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BioSonic vs BatExplorer

Cloud-based deep learning on spectrograms vs Elekon's rule-based desktop analysis. Same WAV files, fundamentally different approaches.

Last updated: 2026-04-26. Written by the BioSonic team.

At a glance

FeatureBioSonicBatExplorer (Elekon)
AI approach Deep learning on spectrograms Rule-based species library matching
Training data 2.5M bat calls + 3.5M noise files Elekon reference library
Benchmarked accuracy 98.9% F1 score (Wilder Sensing) Not publicly benchmarked
Platform Browser-based — works on any computer Windows only
Team workflow Unlimited users, shared projects Single-user desktop
Species per recording Up to 7 One suggestion with probabilities
Social & feeding calls Separated automatically Manual identification
Noise filtering Deep-learning noise model Basic filters
Model updates New AI model every weekend Irregular version releases
Cloud storage 9 years EU-hosted Local only
Report generation One-click charts, maps, Word Diagrams, charts, GIS export
Detector compatibility Any WAV-producing detector Designed for Elekon BATLOGGER
Geographic coverage UK, NL, DK, DE, SE, BE, FR, PL, FI, NO European + UK species
Pricing Per-GB, all-inclusive Free Standard; 249 CHF/yr (~£212) Pro per user

How BioSonic identifies bats

AI image recognition on spectrograms

BioSonic converts each recording into a spectrogram image and runs it through a convolutional neural network trained on 2.5 million labelled bat calls. The model sees the full time-frequency picture, detecting multiple species, social calls, and feeding buzzes in a single pass.

BatExplorer takes a parameter-based approach: it measures call characteristics (start frequency, end frequency, duration, inter-pulse interval) and matches them against Elekon's species reference library, returning a single suggestion with probability scores.

AI bounding boxes detecting bat species on a spectrogram
BioSonic's AI draws bounding boxes around each bat call, identifying species from visual patterns

Trained on millions of examples

The model is curated by 12 bat experts across five European countries and retrained every weekend. 3.5 million noise files teach the AI to reject rain, wind, insects, and equipment noise before classification.

BatExplorer's reference library covers European species but relies on clean, well-separated calls to produce reliable parameter measurements. Overlapping species and noisy conditions reduce matching confidence.

Spectrogram augmentation grid used for AI training data
Training data: augmented spectrograms used to teach the AI to generalise across recording conditions

Accuracy comparison

BioSonic achieved 98.9% F1 score in the independent Wilder Sensing benchmark. No public benchmark for BatExplorer exists at the time of writing.

BioSonic 98.9%
BatExplorer No public benchmark
?

Have labelled recordings? We will run a free comparison. For full benchmark methodology, see the benchmarks page.

What working in BioSonic looks like

Spectrogram review

Inspect every call visually. Confirm or override AI classifications with right-click bounding boxes. Every decision is logged with a timestamp and user ID.

BatExplorer also displays spectrograms, but review is call-by-call on a single desktop machine with no shared audit trail.

BioSonic spectrogram review interface with annotations

Species heatmaps

See bat activity across your entire site on an interactive map. Filter by species, date, or time of night. One click to export.

BatExplorer offers GIS export, but you build your own maps in external software.

BioSonic species heatmap showing bat activity across survey sites
Since joining BioSonic our analysis time has reduced significantly. The team is excellent in their support, super quick to respond.

— Luke Waddison, Ecological Consultant, Wharton (UK)

Emergence time analysis

Automatic emergence graphs pinpoint when bats leave roosts. Crucial for roost characterisation reports.

BatExplorer does not generate emergence graphs. You export data and build them manually in Excel.

BioSonic emergence time graph showing bat activity patterns

Weather integration

BioSonic automatically overlays temperature, wind, and rain data on your activity charts. No manual data entry.

BatExplorer does not integrate weather data. You source and merge it yourself.

BioSonic weather integration showing rain overlay on bat activity

Who should choose which

Choose BioSonic

  • Want the highest benchmarked accuracy — 98.9% F1 means less time fixing wrong classifications
  • Consultancy team — unlimited users, shared projects, single audit trail
  • Use any bat detector brand — not just Elekon
  • Integrated spectrogram review with right-click bounding boxes — no switching apps
  • One-click charts, maps, emergence graphs, weather overlays, Word reports
  • Up to 7 species per recording with automatic feeding buzz and social call separation

Choose BatExplorer

  • Use Elekon BATLOGGER and want tight hardware integration
  • Prefer working offline on your own computer
  • Work alone and do not need team features
  • Want a free tool for manual spectrogram viewing

Some teams use both — BatExplorer for quick field checks, BioSonic for full project analysis.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use BatExplorer with non-Elekon detectors?

BatExplorer can import WAV files from other detectors, but it is designed and optimised for Elekon BATLOGGER hardware. Some features and metadata integration may be reduced when using recordings from other manufacturers. BioSonic accepts standard WAV files from any detector without reduced functionality.

Is BatExplorer free?

BatExplorer offers a free Standard version with basic spectrogram viewing and manual analysis features. The Pro version, which includes auto-identification and advanced analysis tools, costs 249 CHF per year (approximately £212) for a Pro licence. BioSonic uses a per-GB-per-year model with all features included from day one.

How does BioSonic's accuracy compare to BatExplorer?

BioSonic achieved 98.9% F1 score in the independent Wilder Sensing benchmark. No public head-to-head benchmark between BioSonic and BatExplorer currently exists. Have labelled recordings? We will run a free comparison. See our benchmarks page for full details.

Can I switch from BatExplorer to BioSonic?

Yes. BioSonic accepts standard WAV files, so you can upload the same recordings you have been analysing in BatExplorer. There is no lock-in or conversion step. Upload your files, and BioSonic processes them automatically. You can run both tools in parallel to compare results. Start a free trial to test it with your own data.

Does BioSonic work on Mac or Linux?

Yes. BioSonic is browser-based and runs on any operating system with a modern web browser, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and tablets. BatExplorer runs on Windows only.

Which tool is better for team projects?

BioSonic is designed for team collaboration with unlimited users per organisation, shared projects, and centralised cloud storage. BatExplorer is a single-user desktop application with per-seat licensing. If multiple ecologists need to access the same project simultaneously, BioSonic is the more practical choice. For more on how teams use BioSonic, see the Wharton case study.

How often are the AI models updated?

BioSonic deploys a new AI model every weekend, incorporating the latest training data and improvements. BatExplorer receives version updates on an irregular cadence, typically tied to software releases from Elekon. Weekly updates mean BioSonic's accuracy improves continuously without any action required from the user.

Sources

Last verified: 2026-04-26.

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See how BioSonic handles your recordings

Upload a batch of WAVs and compare results against your current workflow. No commitment, no credit card, no data sharing required.

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Questions? Email josef.carlson@biosonic.se