{"id":4597,"date":"2021-01-24T10:38:56","date_gmt":"2021-01-24T15:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beekeepingfornewbies.com\/?p=4597"},"modified":"2022-09-11T18:13:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-11T22:13:05","slug":"hive-tracks-app-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beekeepingfornewbies.com\/hive-tracks-app-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Beekeeping Records: Hive Tracks App Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated on September 11th, 2022<\/p>\n

Beekeeping records are essential learning and management tools for both newbie and experienced beekeepers. There are many ways to keep records, and when it comes to beekeeping, like almost everything else these days, there are apps available. One such beekeeping app is Hive Tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hive Tracks, available as a native mobile app and via a web browser, tracks your beekeeping data to help manage your apiary. The developer of Hive Tracks has a version designed for large commercial beekeepers. However, in this review, we will discuss the software aimed at backyard hobbyists and sideliners.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See our article Record Keeping For Beekeepers (A Guide To Why, What & How)<\/strong><\/a> for more information about keeping records, including a list of other apps.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What Is Hive Tracks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hive Tracks software is a premium, cloud-based digital record keeping solution for beekeepers. According to the company’s website, Hive Tracks has more than 37,000 registered beekeepers in over 150 countries, tracking 159,000 hives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data is collected using native mobile apps (available on both Apple’s App Store<\/a> and Google Play<\/a>) or a web browser at HiveTracks.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mobile apps can be used offline and later synced with the web application connected to the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my opinion, being able to access the application from both an app and a web browser is a significant plus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mobile devices may be challenging to use while beekeeping. <\/strong>I can use my phone wearing nitrile gloves. Leather gloves make touch features unworkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working with honey, wax, propolis, sugar water, or various chemicals may not be conducive to handling your smartphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pricing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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As of this writing, Hive Tracks offer three pricing plans, each with a 30-day free trial period:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan Name<\/strong><\/td>Monthly Price<\/strong><\/td># of Hives Tracked<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Certified<\/td>$5.00<\/td>Up to 5<\/td><\/tr>
Journeyman<\/td>$10.00<\/td>Up to 20<\/td><\/tr>
Master<\/td>$20.00<\/td>Unlimited<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You can initiate the free trial without providing a credit card. I appreciate that.<\/strong> Name, email address, and password are all you need to give it a try. (Too many companies seem to require a credit card in the hopes that you will forget to cancel before the free trial ends if you don’t like the product.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting Hive Tracks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you first log in to Hive Tracks, you need to create a yard. A yard name is required, but you can provide additional information, including a description and location. Location details can be convenient if you have multiple locations and need to share that information with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hive<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Within each yard, you add your hives. Like the bee yard, each hive needs to be assigned a name. If you have many hives, you’ll need to have a system for finding each named hive when you are in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our small apiary, we identify the hives by color (green, yellow, etc.). A larger beeyard may benefit from a numbering system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navigating Hive Tracks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On subsequent visits to the app, Hive Tracks opens its first menu option, the Dashboard. Other menu options are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n