Ranking updated
Best plant identification apps in 2026
For a quick free answer, point Google Lens at the plant. For wild plants, PlantNet is a free citizen-science project run with scientists. For houseplants and their problems, PictureThis adds care guides and disease diagnosis on a Premium subscription, and PlantIn builds care plans with a watering calculator. On a walk with kids, Seek identifies plants, animals and fungi and hands out badges. Details below.
How we picked: naming a plant is only the first step, then comes whether you are out in nature or caring for a pot on the windowsill. We checked each app’s own store description for what it identifies, what care help it gives and what needs a subscription.
Free plant identification
Google Lens tells you the name of a plant at a friend’s place or the breed of a dog in the park; on iPhone Lens is part of the Google app. PlantNet identifies a plant from a photo of its flowers, fruit or leaves, focuses on wild plants in nature and in the city, and passes your observations to scientists studying biodiversity. Seek from iNaturalist identifies plants, animals and fungi with the camera and rewards you with badges.
Identify a plant and learn how to care for it
PictureThis identifies the plant, gives care instructions for watering, fertilising and light, diagnoses diseases from a photo and warns about plants toxic to pets and children; Premium is a subscription. PlantIn builds care plans with a watering calculator and a light meter and explains why a leaf turned brown.
| App | Best for | Platforms | Price | Beyond the name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google LensApp StoreGoogle Play | a quick free answer | Android; on iPhone in the Google app | free | plants, animals, text and more |
| PlantNetApp StoreGoogle Play | wild plants, citizen science | iOS, Android | free | your photos help scientists |
| PictureThisApp StoreGoogle Play | houseplant care and problems | iOS, Android | free to download; Premium subscription | care guide, disease diagnosis, toxic-plant warnings |
| PlantInApp StoreGoogle Play | care plans for your plants | iOS, Android | free to download | watering calculator, light meter |
| SeekApp StoreGoogle Play | nature walks with kids | iOS, Android | free | plants, animals, fungi, badges |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free plant identification app?
Google Lens and PlantNet are free; PlantNet is best for wild plants, Lens for a quick answer. Seek is also free and covers animals and fungi too.
Which app helps a sick houseplant?
PictureThis diagnoses plant diseases from a photo and gives a care plan, with more on Premium; PlantIn explains problems like brown leaves and plans watering.