Quick Summary
Have you heard about plant identification apps? Yes exactly, apps that tell you about plant’s name, it’s properties, care tips and much more with the help of a photo. This blog will tell you all about plant identifying apps, what are the features of plant identifier apps, how does it work and more.
The right plant identification app can help you connect with nature, participate in citizen science projects, and learn which plants are dangerous or invasive.
Fourteen Wirecutter staffers and their families tested seven apps (all of them available free of charge) across nine states, in both rural and urban locations, using Android and Apple phones. If you’re looking for a free plant identification app, or the best plant identification app for your needs, we’ve got recommendations for you.
If you simply want an app for plant identification that will quickly and accurately identify plants, we recommend PlantNet Plant Identification. It’s available as a free plant identification app for Android and iOS. If you want an app that allows you to share your findings with other naturalists (whether they’re amateur or professional), we have a pick for that too.
For quick, accurate plant identifications from a simple-to-use app, we recommend PlantNet Plant Identification. Within five seconds, this plant identifier app was able to differentiate a downy-yellow violet from an eastern redbud, a weeping forsythia from a tall goldenrod, and a maple from an oak.
Unlike many other apps we tested, PlantNet is not cluttered with ads or sneaky pop-ups that pressure you to pay for extra features. Although it doesn’t offer as seamless a sharing experience as iNaturalist or provide as much plant background information as some other apps, PlantNet provides quick, easy identifications that our testers found consistently accurate.
Now that spring has arrived, more people will be spending time outside as the season approaches. There is a free plant identification app that can assist you, whether you need aid recognizing plants on your daily hike or creating the flower or food garden of your dreams. The leaves recognition app can also help if you’re wondering if the shiny leaf your loved one picked up while camping was actually poison ivy, if the house plant your cat just chewed on might cause illness, or if you have any other specific concerns. With a reliable plant identification app, you can feel confident in your outdoor adventures and gardening projects.
Some technological advancements are capable of bringing us close to the nature. With increase dependency on mobile phones and other electronic smart devices, a human has become tech-savvy and prefers to do all their work through these devices. Plant identification apps are also a part of this tech world.
With these plant identifier apps, one can easily get details on plant with the help of a snap. A simple picture will tell you all about the plants you want to know about. These plant recognition apps make it easy to for botanists, plant enthusiasts, etc. to learn about more and more plants.
This article will tell you about the top plant identification apps that you can use to increase your plant knowledge and will also tell you how a plant identifier app works.
On our Android phone, PlantNet proved to be the fastest and most accurate plant identification app available. This free plant identifier impressed us with its speed, accuracy, and ease of use, making it one of the best apps to help identify plants and leaves on the go.
Cost: Free
Platforms Supported: iOS, Android, and web
Languages Supported: 45, including Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish, and Turkish
Key Features: Collaborative user platform; searchable database with over 46,050 species and 45 floras; plants searchable by theme (world flora, invasive plants, useful plants, weeds, and plants found in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, North America, and Oceania-Pacific); plant identification enhanced by the ability to use geolocation (GPS).
What We Liked About It
PlantNet is a global plant biodiversity monitoring collaborative, part of a “citizen science project.” Launched in 2013, this leaf identification app allows both botanists and the general public to identify plants by simply taking a picture and uploading it for analysis, no matter where they are in the world. This feature makes it one of the most useful apps for making money if you’re in the business of plant identification and consultation.
The History and Sponsors of PlantNet
PlantNet was developed with the support of several French research institutes, including the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRIA), and the Tela Botanica network. The project is funded by the Agropolis Foundation.
Simple Setup and Insightful Guidance
Installing PlantNet on our Android phone was a breeze. After installation, the app offered us the option to follow its guided setup screens, which we chose to do for more accurate identifications. Setting up our account was quick and easy. Users can join various Groups based on shared interests or locations, adding to the app’s community feel. We joined a few groups that caught our interest—each of the top five PlantNet groups has more than 1,000 members, making it a vibrant and informative community.
With all these features, PlantNet stands out as not just a plant identification app, but also a comprehensive leaf recognition app that connects you with a global network of plant enthusiasts.
There are hundreds of thousands of different varieties of plants and flowers in the world.
Fortunately, modern technology has the ability to retain and process databases more widely. Plant identifier apps turn your smartphone into a one-stop destination to know all things about plants.
Therefore, if you often find yourself wondering about the wild wonders that decorate the world around you, here’s a list of the best plant identification application available today.
Agrobase is a very good plant identifier application for farmers and the like. It has an extensive database of plants, pests, weeds, and plant diseases. It is definitely one of the best plant applications.
- It is extremely useful for identifying all kinds of plant life.
- In addition, the plant finder application has a web application, constant updates, good photos, detailed descriptions, and more.
- It may be a bit steep for the casual gardener, but good information is remarkable.
FlowerChecker is one of the most popular plant recognition applications for identifying flowers. It works as a service. The process is not free. They claim that it is because humans identify plants and not a computer algorithm. Therefore, the money goes to pay these people.
- Send a picture of a flower and an expert tells you what it is.
- Each identification will cost about $ 1.
- The application is also probably more useful for those flowers that simply can not be found in a Google search.
PictureThis is one of the newest applications for identifying unknown plants. It works a bit like Google glasses and similar applications.
To identify take a picture of a flower, plant, berry, whatever. The application then uses photography to identify it for you.
- Unlike FlowerChecker, it uses computer algorithms rather than the hand of man.
- However, in general, the application actually seems to work pretty well. It has a database of thousands of plants, advice columns, and more.
- There is a paid version that unlocks all the features, but you get some stuff for free.
Take a photo of a plant or upload one from your phone. The application will then provide multiple options from where you can choose the best match. After the selection, the application provides detailed information about the plant.
- You must create an account and log in to use this application (or you can choose to log in through Facebook).
- You can also link your profile options if desired.
Instead of using a photo, you start by selecting the color of the plant you want to identify. Then select the habitat where the flower was displayed, and then the number of petals. After this, you will be presented with several possible options.
- This plant finder application, which is only available for Android devices, works a little differently than most other apps.
- This application can be useful when you see a flower, but can not take a picture of it.
You have the option to take a photo or select one from your gallery. The image is sent to experts trying to identify flowers, leaves, or trees. The application is free to download, and photo slideshows receive two free downloading of the application.
- You will receive a free ID per month, although you can buy more or upgrade to the paid version.
- This is not an instantaneous process If you have an unusual plant, professional help might be worth the wait.
GardenTags is more than just an application of plant identification. However, if you want to use it to find out what type of plant or flower that you found, you can upload a photo and ask the community to help you make an identification.
- Think of it as crowdsourcing plant information.
- You can also upgrade to the paid version for other functions, such as creating a magazine and establishing gardening tasks.
- After registration, you can catalog your garden and find inspiration from other garden designs.
Here is the list of all types of people who can use the plant identification apps.
- Nature lovers always look forward to discovering different nuances of nature.
- With plant identification applications, they get to know everything about a plant without the help of an expert.
- These applications have a strong database of n number of plants, trees, and flowers that helps nature lovers to know things.
- Wildlife travelers visit the forests frequently where they find lots of plants and trees.
- They are willing to explore the plants only by their curiosity and interest. On the other hand, they need to learn about the usefulness of different plants to use in a medical emergency.
- If you are fond of gardening, then plant identification applications enrich your knowledge regarding trees, plants, flowers, fruits, leaves, etc.
- You can use a plant ID app everywhere.
- You can use it in a nursery and buy a plant of interest after all data such as the name of the plant, source, availability worldwide, ease of use, and more.
- Farmers can have access to all the information regarding an unknown seed, plant, tree, or fruit in a few minutes using plant identification apps.
- They can also get every little detail about different leaves and pests on the leaves.
- Applications allow farmers to make an informed decision about which crop can be harvested.
- Zoologists have to check the nutrition in fruits or vegetables before considering them for animals.
- Plants, tree branches, and flowers are eaten by animals.
- To keep pets and animals healthy, zoologists have to feed them well.
- Using applications for plant identification can help zoologists meet the specific requirements of each animal food available at the zoo.
- Botany is a stream of education where students learn about endangered spices, plants, and other natural areas.
- With these applications, students can access basic information about plants with just a tap.
- Once you have an overview of a tree or a flower or a fruit, it will be easy for you to get more details.
- Such applications make the most interesting and exciting study for students attending to their queries quickly.
Having an app for plant identification is a totally new concept. However, it is an undeniable fact that it is a very useful app. Here are some of the best features that you should have in your plant identification app without fail.
Once you upload the plant picture in the plant identifier app, the app to identify plants begins searching for relevant results. An integrated image recognition engine processes the image, providing accurate plant identification by fetching information from its database and displaying all possible matches on the screen.
Users can find the exact plant ID match and explore more details about the plant. For those seeking a free plant identifier app, there are several great options, including a free app for Android phones available for plant identification, allowing users to easily identify plants without any cost.
The applications allow users to add locations when and where they found a particular plant with the help of a geo-tagging feature.
The plant identification applications enable users with all information related to the plants such as leaves, fruits, group & family they belong to, origin, scientific names, popular names, growth habits, description, and other details.
Since plant identification app development can be so useful for gardening and studying botanical subjects, developing a plant identifier app can be very rewarding.
However, to create a plant identification app, it is indeed necessary to consult a top mobile app development company who has adequate experience. Echoinnovate IT is there to provide free consultation on your idea to make plant identifier.
Their developers are apt in creating top plant identification apps in minimum timeframe. Hence, if you have queries regarding plant identification development cost, how plant identification works or how to develop a plant identifier app, you can contact us at info@echoinnovateit.com.
How Do Apps Identify Plants?
Plant identification apps use photo recognition software that analyzes leaves and bark to identify plants based on their common characteristics.
How Accurate Are Plant Identification Apps?
The accuracy of plant identification apps varies, but studies have shown that they are generally pretty good at identifying plants at the genus level using leaf images, with accuracy rates ranging from 71.8% to 97.3%. However, their accuracy in identifying specific plant species using leaf pictures is not always as high, with rates ranging from 40.9% to 83.9%.
Do Plant Apps Identify Weeds?
Yes, plant apps can identify weeds along with other types of plants. Simply take a photo of the weed and let the app analyze it. It’s an easy way to determine if the weed in your garden is a dandelion or something more harmful.
How Much Does A Plant Identification Development Cost?
As the cost of developing a plant identification app can vary widely depending on numerous factors, it’s difficult to give an exact number. However, to give a rough estimate, a basic plant identification app may cost around $10,000 to $30,000 to develop, while a more advanced app with additional features could cost upwards of $50,000 or more.
