Apiary Tools

Comparison

The Best Free Beekeeping Apps in 2026

"Free beekeeping app" usually means one of three things: actually free, free until you pass a hive limit or a free trial that turns into a subscription. Here is how the current options break down.

I build Apiary Tools, so keep that in mind. Competitor details were checked July 2026 and link to their own sites so you can verify.

1. Apiary Tools

Free, no limits

Free hive tracking with no hive limit: inspections, varroa logs with grooming and decapping signs, photos, task reminders, a month calendar with .ics import, apiary sharing with roles, printable records for inspectors and an iOS app that works offline in the yard. Plus 16 free calculators and timelines (syrup, mite wash, oxalic dosing, splits, queen rearing) that don't need an account at all.

  • Unlimited hives, every feature free, donation supported, no ads
  • Offline-first: record with no signal, syncs later
  • iOS app + web; Android app in testing and coming soon (browser works meanwhile)

What it does not have yet: other languages or voice notes. The Android app is in testing and coming soon.

Start free

2. HiveTracks

Free up to 5 hives

A long-running, polished app with native iOS and Android versions and a web dashboard. The free tier covers up to 5 hives; beyond that it is roughly $50 per year. Offline support is limited, so check it against your yard's cell coverage. A good choice if you want a native Android app or are involved in their pollinator-data partnerships.

hivetracks.com · Detailed comparison

3. ApiManager

Subscription

Feature-dense and aimed at serious sideliners and commercial outfits: customizable inspection templates, voice notes, QR codes, team roles and more than 30 languages. It is subscription-based through the app stores rather than free, but the trial makes it easy to evaluate.

apimanager.net · Detailed comparison

4. A spreadsheet or notebook

Free

Genuinely fine for one or two hives, and better than an app you won't open. You lose reminders, mite trend history, photo records and sharing, and inspector-ready printouts mean retyping. But the best record system is the one you actually keep, and generations of beekeepers ran on a pencil. If you outgrow it, Apiary Tools imports CSV, so the spreadsheet is not a dead end.

What to check before committing to any app

  • Offline behavior. Try recording an inspection in airplane mode. Many yards have no signal, and this is where apps quietly fail.
  • Data export. Your records should leave with you: look for CSV or Excel export before you enter a season of data.
  • The real price after year one. Free tiers and intro prices change. Know what 20 hives costs in year two.
  • Speed with gloves on. An inspection entry that takes 3 minutes in the kitchen takes 10 in a veil. Fewer taps wins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free beekeeping app?

Depends what free needs to mean. Apiary Tools is fully free with unlimited hives (donation supported). HiveTracks is free up to 5 hives, then paid. Most other polished apps are subscription-based with trials. For a hobbyist who wants no hive limits and no card on file, Apiary Tools is the strongest truly-free option.

Why is Apiary Tools free when the others charge?

It is built by one beekeeper as a passion project and supported by donations rather than subscriptions. There are no investors to pay back and no ads. If it saves you time, you can chip in a jar of honey on the donate page. That is the whole business model.

Do I need an app at all, or is a notebook fine?

A notebook works, and plenty of good beekeepers use one. An app earns its place when you have more than a couple of hives, share the work with someone or want reminders, mite trend charts and printable records for an inspector without retyping anything.

Which beekeeping apps work offline?

This is the make-or-break feature, since many bee yards have no signal. Apiary Tools is offline-first: everything records locally and syncs later. Check offline behavior specifically when evaluating any other app, because "mobile app" does not always mean "works without internet".

Apiary Tools is free and runs on donations. Buy me a jar of honey 17