2.9K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 37% of eBird's written reviews are positive against 27% of Trek Central's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

eBird ships an update monthly, Trek Central every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | eBird | Trek Central |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (803 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ebird/id988799279/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trek-central/id1609966547/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 803 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **36.6% of reviews** | 26.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#107** | — |
| Size | 81 MB | 207 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Cornell University](https://appshunter.io/developer/382072985) | [Trek Bicycle](https://appshunter.io/developer/780864901) |

## What reviewers say

### eBird

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ebird/id988799279)

**Currently charting:** #107 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent for citizen science
- 🔍 Helpful for finding birds at hotspots
- 📚 Useful for tracking life lists
- 👍 Easy to use and submit checklists
- 🤝 Integrates well with Merlin Bird ID

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📍 Issues with location tracking and mapping
- 🤔 Unintuitive user interface
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location data

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Trek Central

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trek-central/id1609966547)

Customize your eBike's motor assist, track ride metrics, and get real-time range calculations. The app also provides suspension setup recommendations and service reminders for compatible Trek eBikes.

**Highlights:** Motor assist customization, Activity tracking, Real-time range calculation, Navigation features, Suspension setup recommendations, Service reminders

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app when it works
- 👍 Good for adjusting bike settings
- 🔋 Decent battery life

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant connection issues
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Inaccurate data tracking
- 🔒 Poor password handling
- 👎 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to connect to bike
- Elevation tracking not working
- Ride data not syncing correctly
- Frequent app crashes

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Customizable dashboard
- Strava integration
- Apple Watch support
- Improved mapping and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is eBird free?

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

### Is Trek Central free?

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

### Which has better reviews, eBird or Trek Central?

Trek Central is rated higher. eBird averages 3.8 out of 5 from 803 ratings, while Trek Central averages 4.7 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do eBird or Trek Central have ads?

Neither eBird nor Trek Central shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, eBird or Trek Central?

eBird ships an update monthly, and Trek Central every 2 months. Most recently, eBird was updated on September 25, 2026 and Trek Central on September 24, 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.*