Software · head to head
Arable vs CattleMax
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Arable requires the Mark 3 field sensor, so it is a hardware deployment rather than a software subscription; CattleMax priced by active animal count, so the bill grows with the herd rather than with usage
- They diverge on capability: Arable covers Weather monitoring, CattleMax covers Individual animal records.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Arable and CattleMax actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Arable
- Weather monitoring
- Evapotranspiration
- Chlorophyll index
- Disease risk models
- Growth stage tracking
- Climate FieldView
- John Deere
- Trimble
Only in CattleMax
- Individual animal records
- Breeding management
- Calving records
- Health & treatment tracking
- Weight management
- EPD/genetic data
- Custom reporting
- Photo management
Both cover
- SSL
- Web support
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Arable
- In-field weather and crop monitoring from a single sensornot CattleMax
- Irrigation scheduling based on measured conditionsnot CattleMax
- Water sustainability reporting for enterprise growersnot CattleMax
- Weather risk management across dispersed fieldsnot CattleMax
CattleMax
- Cow-calf herd records and reproduction trackingnot Arable
- Weights, treatments and performance history per animalnot Arable
- Registered cattle records for breed association reportingnot Arable
- Unlimited users on one operation's accountnot Arable
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Arable
- Requires the Mark 3 field sensor, so it is a hardware deployment rather than a software subscription
- Pricing is not published and goes through a sales conversation
- Aimed at enterprise growers and advisors rather than smallholders
CattleMax
- Priced by active animal count, so the bill grows with the herd rather than with usage
- The Registered plan costs more than Commercial at every band, from $16 against $12 a month
- Operations above 2,000 animals move to custom pricing
- Support is Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Central only
- Cows and calves count separately toward the animal limit
Pricing, plan by plan
Arable
$29/month- Standard$1200/device/year
- Weather data
- Crop stress
- Basic analytics
- Premium$2400/device/year
- Full analytics
- Disease models
- API access
CattleMax
$99/year- Starter$99/year
- Up to 50 head
- Basic animal records
- Calving records
- Standard$199/year
- Up to 200 head
- Breeding management
- Health records
- Professional$399/year
- Unlimited animals
- Advanced genetics
- EPD tracking
Which should you pick?
Choose Arable if
- You need weather monitoring.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Hardware.
- You also want evapotranspiration.
Choose CattleMax if
- You need individual animal records.
- You work on Web, Windows, Ios, Android.
- You also want breeding management.
Questions people ask
- Is Arable or CattleMax better?
- Neither clearly leads. Arable starts at $29/month and CattleMax at $99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Arable or CattleMax?
- Arable starts at $29/month and CattleMax at $99/year.
- Does Arable or CattleMax run on more platforms?
- Arable runs on Web, Ios, Android, Hardware. CattleMax runs on Web, Windows, Ios, Android.
- What is Arable best used for?
- Arable is most often used for in-field weather and crop monitoring from a single sensor, irrigation scheduling based on measured conditions, water sustainability reporting for enterprise growers, weather risk management across dispersed fields. Of those, in-field weather and crop monitoring from a single sensor and irrigation scheduling based on measured conditions are not what CattleMax is typically brought in for.
- What can Arable do that CattleMax cannot?
- Arable covers Weather monitoring, Evapotranspiration, Chlorophyll index, Disease risk models. CattleMax covers Individual animal records, Breeding management, Calving records, Health & treatment tracking. Both handle SSL, Web support, Ios support.