Beekeeping Apps Compared 2026: BeeInTouch vs. Imkado vs. Hivekraft

Since EU Regulation 2019/6, comprehensive documentation of veterinary medications is mandatory for all beekeepers in the EU — including hobbyists with just three colonies. Colony records must be kept for five years and presented upon inspection. Now more than ever, a digital solution that handles this documentation automatically makes sense.

But which app is the right one? In the German-speaking market, three providers have established themselves: BeeInTouch, Imkado, and Hivekraft. Each app has its own philosophy, different strengths, and a different pricing model. We compare all three — honestly, with strengths and weaknesses. As of: March 2026.

The Three Apps at a Glance

BeeInTouch

BeeInTouch is, according to our research, the most widely used beekeeping app in the German-speaking region with over 22,000 registered users. The app has been on the market since 2015 and offers native apps for iOS and Android as well as a web version. The focus is on classic hive record management: creating colonies, documenting inspections, recording treatments. BeeInTouch is developed by a small team from Austria.

Imkado

Imkado takes a different approach: the app itself is completely free — no restrictions, no ads, no hidden costs. The business model is based on selling their own Imkado system, a hardware combination of hive scales and sensors. However, the app also works without the hardware as a pure hive record app. Imkado comes from southern Germany and primarily targets technically-minded beekeepers.

Hivekraft

Hivekraft is the newest provider in this comparison (since February 2026) and pursues an integrated approach: from hive records to EU-compliant colony record books to honey marketing with QR codes and individual honey product pages. Hivekraft relies on AI support for inspections, voice input at the apiary, and an intelligence module for swarm predictions and treatment recommendations. Servers are located in Germany.

Detailed Feature Comparison

Strengths and Weaknesses in Detail

BeeInTouch: The Market Leader

Strengths:

• Large community: With over 22,000 users according to their own figures, the most widely used app in the DACH region. This means: extensive experience, established processes, active forum
• Native apps: True iOS and Android apps with native performance and push notifications
• Proven: On the market for over 10 years, the app is stable and mature
• Solid core features: Hive records, inspections, treatments, apiary management — all the essentials are there
• Club features: Apiaries can be shared with other beekeepers

Weaknesses:

• According to our research, BeeInTouch does not offer AI-powered features such as automatic swarm predictions or treatment recommendations
• No integrated voice input for recording at the apiary while wearing gloves
• No integrated honey marketing system (labels, QR codes, product pages)
• The interface appears somewhat dated compared to newer apps, in our assessment
• No IoT system for hive scales integrated

Imkado: The Free All-Rounder

Strengths:

• Completely free: No restrictions, no ads, no hidden costs — rare in the app market
• Own hardware: The Imkado system (hive scale + sensors) is well integrated into the app
• IoT integration: Real-time data from hive scales directly in the app
• Native apps: Available for iOS and Android
• German provider: Servers and support in Germany

Weaknesses:

• The business model is based primarily on hardware sales, in our assessment — the long-term financing of the free app depends on it
• No PDF export of colony records according to our research
• No bilingual colony records for internationally active beekeepers
• No AI or voice input features
• According to our research, no club or community features in the app
• No honey marketing system (labels, QR codes)

Hivekraft: The Newcomer with the Honey Chain

Strengths:

• Complete honey chain: From harvest through bottling, label printing, and QR code to individual honey product pages — traceability for the end consumer
• AI features: Swarm prediction, automatic treatment recommendations, automatic alerts, and daily briefing based on weather and inspection data
• Voice input: Document inspections at the apiary by voice — practical with gloves and veil
• Bilingual colony records: PDF export in German and English, all EU 2019/6 mandatory fields covered
• Intelligence module: Data analysis with German Weather Service (DWD) data, phenology, and historical comparisons
• Modern UI: Current technology (Next.js, PWA), responsive design
• Data sovereignty: Servers in Germany (Hetzner), complete CSV export

Weaknesses:

• New to market: Only available since February 2026 — few users and therefore fewer experience reports
• No native app: Hivekraft is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that runs through the browser — works offline but lacks push notifications on iOS
• Free plan limited to 5 colonies: Those managing more colonies need the Hobby plan
• Still developing: Some features like club management are still in development

Which App Suits Whom?

1. You have 3–10 colonies and want it simple

   Recommendation: BeeInTouch — Proven, large community, solid core features. The native app works reliably, and you can quickly find help in the forum. If you don't need AI or honey QR codes, you're in good hands here.

2. You don't want to spend a cent

   Recommendation: Imkado — Completely free without limits. If you're also looking for a hive scale, the Imkado system offers a well-integrated solution. Keep in mind: the free app is financed through hardware sales.

3. You market your honey directly

   Recommendation: Hivekraft — The integrated honey chain with QR codes, labels, and individual product pages is unique. If customers should be able to learn everything about origin and beekeeper via the QR code on the honey jar, there is, according to our research, no alternative to Hivekraft.

4. You want AI support and voice input

   Recommendation: Hivekraft — Swarm predictions, automatic treatment recommendations, and voice input at the apiary are features that, according to our research, only Hivekraft offers. The intelligence module is continuously being expanded.

5. You manage club colonies with others

   Recommendation: BeeInTouch or Hivekraft — Both offer features for sharing apiaries. BeeInTouch has more experience here, while Hivekraft is currently expanding its club features.

6. You want hive scale data in the app

   Recommendation: Imkado or Hivekraft — Imkado offers its own hardware system, Hivekraft supports various scales via an open API. BeeInTouch does not offer IoT integration according to our research.

Price Comparison

What We Didn't Cover in This Comparison

There are additional beekeeping apps that may be relevant in certain regions or for specific use cases — such as Apimanager, HiveKeeper, or Hive Tracks. This comparison is limited to the three most popular providers in the German-speaking market according to our research. For beekeepers outside the DACH region, other apps may be better suited.

We also did not consider pure hive scale apps (such as apps from BroodMinder or Arnia), as these primarily display sensor data and do not offer full hive record management. You can find a detailed comparison of hive scale systems in our separate article.

Conclusion: There Is No Single Best App

All three apps solve the fundamental problem: they replace paper chaos with digital hive records and help with EU-compliant documentation. The right choice depends on your priorities:

• Proven and uncomplicated? BeeInTouch has the longest track record and largest community.
• Free without compromise? Imkado doesn't charge a cent, as long as you don't need hardware.
• Honey marketing and AI? Hivekraft goes beyond hive records and offers the complete chain from bee to customer.

The best approach is to try the apps yourself. All three offer a free entry point that lets you test the interface and feature scope at your own pace. Hivekraft additionally offers a demo account with real data that lets you try all features without registration.