The best plant life identifier apps make it easy than ever to cypher out what ’s growing in your home or garden . With just a quick duck soup , you’re able to describe plant life , learn care tips , and even fleck potential trouble .

But which apps are actually worth downloading – and how do they pile up for truth and feature ?

have ’s research the top option to help you find the perfect plant identifier for your need .

person using one of the best free plant identifier apps with her houseplant

Quick Care Guide for Most Common Houseplants 💚

⭐ How to start?Easy , hard - to - kill plants likeMonsteraorPothosare usually a great starting point .

💧 Water : pee when the top 1 - 2 inches of dirt are dry , but avoid allow them sit down in standing water to prevent root putrefaction .

person using one of the best plant identification apps for 2022 to identify their houseplant

🌱 Soil : apply a well - drain potting premix designed for indoor plant – I personally use this one . A mix with peat , perlite , or coco coir is not bad for stave off waterlogged roots .

☀ ️Light : Most houseplants thrive in bright , indirect luminosity . Too picayune light can cause leaf drop , while lineal sunlight may sear the leave .

🌡 ️Temperature : Keep them between 60 - 75 ° F ( 15 - 24 ° one C ) and away from drafts , heaters or atmosphere conditioners .

person taking a photo of a flower to use in one of the best plant identifier apps

🌿 Fertilizer : Feed with a balanced , water - soluble plant food ( my top break up isthis Miracle - Gro one ) once a month during spring and summer . Hold off during fall and winter .

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Best plant identifier apps

When you search for a flora identifier app on your smartphone , you will get hold countless unlike character available . Some of the apps are innocent , while others require a subscription or user fee . Trying to narrow down which ones are the salutary can be a difficult task .

1. iNaturalist

This app is power by over 1 million naturalist , biologists and scientists that aid to name plant uploaded by user . When you demand help identifying a plant , just upload the icon and other users on the app will give you their theme of what they guess the plant is .

iNaturalist ( iOS / Android ) was launch in 2008 by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society . It has both a flora identification online internet site and an app , both of which are free to employ . It is often considered one of the most extensive free plant identification apps uncommitted .

Even though it is extremely recommended in the flora community , iNaturalist does have its drawback . The most common complaint about iNaturalist is that the app and site feels and looks out-of-date . Despite this fact , it still remains one of the most well-thought-of flora ID choice useable .

person taking a photo of a flower using an app to identify plants

2. PlantNet

PlantNet ( iOS / Android ) is often considered one of the best free plant identifier apps available . It has a large database of user submitted photos that it utilise to help ID plants and flowers . It relies on its large residential district of substance abuser to identify and put in photos of plants to its database .

The drawback of PlantNet is that some users have reported various glitches after adding and name their own plant . Some user have also stated that they incur an warning notice when trying to get help IDing a industrial plant .

Even though the PlantNet app does have some issues , it is still a reliable and exact free option for those who want aid identifying plant .

person taking photo of flowers

Related:15 Best Houseplant Books for beginner

PlantNet is an range search railway locomotive designed to identify plant and blossom . It uses a database of photos submitted by PlantNet users to identify plant life . When you submit a photo , the app run it against the other identified photos in its database to bump a match .

The app then shows the solvent of the lookup , giving you identifying characteristics and information on the works . This completely gratuitous app does rely on the user to mature its database , which in turning identifies the flora .

person taking photo of plants

An example of this would be upload photos of the lilac bush you have get in your yard . You know for a fact that the flora is a lilac , so you could confirm its identity . After you have uploaded the exposure and total the information , you only corroborate the plant life ’s ID and it is then bestow to the PlantNet database .

3. PlantSnap

The name PlantSnap ( iOS / Android ) may sound conversant , especially if you use the societal mass medium app Snapchat . This is because the two have partner with one another to serve identify more than 600 thousand plants .

PlantSnap offers a free and a premium version , and can help discover yard of plants in 30 + unlike languages .

Keep in judgement , however , that while it does have a free version , some of the good features of PlantSnap are only available on their pay rendering . In fact , the innocent version limits the amount of plant life snaps you’re able to use .

4. FlowerChecker

FlowerChecker ( iOS / Android ) is n’t really a paid app for identifying plant life ; it instead offers a unique monetary value price .

That is , unlike other software that appoint per month , FlowerChecker charge for every right designation it provide . But FlowerChecker does n’t rely on a computing machine to distinguish the plant as , or else , they utilize expert to psychoanalyze and identify the plant .

The downside is that the identification is n’t instant like other apps , and it can take a while before you receive an identification . However , FlowerChecker state that about half of all identifications occur within an hr .

FlowerChecker may be the ripe selection for you if you ’re expect for results assert by expert . Just remember that you give for every correct identification that the app provides you . If you think you will be assay to ID an abundance of plant , this may not be the best answer for your needs .

5. PictureThis

PictureThis is a paid flora identifier app that uses in advance artificial tidings to help place plant life . In fact , this app has identified more than 27 million flora and PictureThis states it has a 99 - percentage accuracy in designation .

This app is more than just a plant ID software , it also gives bakshish on deal for plants , as well as offering a social electronic internet for substance abuser .

PictureThis is for bothAndroidandApplephones . Keep in mind , however , that it is a pay app and does n’t offer a loose version .

Something to consider before downloading this app is that some users have stated that trying to cancel the subscription is difficult . Just check that to keep that in judgment before using this app .

6. LeafSnap

The LeafSnap plant life identifier app was in reality developed by expert from the Smithsonian Institution , the University of Maryland , and Columbia University . One thing that make this plant identification app different from others is that it utilise artificial intelligence to distinguish the plant life based on its leaves .

Leafsnap is gratuitous and is only on bothiOSandAndroid . Some exploiter also feel as though the app is outdated , though it is easy to navigate . Despite these downside , LeafSnap is often deal one of the comfortably gratis plant identifier apps for iPhone .

The LeafSnap app is afree works identifier appthat is only available for iPhones . This app was developed by expert from various university , and is provided free of commission . Given that the app developers are n’t paid to keep it , this has led to some exploiter saying that the interface is outdated .

That is , keep in mind that because it is free , the app may not be as well wield as its ante up twin . What this means is that there may be more bug and hemipteron , and no regular updates .

Despite the glitches and bugs this app may have , it is still a free and jolly reliable plant identifier app . Because of this , every plant lover should moot download this on their telephone set .

7. What’s That Flower

Unlike the other works identifier apps that require a photo for identification , the What ’s That Flower app uses a questionnaire to avail you describe the flora . This is especially useful if you forgot to snap a movie of the plant or it was sort of an ill at ease clip to reach over and take a exposure .

Some of the question that the app uses to identify the plant are the color of the flower , number of petals it had , characteristics of the plant , and even the environment the plant was growing in .

The What ’s That Flower app is , unfortunately , only forAndroidat the instant . However , the app does have a liberal variation , or you could devote for the exchange premium that is ad - free . Both the spare and paid versions aid the user identify more than 600 blossom varieties .

8. Plantix

Plantix is a rather new flora designation app that is a hybridization between social medium and forum . This type of platform is useful because it provide gardeners and sodbuster to connect with other like - disposed individuals from all over , including regional and local .

With the Plantix app , you could identify not only plant , but also problems and diseases that plant can have . This is great for those who want something a little more beefy than an app that just tells you what the plant is .

The downside with Plantix , however , is that it is only currently uncommitted forAndroidphones . moreover , the app is still new , so bugs , glitches , and miss data are not rare . Despite these issue , Plantix is still a highly retrospect industrial plant identifier app that you should consider when deciding which one to employ .

9. Agrobase

Agrobase is more than just one of the best free plant designation apps , it is a useful tool for both gardening and farming . The app itself can aid key plants and weeds , as well as plant pests and industrial plant disease . The database that the app relies on is rather monolithic and regularly update .

The Agrobase app may be a act consuming for the average exploiter , but avid gardeners and farmers will in all likelihood find it extremely useful . It is one of the most blanket devoid gardening and farming apps available . alas , the Agrobase app is currently only usable forAndroiddevices .

10. Google Images

Google Imagesisn’t often thought of as a flora identifier app , which is a shame since it can quick and accurately name a wide regalia of plants . You simply involve to open up the Google Photo app , upload the photo of the works you want to place , and then get across on the Google Lens push at the bottom of the screen .

Once you have clicked on Google Lens , the results for what Google thinks the plant is based on your photo will come along . Keep in nous , however , that result may change and Google may or may not accurately key out the plant . Like other apps , if the picture is too dark or too blurry , Google may not be able to provide the right designation .

Despite those point , Google remains one of the most normally used apps to avail ID plants . The Google app is drug user - favorable , conversant to most people , and provides pretty precise results . When you also take into condition that it is free to expend with unlimited searches , you will quickly see why it belongs on this list .

Google can identify a plant life from a picture that you have save on your camera roll . You merely need to start the photograph in the Google Photos app and then cluck on Google Lens , which is located at the bottom of the screen .

The results of the lookup will come out at the bottom of the cover . Google will list what it recall the photograph is . submit multiple photos of the same plant can leave varying consequence . This is especially true if some of the picture are not in centering or too dark .

Google , however , is one of the best free options for plant recognition online and on the app . In most cases , you may already have the Google Photos app on your speech sound , which is particularly important if you do n’t want to or do n’t have elbow room for another app .

11. Gardening Companion

The Gardening Companion app is more of a planning prick than a industrial plant identifier app , but it does have the option to help identify some plants . It is a freeiPhoneapp that allows you to get across the advancement of your garden , as well as create gardening maintenance and maintenance alerts .

Gardening Companion also provides its users with a tumid database of videos , tutorial , resources , and articles that can help gardeners no matter what their experience level .

Keep in mind , however , that this app should n’t be a digest - alone app for IDing plants and or else should be used in combining with another plant identifier app . This is because the Gardening Companion app is less of a flora identifier app and more of an all - around useful gardening companion software .

12. Smart Plant

The SmartPlant app does n’t just avail you identify plant . It also provides precaution usher for the plant , and even gives you the ability to add your flora to your write up . While the app has both a barren and premium version , the free version is rather modified .

Some users have also account glitches and bugs that make using this app unpleasant . Though the premium version does give you unlimited flora identification and inexhaustible plague and disease advice , as well as the option to chat with experts . The Smart Plant app is available for bothiPhoneandAndroidsystems .

13. Garden Answers

Garden Answers is one of the most democratic and most downloaded horticulture apps available . It has over 3 million users and is available for bothAndroidandiOSdevices . It offers identification of plants , pest , and disease , as well as expert advice and answers to various gardening questions .

Garden Answers is destitute to download and utilise , though you will need to buy their premium subscription for more accurate results . This app utilize image realisation engineering science to provide true identification of over 100,000 inflorescence plants . You will also bump gardening care info and guides written by horticultural and gardening experts .

14. iPlant

The iPlant app is a simple but effective flora ID app that does n’t have many frills or extras . This straightforward app is round-eyed to use and requires you to take a pic of the plant , which it then uses to name said plant . It is a free app and users state of matter it is fairly accurate .

The downside to this app is that it is rather slow and only useable foriOSdevices . Users have also reported some glare typos in the app , which can quickly make you question the reliability of the app .

15. Plant Identification ++

Plant Identification + + is a degenerate and accurate works ID app that is available foriOSdevices only . The facility and truth with which it can key out plants is what make this app utilitarian . Unfortunately , you will need to pay for a subscription to get unlimited searches .

Even though this is a paid app , it is one of the most highly recommend apps for quick and accurate termination . It does n’t , however , offer many other features that you often discover with other give apps . What it does offer is dissolute and honest results .

16. Seek

This plant recognition app is quite different from the others on our list . It turns plant recognition into a plot – think of it like Pokemon Go for plant enthusiasts ! What ’s even better is that it also rent you identify worm and has an extensive community of interests .

unluckily , Seek ( iOS / Android ) does n’t furnish care information for the plants and you have to take clear and exact pic for the app to properly identify the plant . However , you should still consider this plant identifier app , particularly if you ’re someone who likes gaming .

17. PlantStory

PlantStory ( iOS / Android ) rent you key plants using only a exposure . It has a rather large residential district of plant buff and has a database of over 2 million plant , which helps the program program key out a spacious array of flora .

This app does use your Global Positioning System so you will take to give your telephone permission to share your emplacement with the app in Holy Order to habituate it . PlantStory also leave plant concern information and guides , and you’re able to even coiffure it up to send you plant care reminders .

PlantStory is n’t a detached app , and does require a subscription ( either monthly or annually ) to employ .

18. Plantifier

Plantifier is a completely free app for bothAndroidandiOS . It is a crowdsourced app that gives the users the power to upload a pic for possible identification . The members of MyGarden.org will then attempt to distinguish the plant in the photograph .

While the app is free to use , you do have to hold off for someone from the community to identify the plant . So this could take some metre . However , the biotic community does n’t just identify the plants , they also answer questions that you may have about the vegetation .

Is there a free app that identifies plants?

There are several free apps that help identify plant , such as iNaturalist , PlantNet and LeafSnap . Our favourite free flora identifier app is iNaturalist , as it ’s power by over one million naturalists , biologists and scientist who help to identify plant uploaded by users .

This aligns with the fact that the best detached industrial plant identification apps are ordinarily I that rely on other users to key out the plant .

In most cases , a dear plant identifier app will use powerful AI software or a database to name the plant life . This can be rather costly , so it is no surprisal that the best app to name plant commonly require a fee to expend .

That does n’t mean that there are no good costless plant identifier app for iPhone or Android . In fact , there are several different no - cost options that can actually key out plants , as mentioned above . Some of these apps , however , are often not regularly update .

What is the best free plant identification app in 2025?

I recommend iNaturalist as the best barren plant life identification app of 2025 . Over one million naturalists , biologist and scientists help to identify plants upload by users .   Available on iOS and Android , it ’s owned by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society .

This think that it ’s definitely legit and you may be confident when you require a industrial plant to be place , someone will real expertise will be able to help oneself you out through the iNaturalist platform .

Are plant ID apps Safe?

plant life ID apps are generally good to use , with received Privacy Policies for managing your data . With that read , however , you should always be suspicious about providing any website or software with your personal information . This includes how any location information attached to your plant photos are used .

One of the best ways to help keep yourself safe is to appear at the substance abuser ’ reviews in the app memory board before downloading or using the app . These reviews are left by consumer just like yourself , and they can help you decide if the app is safe to utilise .

Are plant ID apps reliable?

Most of the works ID apps usable today are considered reliable when it come to their power to identify plants . However , they tend to be more reliable when key out a plant ’s genus compare to its species , with small differences between species sometimes being difficult for the apps to mark .

For instance , one of the plant identification apps may have no issues telling the difference between the goldenrod and aster , but it could have worry distinguishing between the dissimilar types of sunflower plants .

For the casual drug user , just about any of the plant identifier apps usable should work well for your needs . If , however , you need assistance identifying one Echeveria industrial plant to the next , you should consider a more advanced and pay plant identifier app .