Verdict
If you want a social network, a store, or a dosing calculator, this is not that app. If you want a log that works in a fish room with no signal and costs less than a test kit, it is.
| Typical aquarium app | FishTank Diary | |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Required | None |
| Pricing | Subscription | $3.99 one-timePro |
| Data collection | Analytics, sometimes account data | None |
| Offline logging | Usually degraded | Full |
| Multi-tank | Often paywalled + cloud | LocalPro |
| Export | Rare | CSVPro |
| Turtle tanks | Rarely considered | First-class |
Why “no account” is a feature, not a limitation
An account means a server, a password, a privacy policy with teeth, and a support burden that eventually becomes a subscription. None of that makes the nitrate number more accurate. Removing the account removes the reason to charge monthly, and it removes the reason your log can disappear when a service shuts down.
The honest trade-offs
- No sync between devices in the current release — export to CSV if you need to move history.
- No social features, no community feed, no store.
- The device is the source of truth, so your normal backup is your backup.
Try it before you decide
The free version supports one tank with unlimited logging — no time limit, no watermark. Pro is a single purchase if you need multiple tanks, trends or export.
