# ArcGIS Survey123 vs GaugeWatcher

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GaugeWatcher at 67% against ArcGIS Survey123's 12%. GaugeWatcher also leads on rating (3.8 vs 2.8) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). ArcGIS Survey123's advantage is ratings volume (219 vs 9) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). 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.

GaugeWatcher holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcGIS Survey123 has 219 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of ArcGIS Survey123's written reviews are positive against 67% of GaugeWatcher's.

ArcGIS Survey123 ships an update every 2 months, GaugeWatcher every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcGIS Survey123 | GaugeWatcher |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (219 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-survey123/id993015031/reviews) | **[3.8 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaugewatcher/id6498313776/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **219** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 12.1% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 221 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ESRI](https://appshunter.io/developer/379687933) | [Andrew Althage](https://appshunter.io/developer/1631629264) |

## What reviewers say

### ArcGIS Survey123

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-survey123/id993015031)

Capture precise, location-aware data in the field using smart forms, even offline. Seamlessly sync collected information with your ArcGIS platform for real-time analysis and decision-making. Ideal for public feedback, inspections, and documenting field conditions.

**Highlights:** Smart forms for data collection, Offline data capture and syncing, Location-aware data with GPS, Support for various question types, Photo and audio attachments, Data validation and skip logic, Integration with ArcGIS platform

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Offline map viewing capability
- 🌍 Easy translation support
- 📝 Solid core functionality for data collection
- 🎨 Customizable forms when designed well
- 📱 Works well on iPad with proper configuration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Severe battery drain from continuous location tracking
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app freezes
- ⏱️ Significant lag and slow performance
- 🔐 Authentication and login issues
- 📸 Photo attachment failures and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Continuous location services polling even when app is closed
- iPhone 17 photo capture causes complete app crash
- Keyboard hangs during form data entry
- App crashes on login attempts
- Submit checkbox occluded by keyboard

**Requested features**

- Edit sent survey data capability
- Multiple photo selection from library
- Magic keyboard trackpad support for iPad
- Previous answers dropdown for repeated data entry
- Desktop/web-based survey completion


### GaugeWatcher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaugewatcher/id6498313776)

Access real-time river flow data without needing an account or encountering advertisements. Discover nearby gauges, monitor flow rates, and save your preferred locations for quick access.

**Highlights:** Real-time river flow data, Discover nearby gauges, Check flow rates, Bookmark favorite gauges, No signup required, Ad-free experience

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcGIS Survey123 free?

ArcGIS Survey123 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is GaugeWatcher free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ArcGIS Survey123 or GaugeWatcher?

GaugeWatcher is rated higher. ArcGIS Survey123 averages 2.8 out of 5 from 219 ratings, while GaugeWatcher averages 3.8 from 9 ratings.

### Do ArcGIS Survey123 or GaugeWatcher have ads?

Neither ArcGIS Survey123 nor GaugeWatcher shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ArcGIS Survey123 or GaugeWatcher?

ArcGIS Survey123 ships an update every 2 months, and GaugeWatcher every 9 days. Most recently, ArcGIS Survey123 was updated on October 28, 2026 and GaugeWatcher on October 25, 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.*